The Forest Department has banned fishing in the boat-landing area and boat channel in the Mullaperiyar lake in Thekkady.
An official of the Forest Department said that a meeting of the local people will be convened this week to inform them about the need for enforcing the ban.
It was decided to impose the ban strictly as it was been noted that long nets extending upto the two ends of the lake were used for fishing by local people. This could lead to accidents as boats travel crossing the nets, he said.
Threat to diversity
Fishing rights in the lake are given to the tribal people and the Forest Department had given directions that fishing should not be done in the boat landing area, in the channels through which the boats pass and in the Navikkayam area which is known for the diversity of fish wealth including rare species.
With the water receding in the lake, instances of unauthorised fishing have been noticed and the Forest Department officials seized the nets and fishing equipment from the boat landing area recently. He said that no action was taken against the culprits, but they were warned and let off.
Conservation efforts
The official of the Periyar Tiger Reserve, in which the Mullaperiyar lake is situated, is conserving the forest and its biodiversity in plants and animals with the participation of the public.
Source: The Hindu, 9th July 2012