Aquatic life in Himachal affected

While it takes pride in calling itself a power-surplus state, Himachal Pradesh, which has been harping on huge hydel power potential, has failed to address the issue of the co-existence of aquatic life with hydel projects.

While the Himachal government is making efforts to harness 50 per cent of the total hydroelectric potential power (identified about 21,000 Mw) by 2012, of which 6,037 Mw has been harnessed so far, it has failed to realise the significance of sustainable development with marine life.

Inadequate attention has been paid to aquatic life, which has also been impacted with the inception of hydel projects in the five river basins in Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal has more than 70 species of fish, with mahaseer, snow trout, silver carp, catla, mrigal, and rainbow trout being the major ones.

According to Rani Dhanze, scientist at the department of fisheries at Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya (CSKHPKV), Palampur, with hydel projects coming to the state there has been an impact on the fish population as the projects have impacted the breeding ground for fishes.

The have also affected the feeding ground as they have resulted in excessive silting in the river water.

According to Dhanze, most fishes move upstream or downstream for breeding but with hydel project acting as obstruction, the movement gets obstructed that definitely would impact the fish population.

Though no data is available to show how population of fish has been impacted with inception of hydel projects, but officials from fishery department admit that impact is definitely there.

Commenting on the changes that has been observed in past with inception of hydel projects in state, Dhanze mentions that Maharana Partap dam in Kangra district of Himachal earlier used to have high population of mahasheer variety but now its population has declined and the Cat Water species is more witnessed in the region.

Similarly according to data provided by the fishery department the population of silver carp in Gobind Sagar dam was 1202 MT in 2002-03, but after some project was set up on that river the population declined to 460-470 MT in the year 2006-07.

Although the fishery department is taking steps to increase the population of fisheries but officials from department maintain the development has to exist in harmony with nature for sustainable development.

Dhanze adds that development should always come but not at the cost of marine life and both should have a symbiotic relationship.

She says the state government must ensure that wherever the hydel projects are coming fish ladders/ fish pass should be provided for the movement of fishes so that their breeding is not affected.