Proposed Devprayag hydel project poses threat to mahseer: Experts

DEHRADUN: Wildlife scientists have warned that numbers of Uttarakhand's state fish, the golden mahseer, could see a major decline if the proposed Kotlibhel-2 hydro power project is built close to Devprayag in Garhwal.
Mahseer come to the Nayar river there for spawning from the plain districts. If the project proceeds as planned, the barrage will block the route, leading to a catastrophic effect on the population of the species, experts said.
Talking to TOI, J A Johnson, a scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), said, “Mahseer swim through Rishikesh to Nayar river. If the hydro power project is set up then it will block the migration route of the mahseer. This would result in decline in numbers of this endangered fish.”
According to Johnson, Nayar river provides ideal breeding conditions for the golden mahseer. The fish choose the warm water of the river, which is fed by monsoon and various springs, to lay eggs. The golden mahseer from Nayar river, a tributary of Ganga in Pauri, is famous and can weigh up to 50 kg.
Another WII scientist Shiv Kumar said, “The population of golden mahseer has already witnessed a decline after Bhimgaoda barrage in Haridwar and another in Rishikesh disrupted the migratory route of the fish. If now its route upstream to Nayar river is also blocked, the chances of survival of the species will become bleak in the state.”
Mahseer numbers have significantly declined in Tehri after the Tehri dam was constructed, experts claimed. The Tehri Hydro Power Corporation (THDC) was supposed to implement an action plan for mahseer breeding once the dam was built but no action was taken.
D N Bhatt, deputy general manager of THDC, said, “The migratory route of the fish was blocked due to Tehri reservoir. A study was conducted by the Zoological Survey of India and the scientific methods suggested by it were not very effective.”
The fisheries department said that it has taken measures to protect the species.
H K Purohit, assistant director of the fisheries department said, “The fisheries department has prepared a plan for mahseer conservation in some 800km area of the state rivers which include Yamuna, Tons, Nayar, Ramganga, Kosi, Kaliganga, Saryu, Pindar and Alaknanda.”