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Aquatic life in danger

19 October 2009

Among the rising environmental concerns caused by the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu project (PCP), the effect on the river ecosystem, especially on migratory fish species, is becoming another source of concern for environmentalists.
A concerned environmentalist said he doubted whether any comprehensive migratory study on fish in Punatsanghchhu has been conducted or not.
Apart from the Detailed Project Report (DPR) presented by Department of Energy, there has not been any comprehensive study done on river ecosystem in Punatsangchhu, he said.
But according to Lobzang Dorji, the Environmental Officer for Punatsangchhu phase I project, it will not have any impact on the migratory fish species as the site is 15 to 16 km away from the fish population.
“We cannot say anything about phase II as the DPR is not completed yet,” he said.
D.B Gurung, a lecturer at the College of Natural Resources, said Punatsangchhu Phase II is likely to have a major impact on the migratory fish population found along the Punatsangchhu.
However, according to Karma Tenzin, Officiating Programme Officer of Cold Water Fishery project, even phase I will have an impact on the golden mahaseer (Tor putitora) population, which is a highly protected species in the country.
“Our country accords high priority to the conservation of golden mahaseer, the authority concerned should take some mitigation action too,” he added.
Migratory fishes like the Mahaseer (Tor tor, Tor putitora) are known to occur in the lower course of the river. Some of them migrate up the river course, up to Kamechhu (on the way to Tsirang) in summer.
These species are confined to river courses along the sup-tropical Himalayan tract only. Some other migratory fish species like the copper mahaseer and loaches, along with other native species, are also known to migrate and inhabit this part of the river course during summer, and some are residential to this area.
A senior official from the Department of Energy said the final DPR for phase II is not ready yet, however, the report reflects mitigation steps like fish ladder or fish pond, to address the issue. But fish ladder, according to Karma Tenzin, can only be efficient if the swimming efficiency of all the fish is known.
“Since we don’t know anything about the swimming efficiency of the fish, collecting and rearing them is a better option,” he said.

Among the rising environmental concerns caused by the 1,200 MW Punatsangchhu project (PCP), the effect on the river ecosystem, especially on migratory fish species, is becoming another source of concern for environmentalists.

A concerned environmentalist said he doubted whether any comprehensive migratory study on fish in Punatsanghchhu has been conducted or not.

Apart from the Detailed Project Report (DPR) presented by Department of Energy, there has not been any comprehensive study done on river ecosystem in Punatsangchhu, he said.

But according to Lobzang Dorji, the Environmental Officer for Punatsangchhu phase I project, it will not have any impact on the migratory fish species as the site is 15 to 16 km away from the fish population.

“We cannot say anything about phase II as the DPR is not completed yet,” he said.

D.B Gurung, a lecturer at the College of Natural Resources, said Punatsangchhu Phase II is likely to have a major impact on the migratory fish population found along the Punatsangchhu.

However, according to Karma Tenzin, Officiating Programme Officer of Cold Water Fishery project, even phase I will have an impact on the golden mahaseer (Tor putitora) population, which is a highly protected species in the country.

“Our country accords high priority to the conservation of golden mahaseer, the authority concerned should take some mitigation action too,” he added.

Migratory fishes like the Mahaseer (Tor tor, Tor putitora) are known to occur in the lower course of the river. Some of them migrate up the river course, up to Kamechhu (on the way to Tsirang) in summer.

These species are confined to river courses along the sup-tropical Himalayan tract only. Some other migratory fish species like the copper mahaseer and loaches, along with other native species, are also known to migrate and inhabit this part of the river course during summer, and some are residential to this area.

A senior official from the Department of Energy said the final DPR for phase II is not ready yet, however, the report reflects mitigation steps like fish ladder or fish pond, to address the issue. But fish ladder, according to Karma Tenzin, can only be efficient if the swimming efficiency of all the fish is known.

“Since we don’t know anything about the swimming efficiency of the fish, collecting and rearing them is a better option,” he said.

By Metho Dema

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