Illegal fishing still plagues Powai lake

On one hand the BMC has announced the Powai lake beautification project with the ultimate goal of rejuvenating the lake. It has even made a provision of Rs 22.50 crore.

On the other hand, activists are claiming that the BMC is not taking step to stop rampant illegal fishing carried out in Powai lake. Infact, for the past couple of months, not only has it increased but was also being carried out in broad daylight.

Worried over the ongoing situation that spells doom for the existing crocodile population inside the lake and for the lake itself, Dr Pramod Salaskar, Founder and Secretary of Naushad Ali Sarovar Samavardhini, (Association for Lake Conservation) has written to Shree Bhagwan, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (HoFF) seeking his intervention.

"The poachers are spreading huge nets all over the Powai lake and while they would do this only at night they are now being seen fishing even during the day, which has led to a decrease in the number of fishes in the lake," said Salaskar.

Highlighting another major worry, Salaskar said that even the crocodile habitat was being threatened by poachers.

"Extensive fishing on a daily basis is depleting the food source of crocodiles and damaging their habitat. If the forest department does not intervene, they will be wiped out from this lake," he said.

A senior BMC official said that poaching can only be stopped by the police. "Our officials even met the cops but they said that it was difficult to take action against poachers as the lake is huge and they escape under the cover of darkness," said the official.