Bandipore, Nov 5: Haphazard storage of water to generate electricity in the mini-hydel Power Project at Athwathu, 10 km from here, is taking a heavy toll on the trout fish in Madhumati Nallah.
 “Since commissioning of the project in June this year, a large quantity of trout have been killed during storage of water for the project,” locals said. 
 “The officials manning the project divert the water from Madhumati Nallah by iron gates. As a result the four kms stretch of the Nallah from Aathwathu to Darmana runs dry for four hours on an average in a day. This causes instant death of the trout,” the locals told Greater Kashmir.    
 “We are losing the trout to folly of the officials. Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, who inaugurated the project, should order an inquiry into the matter to save thefish from becoming extinct,” they added.
 When contacted district officer of fisheries department, Muhammad Siddiqui, said he had many times taken up the matter with concerned authorities.
 “We even asked the officials manning the Hydel project not to hamper smooth flow of water. But our requests have fallen into deaf ears. Now we have launched patrolling near the Hydel project to disallow the diversion of water. But the issues needs to be resolved on permanent basis.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Nov 2009 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Nov 2009 00:00:00 IST