The Chhattisgarh High Court has directed the Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of Chhattisgarh, to file a personal affidavit on the use of cages for fishing in the Gangrel Dam Reservoir.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal ordered this while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by the Dhamtari Wildlife Welfare Society for directions to state authorities to remove cages installed for fishing in Gangrel Dam Reservoir, also known as Ravishankar Sagar Reservoir, and to restore the reservoir to its original condition.
The petitioner society alleged the installation of cages for fishing has resulted in a significant decline in the population of migratory birds in the Futahamuda Wetland, part of the Gangrel Dam Reservoir area. The wetland is also a proposed Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Site. The society has observed a huge decline in the number of migratory birds in the area over the past few years.
The society has also alleged that the cage fishing is being carried out in violation of the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
The court noted the Fisheries Department has granted permission to 43 beneficiaries for installing 773 cages in the reservoir. However, the policy further states that if any area of the water body comes under the Reserved Forest Area, the cages shall not be installed in the said area.
Further, the bench noted the NOC granted for cage fishing in the reservoir was cancelled by the Executive Engineer, Water Management Division, Rudri, Dhamtari, vide letter dated February 20, 2024. Despite cancellation of the NOC, cage fishing is still being carried out in the area, the petitioner said.
The court has also listed the matter for further hearing on February 19, 2025.