Bengalureans can fish in leisure at City's lakes

Is fishing permitted in City lakes? Yes, simply because there is no law prohibiting it. Bengalureans can take up fishing as a pastime and he/she cannot be booked for it. People usually do not fish as they are not aware of this and also most importantly because the lakes are highly polluted. In most City lakes the level of dissolved oxygen is less and hyacinth is very high.

Also, most lakes are not fit for fishing as fish are indicators of a healthy lake. Only 20 per cent of City lakes are in good condition, said S R Nagaraj, technical advisor, Lake Development Authority.

Earlier, all lakes were well-maintained and used for various activities including fishing. Later, the government took control and handed the lakes over to various civic authorities for maintenance. As civic authorities are custodians of lakes, they tender them out to the Fisheries department for commercial fishing and selling, he added.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Veerappa Gowda, director, Fisheries department, said that there is no prohibition on fishing but no water body is reserved only for angling and fishing.

The department has leased the lakes to Fishermen Cooperative Societies, who can in turn permit it if their sales demand is met. The societies can adopt any method of fishing they desire, he said.

According to fisheries department records, fishing is being carried out in 168 tanks. Some people have become members of various fisheries societies to fish, added  C S Ananth, assistant director, Fisheries Department.

Fishing is happening in lakes where cage culture is not practised like in Rachenahalli and Lalbagh. But it is not happening in most lakes because of contractors’ interference. However, in Jakkur, many people fish and the contractors have no problem with it. This can be done in other places too, said TV Ramachadra, Energy and Wetlands Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc.