Operation by Tinsukia district administration against illegal fishing exposes loopholes

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: An operation by the officials of Tinsukia district administration against illegal fishing in Maguri-Matapung Beel during the wee hours of Wednesday left the officials in a lurch after the line departments, including Forest, Wildlife and Police, were locked in a controversy over the jurisdictional issue and filing a complaint against the culprits who purportedly uploaded a video on social media accusing the government officials of not discharging their duties properly. This created a sensation in official circles.

The controversy erupted after a joint team of officials of the district administration comprising personnel from forest and fisheries and led by ADC Pabitra Kumar Das, also in-charge of Fisheries cell, raided Maguri-Matapung wetland, about 8 km from Tinsukia town, following receipt of several complaints that illegal fishing activities were going on despite the ongoing ban on fishing.

While the officials were confiscating illegal fishing gear and traps, some persons turned up there in boats and asked about the legality of the raid. They contended that the fishes below the size of 3 inch did not come under the purview of the ban, besides the poor fishermen had been sustaining their livelihood on these catch during the period of lockdown. These people threatened to upload the video on social media and later did so.

Following these developments, the officials attempted to lodge complaint against the persons through the department concerned but to their surprise, all departments passed the buck to others on the plea of jurisdiction and none were ready to lodge the complaint. This left the officials in a fix.

The district administration carried out similar type of raid on April 27 and seized huge quantity of illegal fishing gear, including costly nets from the same locality, which infuriated the local fishermen community.

Wednesday's operation yielded 250 kg of fish along with fishing nets and traps. While the fishes were released into the beel, the fishing apparatus were damaged. Pabitra Das told this correspondent that a coordinated approach was a must for effective inter-departmental functioning without which important public issues remained unaddressed.