MIRPUR (Kashmir English): Lack of fish and poor infrastructure are causing a major crisis at the Mangla Dam, Azad Kashmir, fish hatchery.
The fish hatchery built to increase fish production in Mangla Dam has started losing its effectiveness due to a lack of attention and resources. The production of fish fry in the fish hatchery has decreased to 20 percent.
According to a report by Kashmir Digital, various types of fish are becoming rare in Mangla Dam because their fry is not being released into the dam from this fish hatchery. There is a severe shortage of staff in the fish hatchery and there is also a lack of other facilities.
Despite having a separate Minister for the Fisheries Department, the fish hatchery of Azad Kashmir, a possible goldmine, remains ignored.
After Azad Kashmir secured fishing rights for Mangla Dam, the hatchery, over which the Fisheries Department came under control, has great revenue-generating ability—literally billions of rupees.
The present condition is bleak, however—dry ponds and general neglect. Revival of the hatchery, filling of the desiccated ponds, and better general condition improvement are all that the government needs to pay attention to to turn things around.
This would generate possibilities for expansion in addition to increasing revenue from fish agreements.
The people are urging the government of Azad Kashmir to quickly pay attention and act to preserve the fish farm. Proper attention and financial support could help this neglected site become a bustling center of commerce, thus improving the area and its inhabitants.
