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Rare species N-Nigricans turtle die in Kalyan Sugar : No follow-up actions from Sipahijala Wild Life Sanctuary
Amitabha Sengupta
Rare species N-Nigricans turtle die in Kalyan Sugar : No follow-up actions from Sipahijala Wild Life Sanctuary
PHOTO : Polluted water and rare Turtles of Matabari Udaipur Kalyansagar lake. TIWN Pic Nov 5

UDAIPUR, November 5 (TIWN): Rare N-Nigrican turtles death continue in Udaipur. Another rare species N-Nigricans turtle died in Kalyan Sugar on Tuesday. But without loosing any time the officials of Matabari sent the dead turtle to Sipahijala . Accordingly Sub Divisional administration is awaiting for the response from there. Speaking to TIWN over phone SDM Udaipur Ajit Debnath, who is the Secretary of Matabari Advisory Committee said," As soon as the news reached we have informed the Fishery Department and after this the dead turtle has been sent to the Sipahijala Wildlife Natural Sanctuary . However, the problem is that whenever such incident takes place no feedback usually comes from them and we too are aware what to do to prevent the deaths of N-Nigricans turtles. "

Chairman of MataBari Development Committee MLA Madhab Saha too had the same view. He said," If we don't get feedback from Sipahijala we are helpless. Because at Udaipur we don't have any laboratory to experiment on this issue. However, we will do what we are suggested." Over the years environmentalists and experts have been asking the District administration as well as MataBari Development committee to bulldoze the cemented embarkments constructed on all sides of Kalyan Sugar. But authorities did not respond to these, only took down a little side; rather they are busy in beautification of Kalyan Sagar and its surroundings.

       Even this year on 12th June a team of turtle experts and environmentalists visited Matabari and Kalyan Sagar. The team comprised of Dr Peter Praschag(who did his PhD on N-Nigricans turtles) ,Director of Turtle Research and Conservation Centre, Austria and US Environmentalist cum turtle expert Shannon DiRuzzo along with Indian Environmentalist Rupali Ghosh. During their visit the experts suggested the district administration to take immediate measures in removing all the pollutants from Kalyan Sugar and to provide a suitable habitat for the turtles preventing the tourists and pilgrims coming near the hatcheries. The team also suggested that the authorities should also think deeply to shift the fishes to another near by lake. More importantly Dr Peter Praschag told TIWN," The plastics must not be thrown into Kalyan Sagar and the High mast light post should immediately be removed from the North-East corner of Kalyan Sagar." Unfortunately even today plastics wrappers are found floating in Kakyan Sagar.

         TIWN had telephonic chat with Minister of Science and Technology and Environment Bijita Nath on Wednesday morning. She told," I will instruct Director and Principal Secretary to look into the matter." Again Fishery Minister Khagendra Jamatia told TIWN," I have learnt about from media. I don't know what the reason is. I will talk to Deputy Director, Fisheries, Gomati District to inform me in detail. "  PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden Dr A K Gupta,who is now outside the state on leave told TIWN," Definitely the water of Kalyan Sagar is polluted. The condition is such that it is not at all fit for busking of turtles and the female turtles cannot breed. Usually in such cases we initially send the dead turtle for postmortem. May be the reports are yet to come. In this case I can't say anything precise as I am outside the state. But returning to Tripura I will look into the matter."

      From his remarks it is absolutely clear that the authorities are not serious about maintaining quality of water of Kalyan Sagar. It can be easily guessed from the following  points:-

1) In 2014 a total of 7 N-Nigricans turtles died in Kalyan Sagar.

2) In 2014 368 fishes died in Kalyan Sagar

Filthy water of Matabari Udaipur Kalyansagar lake. TIWN Pic Nov 5

After widespread resentment from all corners District Administration and MataBari Temple Advisory Committee held a meeting. And in this meeting Fishery Department was instructed to see the matter. Accordingly Dr Biplab Debroy, Professor of Pathology Department in Veterinary College examined the water and soil of Kalyan Sagar. In his report Biplab Debroy categorically mentioned that the lake itself lacks dissolved oxygen and the soil under water is rotten. As such it is unfit for marine life- turtles and fishes. As per the report SDM Udaipur instructed Fishery department to take steps for increasing the dissolved oxygen. And Udaipur Fire Station was asked to keep the water moving up and down through pump machines. But after a few days Fire Service stopped this work though SDM arranged fuel for this purpose. Meanwhile Manager MataBari temple Milan Debnath expressed his discontent on the ongoing situation. He blamed that Fishery Department and Fire Service Department were very careless since Durga Puja. And much before Diwali their work remained suspended. Unless the concerned department do not do their work properly, marine life of Kalyan Sagar can't be saved.  

 

 

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