UDAIPUR, November 19 (TIWN): To discuss about the reasons behind the deaths of the rare species N-Nigricans turtles and fishes in MataBari Kalyan Sagar a high level meeting was held in the conference room of MataBari Panchayat Samiti Office on 17th November. The meeting was chaired by Science & Technology Minister Bijita Nath. Others who attended the meeting were State Pollution Control Board Chairman Prof Amitabha Debroy, former State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)Chairman Dr Mihir Deb, noted Environmentalist Prof Jyoti Parish Roy Chowdhury, DM Gomati Sonal Goel , SDM Udaipur Ajit Debnath, Chairman of Udaipur Municipal Corporation Manika Das and officials of Fishery Department. During this long hour meeting all the Persons expressed their concern over the deaths of rare species N-Nigricans turtles and also fishes in MataBari Kalyan Sagar. But SPCB cruurent chairman and former chairman criticised the the Tripura Sundari temple authorities for being a bit careless about the turtles and also towards the Kalyan Sagar . They held the view that as long as the water of this lake remains polluted , such deaths will occur again and again.

On 5th November another turtle died in Kalyan Sagar.   Over the years environmentalists and experts have been asking the District administration as well as MataBari Development committee to bull doze the cemented embarkments constructed on all sides of Kalyan Sugar. But authorities did not respond to these ; 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.

  PCCF and Chief Wild Life Warden Dr A K Gupta told TIWN " Definitely the water of Kakyan 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."

      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 Kakyan Sagar

        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. Interestingly an aviator machine was installed in the Kalyan Sagar to keep the flow of dissolved oxygen; unfortunately within 15 days the machine went out of order.

      Perhaps the very truth was spoken in a harsh words by Environmentalist Prof Jyoti Prakash. Prof Prakash said," Whenever any death of turtle or fish occurs such meetings are held. But there is no outcome of such meetings as the temple authorities and administration do not take any step as per the suggestion of the experts. I myself has visited here several times and intact did some research with the water of Kalyan Sagar.  My observation is clear that we must do something to maintain the quality of water of the Kalyan Sagar. It must be ensured that no one is allowed to throw any material in the lake that may result in its pollution. Unfortunately we have held meeting and may be with in a day or two carelessness towards the rare species turtles will again be seen."