UDAIPUR, January 15 (TIWN): Kalyan Sagar of MataBari is now once again in headlines not for its tradition of attracting tourists and devotees across the globe but for yet another death of marine life. Kalyan Sagar has been famous for being the natural habitat for rare species N-Nigricans turtles and fishes of different species. But thanks to the carelessness shown by the Gomati District administration and MataBari Development Committee this endangered species of turtles as well as the fishes are now facing extinction. Interestingly CPI(M)'s most influential MLA in the entire Gomati District Madhab Saha is the Chairman of the MataBari Development Committee and DM Gomati is the Sevait of the Committee. Inspire of the presence of two most influential officials, the condition of the natural habitat for the marine life in Kalyan Sagar is now under severe threat.

Early on Wednesday morning local residents saw two fishes floating on the water of Kalyan Sugar. At once they informed the temple authorities. But instead of doing anything the temple authorities got busy to bury the fishes even before the media persons arrived there. According to this plan both the fishes were buried in a near by place but none of the press was informed about the burial place . After much pressurizing Manager of MataBari temple Sridam Roy told this correspondent ," Yes, two fishes died on Wednesday morning. And we have already buried them. " Wen asked about the reasons behind the deaths , the Manager said," I am not an expert to say this. But in open eyes it can be seen that the water of Kalyan Sagar is badly polluted. And this also indicates that the water lacks adequate amount of dissolved Oxygen in it. That might be a cause for the death of the fishes. " Meanwhile the local people said TIWN ,"  neither MLA Madhab Saha nor DM Gomati Sonal Goel came to MataBari today . May be they remained busy in preparation of the Makar Sankranti Festival either in their families or elsewhere."   

      Earlier on 17th November 2014 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. The purpose was to discuss about the deaths of fishes and N-Nigricans turtles in Kalyan Sagar. Others, who attended that high level meeting were State Pollution Control Board Chairman Prof Amitabha Debroy, former State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)Chairman Dr Mihir Deb, noted Environmentalist Prof Jyoti Prakash 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 TSPCB cruurent chairman and former chairman criticised the the Tripura Sundari temple authorities for being too much 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 2014 another N-Nigricans  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 dozz the cemented embarkments constructed on all sides of Kalyan Sagar. But authorities did not respond to these ; rather they are busy in the  beautification of Kalyan Sagar and its surroundings.

        On 12th June, 2014 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.

 According to the  PCCF and Chief Wild Life Warden Dr A K Gupta'as  " 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. "

      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 way back in October. 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 Sridam Roy expressed his discontent on the ongoing situation. He blamed that Fishery Department and Fire Service Department were very careless since Diwali. 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."