Sand extraction leaves the Mahseer in troubled waters

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Sand extraction leaves the Mahseer in troubled waters
Sharath S. Srivatsa

GALIBORE (Ramanagar dt): Past midnight, the chugging of tractors carrying men and shovels punctuates the tranquillity of the forest. In an hour or two, shadowy figures furtively fill the tractors with fresh sand, which are quickly then driven away from the scene, leaving behind deep craters on the banks of the Cauvery.

The illegal extraction of sand from the river and its banks poses a grave danger to the Deccan Mahseers, one of the largest fresh water game fish in the world and categorised as endangered species.

Referred to as the "Tiger of Water" for their fighting instincts, Mahseers are falling prey to the illegal sand mining along the Cauvery, especially the approximately 30-km stretch between Doddamakali in Karnataka and Hogenakkal in Tamil Nadu.

Declining numbers

"The craters caused by illegal sand extraction are affecting the spawning area along the river course, leading to a decline in their number. Illegal miners operate even during the monsoon when the river is in spate, which also coincides with the breeding season of the Mahseers," Lokesh Kumar, Resident Manager of Galibore Fishing Camp, managed by the Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR), told The Hindu. "Tractor loads of sand are extracted illegally in many places, including Shimsha, Ontigundu and Bommasandra. The activity continues unabated between 1 a.m. and 4 a.m. daily," he added.

The Deccan Mahseer lays eggs in shallow waters that have fine sand, which is also safe for its fingerlings.

However, the craters left behind by the illegal extraction may drastically change the course of the river and increase its depth destroying the spawning area. The fingerlings can also fall prey to bigger fish, leading to a decline in population.

Making matters worse, conservationists say, is the fact that Mahseers are slow breeders.

According to the Joint Secretary of Wildlife Association of South India (WASI) Prathap Ruthnaswamy, sand plays a crucial role in propagation of Mahseers, and sand mining is leading to habitat loss.

"In fact, due to mining, the number of Mahseers caught by anglers and their sizes have come down drastically. Mining in the Arkavathi and the Shimsha riverbanks has also brought down the Mahseer population," said Mr. Ruthnaswamy, who has been angling in the area for nearly two decades.

He said: "The construction boom in Bangalore has fuelled the sand extraction here. We have informed the Forest Department about the sand extraction several times. However, it continues."

Limited patrolling

Patrolling of the riverbanks to guard against mining has been hit due to shortage of security staff.

The sources said that the JLR that has secured lease for a 25-km stretch of the river near Galibore has only seven people to patrol the riverbanks whereas around 30 patrollers are required.

The WASI, which held the lease prior to JLR, assists in conservation efforts and has deployed five guards.

Meanwhile, a senior Forest Department official said that they had booked several cases against the illegal miners.

However, the official said that it is difficult to control the illegal activity as the department is understaffed, and the miners take advantage of the confusion over the boundary that demarcates the sanctuary from revenue land.

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