Kaptai cries for fresh water

Kaptai Lake, the largest artificial waterbody, is under threat due to pollution and soil erosion of the barren hills surrounding it.

This has driven down fish population especially of the carp variety over the last few years.

There are 73 species of fish in the lake. According to the Bangladesh Fish Development Corporation (BFDC), catch of carp has decreased to 220 tonnes from as high as 972 tonnes in 1964.

Because of the fish stock depletion, the government now plans to ban fishing for a year or two.

"When we ban fishing, the government will support the fishermen for the period," said Moniswapan Dewan, deputy minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts affairs.

But fishermen from Jaulapara in Rangamati fear that the ban would seriously threaten their livelihood. They alleged that the BFDC was supposed to provide them Tk 5,000 in interest-free loan during off-seasons, but they did not get the money. The Bangla months of Jaistha, Ashar and Shraban (May, June and July) are considered as off-season.

"We live in utter misery during the three-month off-season. God only knows what would happen if they slap the ban," said Nakul Jaldas, a fisherman of Kaptai.

Using 'current net' is another major threat to fish in the lake. Last year, the BFDC seized 580 pounds of current net.

The traditional 'Jhum' cultivation practised by the indigenous people and recently by the Bangalis is the main reason for soil erosion which runs into the lake and fills it up, say experts.

The lone hydroelectric project located on the lake is also under threat due to the siltation.

Siltation makes navigation from Rangamati to Longodu, Barkal, Gurachhari and Baghaichhari difficult during December to May. About 100 launches and 2,000 motorboats sallies on these routes round the year.

The waterbody with a catchment area of 426 square miles was created in 1960 by damming the Kaptai Lake to fuel the hydroelectricity project. It occupies 54,000 hectares of farmland and forced 200,000 indigenous people from their land.

The water development board plans to dredge the lake to maintain its navigability, said Aminul Islam, project manager of the Kaptai Hydroelectric Dam.