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Detailed Ecological Assessment Report 2008 – Keenjhar Lake
gave so poor response to the licensing system that the income never crossed
rupees five lace. During the period 1992-93 to 1997-98 licenses system was
abolished as per speech of then Finance Minister. Besides lake was also
declared as wildlife sanctuary form 1993-94 and it was under the possession of
Agriculture, Livestock Department where the fishing was completely banned up to
1996-97, when the possession of water area was transferred back to Fisheries
department for introduction of mole system under the order of the then Chief
Minister of Sindh.
After failure/cancellation of ‘moles’ system, licensing system was restored which
remained operative up to 1998. Thereafter the lake was put into open auction in
Rs. 688,000/= for the period 01.1.1999 to 30.06.2000 but on the agitation of
Fishermen against auction system, it was decided in the meeting held by Director
General, Livestock and Fisheries, deputy Commissioner, Thatta that Rs. 688.00/=
be recovered from the fishermen and licenses be issued to them, as a result the
Fishermen got the licenses of Rs. 519,000/= only.
The lake was put into open auction for the period 2000-2001 with Government bid
of Rs. 27,52.000/= at 400% increase (enhanced by the then Minister) & fetched
the bid of Rs. 15,65,00/= but same was not approved being a low bid. On the
non-approval of lease 7 by the passage of the time the contractor backed out
from his offer and demanded refund of Rs. 3,50,000/= deposited by him. Again
the water area was put into open auction on 23.11.2001 for the period 2000-2001
& fetched bid Rs. 13,80,000/= against Government bid of Rs, 13,76,000/= (at
100%) out of which Rs. 10,80,000/= were recovered only
Again the lake was put into open auction for 2001-02 along with other water
areas but fetched no bid.In the light of verbal instructions of the then Secretary,
Agriculture Livestock & Fisheries Department during the visit of Keenjhar lake on
05.07.2001 the departmental operation was carried out with share of 1/4 th to
Fishermen, which is still in operation.
The lake was repeatedly put for open auction the year 2003-04 & on 21.05.2003,
09.06.2003, 28.06.2003, 05.07.2003, 23.4.2003 & 21.03.2004, after wide
publicity, through newspapers but could not fetch any did due to political
interference and acute shortage of commercial carp fishes because of drought
conditions which affected the breeding and propagation of fishes in River Indus.
Looking to the shortage of major commercial fishes in the lake, Fisheries
Department stocked 250,000/= fish seed in to the lake during 2002-03. The
department has prepared the scheme namely “Improvement & Restoration of
Lake Ecosystem and Control of Eutrophication & Vegetation in the Lake” under
which fish seed production capacity of Chillya fish Hatchery is being enhanced
and on completion 1000,000 fingerlings will be stocked in the lake annually.
Table 17 – Fish production in monetary terms over the years
S. NO YEAR AMOUNT REMARKS
1 1979-80 402450 -do-
2 1980-81 355850 -do-
3 1981-82 384700 -do-
4 1982-83 298400 -do-
5 1983-84 305950 -do-
6 1984-85 164432 -do-
7 1985-86 302751 -do-
8 1986-87 316931 -do-
WWF Pakistan – Indus for All Programme Page 65 of 165