“Mockery” of govt’s lockdown guidelines;Fisheries department’s angling permits in Lidder river triggering fears about spread of COVID-19

Srinagar, June 20 : Amid ongoing lockdown, the Directorate of Fisheries is busy in issuing permits for trout fishing in Lidder river in Pahalgam area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, triggering fears about spread of deadly COVID-19 among locals in the area.

The news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) is in possession of several anglers’ permit issued by the department for fishing in Lidder river in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam area.“These permissions have become a source of nuisance for us . On one hand, the government is talking about enforcing lockdown but on the other, the department of Fisheries is issuing passes for angling in the area,” a group of locals living in the area told KNO.

The locals of the area accused the authorities of putting their lives in trouble by issuing these passes.

“Hundreds of people from other areas come here daily for fishing. Are not authorities playing with our lives by issuing these permits? How can they allow people to assemble when lockdown is in force? Is fishing a priority of government right now?” they asked.

They said the anglers are not adhering to guidelines/ Standard Operating Procedure issued by the department for fishing during pandemic.

When contacted, Director Fisheries, Muhammad Amin said they will stop issuing permits from Monday if locals are facing any problem.

“We had started the activity to stop poaching,” he said—(KNO)