Environmental experts have expressed serious concerns about the issuance of fishing permissions to fish mahaldars and fishermen from both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam near the D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary.
This issue, along with commercial fishing and driftwood timber operations, is adversely affecting the ecology of the region and disrupting the movement of waterbirds, including those in the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park.
The Deputy Commissioner of Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan, chaired a District Level Committee (DLC) meeting to finalize beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Matsaya Sampada (PMSSY) fisheries sector.
During the meeting, 27 applicants were found eligible for the allotment of one auto e-rickshaw each, supporting fish marketing facilities under the PMSSY initiative.
The D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary division in Pasighat, in collaboration with the Eco-Development Committee (EDC) and Community Monitoring & Surveillance Team (CSMT), conducted a six-day workshop and waterbird census.
Led by Delhi-based ecologist and ornithologist Tarun Kumar Roy, the program aimed to assess the impact of commercial activities on the sanctuary’s ecology, particularly in relation to waterbirds.
During the workshop, Roy highlighted the delayed and reduced arrival of migratory birds from colder regions, speculating that changing climatic conditions might be contributing to the shift in bird patterns.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive study if this trend continues. Roy commended the D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary for its significant wetland, a favored destination for migratory and other wetland birds.
However, concerns were raised during field surveys as three fishermen were found illegally camping and fishing inside the sanctuary area. The team also intercepted driftwood timber operators near the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary. Roy stressed that such illegal activities disrupt the natural habitat and presence of waterbirds in the sanctuary.
The workshop not only addressed ecological concerns but also focused on enhancing the sanctuary’s protection and conservation efforts. Smty Ponung Ering Angu, a retired Joint Director of ICDS and daughter of late Daying Ering, expressed satisfaction over the sanctuary’s gradual recovery due to effective protection and conservation measures in the past five years.
Environmental experts and officials are urging a thorough examination of fishing permissions and commercial operations to safeguard the ecological balance of the D. Ering Wildlife Sanctuary and its impact on waterbird movement in the region.
