Illegal riverbed mining is severely impacting the fisheries industry in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district. Over 2,500 trout fish were killed due to the diversion of fresh water supply to Peerzada Rayees’ fish farm by illegal miners. Despite this, no action has been taken against the perpetrators.
Rayees, from Sail Beerwah, has been seeking justice for more than a week. Last year, with support from the Department of Fisheries, J&K, he established a fish farm intending to sell his first crop of trout fish by the end of May. Tragically, on the night of May 23rd-24th, his entire stock of trout fish died when the water supply from the Sukhnag river was diverted. The average weight of the fish ranged between 200 to 350 grams. Rayees and his brothers had invested Rs 9 lakhs in the farm, but all their fish perished before they could benefit from their investment.
The Peerzada Brothers Trout Fish Farm is situated on Beerwah Tosamaidan Road in Dooen Kuel Bagh, village Sail Tehsil Beerwah of District Budgam. Rayees, who holds a Master’s Degree in Chemistry, started the farm in March 2023 after failing to secure a government job. His brothers assisted him, and they were preparing to sell their first crop on the eve of Bakra Eid.
The water supply was normal until the early hours of May 24th when it was cut off. Rayees’ brothers discovered the dead fish around 4:30 am. They learned that the illegal miners had cut the water supply line to extract boulders and other riverbed material, allowing muddy water to enter the tanks, killing the fish.
Rayees has been tirelessly seeking help for the past six days, but no action has been taken. The Police Station Beerwah has not filed an FIR despite his attempts to lodge a complaint. Social media posts highlighting the issue, including pictures of the dead fish on X (formerly Twitter), have also failed to prompt a response from the District Administration Budgam or the Geology and Mining Department.
