Rare Mahseer Fish Protection: Green People Committee Demands Cancellation of Fishing Contract

Udaipur, April 16 To safeguard the endangered Mahseer fish species in Rajasthan’s pristine Badi Lake, the Green People Committee has approached the Divisional Commissioner, Pragya Kevalramani, demanding the immediate cancellation of a recently issued fishing contract.

Protection of Rare Mahseer Fish in Focus

On Wednesday, led by Rahul Bhatnagar, president of the Green People Committee, members submitted a formal memorandum highlighting concerns about the negative impacts of commercial fishing contracts on the rare Mahseer population. The contract awarded by the state government for fishing rights in the year 2025 has sparked protests among environmentalists, given the ecological significance of the species and the lake.

Ecological Significance of Badi Lake and Mahseer Fish

Badi Lake, recognized for its naturally sweet and pristine waters, holds a unique position as Rajasthan’s sole freshwater lake supporting Mahseer fish—a species listed as “Endangered and Threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This fish is prominently featured on the IUCN Red List, highlighting its global conservation significance.

Despite typically inhabiting mountain streams, Mahseer fish uniquely thrive in the lower altitudes of Udaipur’s Badi Lake, making the location critical for the species’ survival. The absence of confirmed reports of Mahseer populations elsewhere emphasizes the lake’s ecological importance and the urgency of protecting its delicate biodiversity.

Judicial and Administrative Background

In light of its conservation importance, the Rajasthan High Court issued directives on April 4, 2017, mandating state actions for Mahseer protection and explicitly prohibiting activities detrimental to the fish. Following this, former District Collector of Udaipur had canceled fishing contracts in the lake. Moreover, the state government officially declared Badi Lake a Mahseer Protected Zone on October 7, 2023, through official order number 3(28) Forest/2023.

However, despite the clear judicial instructions and governmental orders, the recent reissuance of fishing contracts has raised alarm among environmental activists and researchers. Citing multiple scientific studies and research papers underscoring the species’ vulnerability, the Green People Committee urges immediate revocation of the fishing contracts to ensure compliance with legal directives and to prevent the Mahseer fish from approaching extinction.