Aquatic and biodiversity are disappearing

Due to the annual floods and uncontrolled exploitation of rivers, aquatic animals have started disappearing from the rivers and streams of the district and the biodiversity is also declining.

The existence of aquatic life has been found to be endangered as water resources are being depleted and polluted due to natural and human factors. Asala fish, Chepaganda, Bhura, Gangato etc. are disappearing from Myagdi river. According to environmentalists, the aquatic life of Kaligandaki, Myagdi and Raghuganga rivers has been lost due to the rampant river exploitation, garbage dumping and floods.

He said that the aquatic life in these rivers has been disappearing due to floods and landslides in the last five years. The existence of aquatic creatures has been found in the area from Narchang area of ​​Kaligandaki river to the district headquarters Beni, which is considered to be the abode of Shaligram and aquatic creatures.

Stakeholders have stated that the existence of aquatic life is in crisis due to the change in the natural quality of water and environmental imbalance due to the hydropower project under construction in Annapurna Gaonpalika-4 Narchang of Myagdi.

Narchang is known to be a very suitable place for habitat of aquatic and wild animals. Shiva Purja, who is working in the environment unit of the Mistrikhola Hydropower Project under construction in Narchang, said that there has been a lot of competition for the construction of power projects from rivers and streams.

Five 157 MW hydropower projects are under construction in Narchang. The sources of the hydropower projects under construction are the rivers and streams here.

Environmentalists have also said that floods and unnatural excavation of riverine objects are the main reasons for the loss of aquatic life. According to Chandra Mania Sapkota, an environmental conservationist, the aquatic habitats are on the verge of extinction due to landslides and floods in the Myagdi River, Kaligandaki and Raghuganga areas.

 According to him, the floods in the river not only dilute the river and cause food shortage but also damage the adaptive condition of the aquatic life. Human encroachment and exploitation of natural resources is another reason for the extinction of aquatic life. The smuggling of riverine products has increased in all the three reservoir areas of Myagdi. According to environmentalists, the use of heavy equipment such as dozers and excavators in the river has affected the aquatic life and they have become extinct.

Similarly, rivers and streams have become places for dumping garbage in markets and rural areas. Environmentalists say that the existence of aquatic life is endangered due to the effect of chemical elements while dumping garbage in the river.