4.2.9.13 Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar / Rihand reservoir (Uttar Pradesh)

4.2.9.13 Govind Ballabh Pant Sagar / Rihand reservoir (Uttar Pradesh)

The reservoir situated in the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh was constructed across river Rihand, a tributary to Sone, which in turn joins Ganga in Uttar Pradesh. Its total water spread area is 46,620 ha.

Fish and Fisheries

The commercial catches are dominated by major carps, and among the carps, catla is the predominant species. Like Sathanur reservoir, this reservoir (45,538 ha) also had dominance of catla (73 to 99%) from 1971-72 to 1980-81. So much so, it was popularly known as “catla mine”. Catla fish got adjusted to the ecosystem so well that it was reflected as the most outstanding monospecies fishery of the reservoir. Unfortunately, the catala fishery declined later with the establishment of five thermal plants along the bank of the reservoir and also on account of lapses on management. The desert State of Rajasthan yielded appreciable quantities of catla from reservoirs like Ramgarh,Guda and Jaisamand.

The breeding population of fish can be built up in a reservoir when stocking with viable seed is done during the early phase of reservoir formation. Among the three Indian major carps, C. catla is the best suited for stocking reservoirs followed by C. mrigala. In the case of L. rohita, it has certain limitations to adjust. This apart, there are some other endemic fish species available in India like Pangasius pangasius, Puntius pulcheilus, Barbodes carnaticus,Thynnichthys sandkhol. The other species are Cirrhinus mrigala, Labeo calbasu, L. rohita, L. bata, Puntius sarana,Wallago attu, Silonia silondia, Mystus spp., Bagarius bagarius, Notopterus chitala, N. notopterus and Channa marulius. Gears commonly used are surface gill net and giant dragnet.These nets are operated from the flat bottomed country craft.

Last modified: Wednesday, 27 June 2012, 9:24 AM