4.2.9.14 Gobindsagar / Bhakra Nangal (Himachal Pradesh)

4.2.9.14 Gobindsagar / Bhakra Nangal (Himachal Pradesh)

It was constructed under Bhakra-Nangal project at Bhakra across the river Sutlej.It is an important reservoir in Himachal Pradesh. The maximumwater spread areaof the reservoir is 16,870 ha and minimum is 5,670 ha with a shoreline of 564km. The reservoir is clearly demarcated into three zones depending on thenature of run off i.e. warm lacustrine, mixed lacustrine and cool lacustrine.

Fish and fisheries

The fish species present in this reservoir arecommonly those found in the upper reaches of the river. Its ichthyofunacomprises 51 species belonging to 9 families, including the brown trout Salmo trutta, snow trouts, Schizothoraxspp. and several species of hillstream fishes. In addition to two exoticspecies viz. Hypophthalmicthys molitrixand Cyprinus carpio var. specularis, Catla catla, T. putitora, L. rohita, L. dero, L. calbasu, L.bata, L. dyocheilus, Cirrhinus mrigala, Wallago attu and A. Seenghala constitute the commercialfisheries in order of their abundance. Channaspp and A. seenghala are the twopredators known. Its fish yield was commendable. The yield (113.5 kg/ha) being the highest inIndia, coming as it was from a large reservoir, was mainly due to silver carp (H. molitrix), which accidentally enteredinto the reservoir in 1971. Beforedominance of silver carp, the reservoir had a good fishery of major carps andmahseer but this has later more or less disappeared. Howerver, Gobindsagar is known to be a well managed reservoir.

Last modified: Wednesday, 27 June 2012, 9:25 AM