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Time of India
12 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Kufos restocks native fish species in Chalakudy
Kochi: In a step towards restoring aquatic biodiversity and supporting traditional livelihoods of fisherfolk, indigenous fish seeds were restocked in Chalakudy River, which has the maximum number of fish species in the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiative, aimed at ecological restoration and sustainable inland fisheries, is a joint effort by Annamanada grama panchayat and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos). Under the restocking programme, 1,500 advanced fingerlings and broodstock of two native species — yellow catfish (Horabagrus brachysoma), locally known as Manjakoori, and olive barb (Systomus sarana), commonly called Kuruva — were released. Yellow catfish is included in threatened category as per International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. "These species are vital components of our riverine ecosystems and local fisheries. Their restocking not only supports biodiversity but also uplifts river-based livelihoods," said Kufos vice-chancellor Biju Kumar. Endemic to Western Ghats, yellow catfish faces increasing threats from habitat degradation, overexploitation and hydrological disruptions. Olive barb, once abundant in river channels and paddy fields, has seen drastic population decline due to pollution, land-use changes and climate-induced stresses. According to recent studies, these two native species contribute an estimated 1.16 metric tonnes (Kuruva) and 2.01 metric tonnes (Manjakoori) to the annual fishery yield in Chalakudy catchment. With more than 110 recorded fish species — over 50% of which are endemic — Chalakudy River and its floodplains are recognized as a critical habitat within Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "This restocking programme is a model of community-driven conservation that we hope to replicate across other degraded river systems," Kumar said. However, the river's ecological integrity is increasingly under threat from biological invasions. Chalakudy system now harbours over 15 non-native species, including at least 12 aggressive exotics such as common carp, sucker mouth catfish (Pterygoplichthys spp), Nile tilapia, alligator gar and giant gourami. Many of these were introduced — often illegally — for aquaculture and ornamental purposes. The 2018 floods further exacerbated the problem, sweeping invasive species into the river in large numbers. Influx of alien species, compounded by multisource pollution, has undermined native biodiversity and economic security of local fishing communities. In response, Kufos has been actively developing and deploying captive breeding protocols for native species. These scientifically planned stock enhancement programmes have been implemented across key inland waterbodies in Kerala, including Idamalayar and Peringalkuthu reservoirs and Sasthamkotta Lake.
Time of India
07-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
GPs in B'gavi district save Rs 13cr in annual power bills, thanks to energy audit
Belagavi: Leveraging his background in electrical engineering, Belagavi zilla panchayat (ZP) CEO Rahul Shinde implemented a district-wide energy audit that saved gram panchayats (GP) a staggering Rs 13 crore in annual electricity expenditure. The success of this initiative drew the attention of state officials, and the officer is now preparing to present the model to the state panchayats across the district spend significant amounts on electricity to power drinking water supply systems and streetlights, often struggling to pay the rising costs. By Feb-end, GPs owed Rs 147 crore in cumulative unpaid electricity bills to Hubli Electricity Supply Company (Hescom) .Concerned by the mounting dues, Shinde launched a detailed investigation and identified systemic inefficiencies and lapses across the district's 500-odd GPs. A total of 16,580 Revenue Register (RR) Numbers (electricity connections availed by GPs) were surveyed. The findings were alarming. The key lapses identified were as follows: penalties levied by Hescom for unmetered water pumping, interest charges (1%) due to delayed bill payments, fixed charges for inactive or defunct connections that were not officially disconnected, unauthorised connections to borewells leading to fines, mismatch in sanctioned load and actual usage, lack of monthly reconciliation with Hescom, and neglect in availing a Rs 1 rebate per unit on electricity used for LED streetlights."Most panchayats were unaware or negligent about availing LED rebates or disconnecting unused lines. These issues, though avoidable, were draining GP funds," said Rahul drive and impact:In coordination with Hescom, a massive rectification campaign was conducted. Through this drive, 1,470 unused connections were permanently disconnected, while 823 new connections were formally approved. Another 654 connections were shifted to proper locations, and load corrections were made in 3,725 cases. Most notably, tariffs for 4,101 connections were converted to LED rates, and 48 private connections misusing GP power supply were these rectifications, a total of Rs 12.7 crore was saved for the GPs. Rs 1.9 crore was saved just by converting to LED tariffs, while Rs 10.8 crore was saved through other district-wide rectification campaign began on April 3 in three phases. In the first phase, survey teams conducted site visits and reported the status of all electricity connections. In the second phase, correction measures were initiated by submitting applications to Hescom. The third phase involved consistent follow-ups with Hescom to ensure the changes were implemented. In total, 62 coordination meetings were held — six at the district level and 56 at the taluk level."Due to our intervention, unnecessary spending by GPs on electricity has come to a halt. We cut penalties, corrected tariffs, disconnected private usage, and ensured every rupee saved can now be used for development," ZP CEO Rahul Shinde told to the office, if replicated across Karnataka, this model could potentially save the state between Rs 150 crore to Rs 200 crore annually.
