Authorities in Gilgit-Baltistan are considering converting the Attabad lake into a hatchery for breeding a variety of fish, sources in the directorate of fisheries told The Express Tribune on Saturday.
“It is an option but let us see if the result of the feasibility study being conducted there are encouraging or not,” the official said.
The lake was formed on January 4, 2010 after a massive landslide blocked the Hunza River. the lake expanded up to 23 kilometres upstream, submerging four villages in Gojal Tehsil of Hunza-Nagar District.
Despite repeated attempts, engineers of the Frontier Works Organisation (FWO) have failed to drain the lake since the debris blocking the flow of water is too massive to be cleared.
The government is planning turning the calamity into an opportunity instead of letting things be, said the official.
“The idea is to breed a variety of fish in the lake, including trout which is a premium breed,” he said.
If implemented, the hatchery will not only benefit the people of Hunza and Gojal but also the entire region.
A team has been deputed to conduct a survey of the lake and submit recommendations regarding its feasibility, the official added.
“Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly Speaker Wazir Baig, himself a resident of Hunza, recently chaired a meeting with relevant departments in this connection,” the official said, adding that the directorate of fisheries will have the responsibility of supervising and running the project.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 10th, 2011.
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