In the late 1980s, the Chandigarh Administration had conducted a study on the fish at the Sukhna Lake. It was forgotten about soon and since then no concrete measures were taken to improve the quality and variety of the fish at the Lake.

More than thirty years later, the Chandigarh Administration has again decided to conduct a study on fish at the Lake, their quantity and variety and eventually to weed out ones not required.

It has also decided to put up aerators in the Lake to ensure that fish to do not die due to lack of oxygen. The project would cost somewhere around Rs 7 lakh and the study is being conducted by Prof M S Johal from the Dept of Zoology at Panjab University. Prof Johal said: “It would take me a month to submit the report. This study is very significant as with the conclusions arrived at, we can save the fish at the Sukhna. Moreover, adopting the fishing patterns presented in the report would help avoid the sudden death of fish.”

The meeting of the Administration was attended by officials including Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar, Director Fisheries Raji P Srivastava and Prof Johal. The proposal to have aerators was forward by Prof Johal who said fish can die in winters when oxygen is cut off, but in case aerators are available, artificial oxygen can be created. Prof Johal said: “Boating would be encouraged at the Lake as paddling too creates artificial oxygen. Each aerator costs around Rs 1.25 lakh and it’s only after working out the proposal, that the same will be implemented.”

Money for the project is not a concern, Prof Johal said, as the ones allowed fishing would pay the money and the same can be used to put the aerators.