Kalimpong angling spots await tourism push

RAJEEV RAVIDAS

Anglers at Tribeni. Picture by Chinlop Fudong Lepcha Kalimpong, March 16: Sport fishing in the rivers flowing through Kalimpong has the potential of attracting loads of anglers from outside, but the tourism map of the Darjeeling hills doesn’t feature any angling spot along the Teesta, Relli, Rishi and the Mah. Experts believe if Kalimpong is promoted as an angling destination, it would give a huge fillip to tourism. Among the most sought after angling spots are the places where the Teesta meets other rivers. Anglers have said the best spot among the lot is Tribeni, which is the confluence of the Teesta and the Rangeet near Teesta Bazar, 18km downhill from Kalimpong. The confluence of the Teesta and the Ravi Jhora, 4km downstream from Tribeni, and Doban at 27Mile, where the Relli empties into the Teesta, are also the haunts of the anglers. Doban is 10km downstream from Tribeni. Rapden Foning, an avid angler and joint director of the department of fisheries in Calcutta, said a proper policy had to be formulated to tap the tremendous potential that the rivers flowing through the sub-division had on offer for the sport fishing. “There are no arrangements for the angling in the rivers in Kalimpong. The rivers in the hills, including the stretch of the Teesta from Sevoke to Rangpo, are looked after by the fisheries department of the DGHC. They need to formulate a policy for angling. The DGHC can issue licenses to NGOs or local youths to conduct angling tours, and also spell out a clear do’s and don’ts for the sport,” he said over the phone from Calcutta. Foning said the Karnataka government had issued licenses to NGOs to conduct angling tours along the Cauvery and the river had become a huge draw for anglers from across the globe. “What I would suggest is set up lodges for anglers at popular fishing spots like Tribeni,” he added. Sarthak Pradhan, fishery extension officer, Jalpaiguri, said a number of proposals had been sent to the DGHC to promote angling, but all of them had fallen on deaf ears. “Angling is so much a part of Kalimpong’s culture. It needs to preserved and promoted,” he added. The officer had done research on the riverine life in the Teesta and was posted in Kalimpong once. Pradhan said the Teesta was potentially one of the best rivers for angling in the world. “Golden mahseer and katli are the most important catches in the river for anglers,” he said. Contacted, Subrato Haldar, the fisheries officer of the DGHC, said he did not want to make any comment now since he was tied up with work ahead of the financial year’s end. Pradhan, however, feared that the damming of the river at different places could adversely affect the angling spots. “The use of pesticides in upstream villages can also pose a threat to the riverine life, especially at Reang which is a breeding spot for fish” he said. Other hazard, local anglers said, is the continuing dumping of garbage in the Teesta by the Kalimpong municipality.(Telehraph)