Angling to promote tourism

Kalimpong, May 4: Fishing for ways to woo tourists, Kalimpong MLA Gualan Lepcha has come up with the ideal bait : Angling. The angling competition held today at the Teesta-Rangit (Beni) confluence drew contestants from Kalimpong and neighbouring Sikkim. This was the second time such a competition was organised and the response was `heartening`.

`We had organized a similar competition on April 12 at Linkhimtar in Sikkim where anglers from Sikkim as well as from neighbouring places had participated. Some tourists, who were keen anglers, also contested there,` said D.K. Subba, executive member of Sikkim Anglers` Association (SAA), and a participant at today`s contest. Lepcha believed the sport held immense prospects for tourism. `We should hold such competitions more often. Apart from giving tourists something more to do during their holidays, this will also generate awareness among the local residents to preserve the indigenous species.`

Fish, a staple for most hill residents, is usually caught by blasting dynamite in water. Such methods take a gruesome toll on species that are not preferred as food.

`Once such contests draw tourists, it will also open a new avenue for employment for residents,` Lepcha said. `It will put an end to the mindless destruction of the resources of the river and restore ecological balance.`

SAA treasurer Namgyal T. Sherpa echoed Lepcha. `Even anglers without proper knowledge impact the river in a negative way. Some fishes like the Mahseer and the Jalkapoor, which were earlier found in plenty, have been fished to near-extinction. A river without any fish is a dead river and we need to make people understand this,` Sherpa said.

Apart from contests, workshops in hamlets hemming the river are being planned. `We want to inform the people living in the area about the effects of destructive fishing methods,` he added.

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