Officials of the Revenue Department and the police destroyed hundreds of fish farms in Razakpalya, Mastanpalya and Budanshahpalya in Bagalur near Yelahanka on Saturday.
The residents were reportedly rearing various species of fish, such as African catfish, which have been prohibited in the country. K. Ranganath, tahsildar, Bangalore north division, said that the land was meant only for agricultural purposes. “The local residents have promised us to clear the fish in the farms in two-three days,” he said.
Mr. Ranganath said these people had been issued warnings earlier to stop fish farming. As farmers dumped offal meant to feed the catfish in the locality, it had been attracting birds. It was affecting the operations of the Indian Air Force base, which is nearby, and the Bengaluru International Airport.
Meanwhile, residents claimed that only some farms had been used for rearing catfish.
Keywords: fish farms, African catfish, fish rearing
