Puffed-rice, Marie biscuits are lockdown fodder in Kalyan-Sagar

Puffed rice and Marie biscuits that had been once strictly prohibited from being offered to the aquatic life of Kalyan Sagar lake of Matabari temple citing several scientific issues, reintroduced as lockdown time fodder for there.

The re-introduction that too in the time which has been considered to be the breeding season for the tortoises, however, invoked massive upshots from the experts. According to experts, there was scientific evidence that show as to how the population of fish and rarely found tortoises (Black Shelled Tortoise) decreased due to these kinds of fodder offered largely by the devotees earlier. 

Manager of Matabari Manik Datta confirmed the issue and said that everyday puffed rice and biscuits were being served in the Kalyan Sagar as fodder. But, when asked about the scientific aspects Datta simply denied the issue.

“Every day, 5 KGs of puffed rice and 20 packets of Marie biscuits are given to the fish and tortoises. For the swans, the temple authorities prepare 2 kg of rice. Every day, the same of the quantity of food is given twice a day—in morning and evening”, Datta told this reporter. When asked about the restrictions on serving such foods, he said, “There are no such restrictions. Earlier, devotees use to offer puffed rice and biscuits and now we are doing the same”.

Nevertheless, it is an established fact that since the last few years offering such foods had been banned considering the health condition and population of the aquatic animals. Reportedly, the number of black shelled tortoises which is an endangered species is exclusively found here along with some parts of Chittagong and Kamakhya temple Guwahati.

The population of these tortoises including three other species found here also recorded drastic dip a few years back. The main reason, then, was found that offering of puffed rice and biscuits were not helpful enough for the aqua life of Kalyan Sagar to grow.

Moreover, in order, the use of such kind of fodder had been restricted. Later on, devotees were asked to offer fish food supplied by the department of fisheries to the vendors of the Matabari complex.

• It may yield negative results for the rarest tortoise species found in Matabari: Experts

However, reacting to the issue, Jyoti Prakash Roy Chowdhury an expert in tortoises said the committee that was constituted to look after the conservation issues of Kalyan Sagar had recommended that nothing apart from fish food could be offered in the Kalyan Sagar. And, for the tortoises, the temple authorities would serve the intestinal portions of the sacrificed goats in the temple.

“Tortoises are carnivorous animals. Biscuits and puffed rice can not suffice the nutritious demand of their body. The committee constituted to carry out conservation work of the Kalyan Sagar recommended stopping the use of such fodder in Kalyan Sagar in view of the aqua life. After restrictions have been put on place positive changes emerged and the population of tortoises also improved”, said Roy Chowdhury, who served as a notable member of the conservation committee for a long period. 

Chowdhury also said that a census must take place in order to find out the exact figure of the aquatic animals of the Kalyan Sagar. “Being an auspicious place, the government must monitor the total number of the aqua animals of Kalyan Sagar lake. I have personally suggested at several points of times to conduct a census but unfortunately, nothing takes place. This season which is the breeding season of the tortoises, there should be the proper supply of food for them otherwise, the population may dip once again. If there is no animal sacrifice in the temple due to the lockdown, food for the tortoises can be outsourced from the market”, he suggested.