Fishing in Mahakali River for a living

June 3, Kanchanpur: Indu Rai, a resident of Bhimdatta Municipality-18, Katan in Kanchanpur district, heads to the Mahakali River at the crack of dawn to catch fish. For over one and a half decades, she has been sustaining her family by catching and selling fish from the river.

Rai carries her meals with her when she goes fishing. She catches between 5 to 10 kilograms of fish daily, which she sells in local markets like Jhalaari, Mahendranagar, and Daiji. “The demand for fresh fish is high,” Rai said, “We can barely meet the customers’ needs.” Small fish sell for Rs 250 per kilogram, while larger ones fetch Rs 300.

Rai employs a unique fishing technique. She wraps a cloth around a plate, makes a hole in the centre, and places some flour in the place. When fish enter to eat the flour, she catches them and puts them in a container. She explained that setting nets was challenging due to the rocky riverbed.

Rai earns between Rs 30,000 to 35,000 monthly from fish sales. Though she owns a house, she has no land for farming. Her income covers essentials like food, salt, oil, clothing, medical expenses, and her children’s school fees. She often fishes in a group.

Parvati Chaudhary, who fishes alongside Rai, said the Mahakali River is their sole source of livelihood. She manages all household expenses through fish sales. “Compared to the past, fewer fish are found in the river now, and we spend the whole day searching for them,” Chaudhary added. The river is home to fish species like Mahaseer (Mahseer), Silar, Raina, Asala (Himalayan Snow Trout), and Magari.