Sikkim Bans Packaged Mineral Water From January 1, 2022

The chief minister of the state PS Tamang on Saturday said that the state is blessed with natural resources that provide fresh and good quality drinking water.

"Everyone in Sikkim would now have to do away with mineral water bottles and opt for natural water resources," the CM said.

He also said that the government has given three months time to clear the existing stock of mineral water bottles.

Notably, tourist hotspots like Lachen in North Sikkim have already banned packaged water bottles.

"Sikkim is rich in natural water resources and all requirements for water can be met within the state through environment-friendly initiatives," the CM added.

Earlier, TheSikkim government has declared the endangered Neolissochilus hexagonolepis, commonly known as Chocolate or Copper Mahseer and locally named as Katley, as the 'State Fish'. The name Chocolate Mahseer has been given because of the morphological body colour of this fish. The ICAR-National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBGR), Lucknow, had categorised Katley as "endangered species" in 1992. Much later, in 2014, it was categorized as 'endangered' even by global conservation body, the International Union forConservation of Nature (IUCN).
In India, Katley are mostly found in Himalayas, especially in the north-eastern States of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Nagaland. In Sikkim, Katley are found in varied altitudes covering the entire State, predominantly confined in Teesta and Rangit rivers and their tributaries. There are as many as 48 indigenous species of Mahseer in Sikkim, an official said. "Katley migrate upstream for breeding purpose and spawning takes place on stones and gravel. Spawning occurs from April to October with a peak in August to September. The fecundity of the fish is 3,500 per kilogram body weight. The maximum growth and length of Katley fish recorded is 11 kg and 120 cms respectively," the recent notification by the Directorate of Fisheries under Sikkim's Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services said.

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