Bhopal, May 8: Fish is an animal living in water, sweet or salty. There are thousands of kinds of fishes in this world. Their size varies from half an inch to up to 20 metres. They weigh from a few grammes to several tonnes according to their size. They come in different colour also. Fish is a staple food for many, mainly for the people living in seashore. Fishing is a hobby for the British. Unscrupulous killing of fish has caused extinction of many rare varieties of fishes.

'Feeding of fish is considered by Hindus as a pious act to please the god. One can see a big pond next to any important Sri Krishna Temple in Kerala as fish is considered as the first of the ten 'Avtars' (Incarnation)of Lord Narayana. Hence, fishes are grown in the pond for worship and the devotees feed them'.

The small size varieties of different colours of fish are being kept at the aquarium. The aquarium of Bhopal is considered one of the best in the country.

Varieties of fish

The variety of fishes kept in the aquarium include Black Angel, Tiger Barb, Gold Fish, Copper Gold, Subankin Gold, Loches, Blue Gourami, Kissing Gourami, Golden Gourami, Bluemark King Cobra Gappi, Black Moli, Fighter, Blackmoor, Lemon tetra, Sakar cat, Malona Carb, Katala-Katala, Lebio Rahita, Lebio Kalbasu, Sirhans Moogla, Saiprince Carpio, Silver Carb, Grass Carb, Mahasheer, Golden Carb, Microbrakium Rozbargi, Baam, Samval, Sanghad, Padhin, Mangur, Sindhi, and Netopateras.

History of Aquarium

Opened for the public on 31 May 1977, the aquarium stands on 1.2 acres of land on the banks of Lower Lake. The building of the aquarium is an attraction to many as it is in the shape of a fish. The building has two floors. The ground floor houses 26 aquariums while the first floor has 40 aquariums.

It is being closed forever

Famous for its variety of colourful fishes throughout the country and abroad, the state government has decided to close down the aquarium. According to reliable sources, the place will be utilised to construct a 5-star hotel. Not only the children, even the aged citizens of the city are worried over the news of closing down of the aquarium. The Bhopal Today Team

reporter has talked to many citizens on the news of closure of aquarium to find out about their reactions.

It should not be closed

Puneet Agrawal is a student of Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. According to him, it is the only place where children can see different kinds of fishes. It is a wrong decision to close it and it should not be allowed to close, he said.

Ruchi Godlani, a Class XII student says it exists not only for the children but also for others too. Here everyone can see different kind of colourful fishes. They are very lovely and one forgets about the time watching them, she said. 'I am against closing of the aquarium', she said.

Deepesh Moolchandani, Class IV student has visited the aquarium with his mother. He find the fishes very attractive and lovely. Why should they close it, he was surprised.

Mohika Dubey is MBBS student at Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. According to her, this is the best and main aquarium of the country. Several kind of colourful fishes are kept here. It is said that watching the colourful fishes helps the children's mental growth. 'I will say that closing of the aquarium is a wrong decision', she added.

Sapna Senani, housewife said, 'Whenever the children wanted to go out, I took them to the aquarium. Because they are very happy to come here and watch the fishes. At least for the sake of the children, the aquarium should not be closed', she pleaded.

Akanksha Goyal, a tourist from Agra liked the aquarium very much. 'Such a beautiful aquarium is not available in my own town', she said. 'I am sorry to hear that the aquarium is being closed forever. Instead of closing, it should have been improved with more types of fish', she opined.