DERA ISMAIL KHAN, July 31: Fishing rights in river Indus were auctioned here today at EDO agriculture office, on Tuesday morning.

More than a dozen contractors took part in this auction which was conducted by Assistant Director Fisheries Dera Ismail Khan, Malik Muhammadf Afzal.

Muhammad Iqbal Khan of the district monitored the process Monitoring Team constituted by District Nazim. Aolas Khan-EDO agriculture D.I.Khan chaired the auction.

A number of anglers from Dera Anglers Association were also present on the occasion, and under pressure, it was decided that Indus waters be auctioned as a single unit for the period of one year only.

Earlier, through an advertisement in various dailies, it was notified that the water rights would be auctioned in four units for a period of three years and fishing licenses would be issued on the sweet will of the contractors.

Although there was a mutual understanding of the contractors, it was decided that no contractor would cross the limits of Rs1.5 million in a year.

But Malik Dilbaz Khan of Bannu crossed the limit and the auction was closed at Rs2.2 million. Official limit was Rs 2.114 million.