Fish continue to die in lakes and tanks

While Pollution Control Board and the civic body get busy with their blame game, fish continue to die in lakes and tanks around the city

Fish continue to die in lakes and tanks

While Pollution Control Board and the civic body get busy with their blame game

Water bodies in the city are dying a slow death and fish populations are not much better off either. There have been six reports of mass dying of fish at various lakes and tanks across Bangalore in the last few months.

The latest incident has been reported from Hoodi Lake, popularly known as Giddanakere, in Whitefield where over 4,000 fish were found dead.

Residents of the area informed the authorities of the Pollution Control Board (PCB) about the matter, and based on sample tests they concluded that the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels in the lake were affecting the fish population.

Environmental officers said that the inflow of untreated sewerage from surrounding areas is the main reason for this incident and the BBMP authorities should be held responsible.

G Yatish, environmental officer from the area said, "Following sample testing, we discovered that the DO level in the lake has gone up to 8.4 mg per litre, whereas the ideal DO level is 7 mg per litre. The lake has been contaminated as a result of the sewage influx from Basavanagar, for which the BBMP authorities from that area are to blame."

He added the phenomenon often occurs during the summer months and depletion of fish harvests as a result, is causing the fisheries to lose revenue in excess of Rs 4 lakh.

Locals, however, claim that PCB authorities have not looked into the matter even though they have complained about it several times.

'It's otherwise'
"We have complained to the BWSSB and the PCB several times, both verbally and in writing. But the authorities never come to examine the area," said Rajanna, a resident of Hoodi.

While the PCB has placed the blame on BBMP authorities, they in turn claim to be ignorant about the matter.

BBMP Joint Commissioner, M Devraj's office maintains that he has just taken charge and is not aware of the problem. The blame game continues while the fishery department plans to take the legal route now.

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