BMC doubles Banganga Tank deployment after mass fish deaths, urges priests to limit offerings

Dead fish float at Banganga Tank after massive crowds gathered for annual rituals. Pics/Ashish Raje

Following the removal of truckloads of dead fish from Walkeshwar's Banganga Tank, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is doubling its deployment to ten temporary tanks and eight water-aerating machines. BMC officials also advised priests in an in-person meeting to prevent offerings from entering the stagnant water. However, residents questioned why authorities have not completely barricaded the heritage site, as they did during Ganpati visarjan.

Urgent meeting

Assistant Commissioner (D Ward) Santosh Salunkhe chaired a meeting on Monday with Municipal Councillor Sunny Sanap, residents, priests, police and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) officials. MLA Mangalprabhat Lodha joined via phone and directed stakeholders to meet at the site at 6 pm to finalise immediate solutions.

Passersby cover their noses against a foul stench at Banganga Tank

Early deaths

Residents noted that while fish deaths typically occur toward the end of Pitru Paksha rituals, which is September 26 to October 10 for this year, the mortality began a week early this year. A resident told mid-day, "Although these fish deaths are usually observed toward the end of the festival, this time they occurred on the eighth day, even before the crowds have peaked."

Residents' solutions

>> Restrict immersion of offerings strictly to artificial ponds
>> Take personal information and IDs of non-local pandits to ensure compliance or enable penal action
>> Stop local vendors and businesses from selling substandard offerings
>> Increase the number of artificial ponds and crowd-management volunteers
>> Completely barricade the ghats while keeping only artificial ponds filled with tank water accessible on the sides

Jurisdiction limits

Asked whether the civic body had inspected the water after the fish deaths and investigated allegations by some priests of possible water poisoning, Salunkhe said, "We didn't hear any such allegations; water samples have been sent by us for testing, their results are not in yet."

Civic officials clarified that they lack the authority to completely ban the rituals. The tank is owned by the Gaud Saraswat Brahmans (GSB) trust and is under heritage protection of the ASI. A GSB trust representative, responding to residents' concerns over alleged lack of maintenance, said they employ outsourced cleaning and security teams.

Clashing views

During the meeting, priests detailed typical offerings: "chawal ke aate ka pind, shahad, ghee, haldi, kumkum, paan and kapoor."

Residents questioned why their traditional Ganpati visarjan was stopped at the tank on environmental grounds while concerns over practices of non-local pandits remained unaddressed.

Priests responded that they have practised at the tank for decades and that fish deaths this early and on such a large scale were unprecedented, suggesting authorities should also investigate alternate causes.