Pollution board initiates probe into death of fishes

Lucknow, June 26, 2012: A team of officials from UP Jal Nigam and UP Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) on Monday initiated an enquiry into the death of scores of fish in Gomti.

Initial indications pointed that the mortality might have been caused following release of untreated water from sugar mills in Sitapur. General manager (Gomti pollution), JA Ansari said that scores of dead fishes were found floating near Kudiaghat. "It might have been caused by the release of untreated water from sugar mills upstream," he said. The incident came to light on Sunday, when visitors at Kudiaghat saw thousands of fish floating on the surface.

Experts suggest that the oxygen level in the water might have fallen because of various reasons. First, the rise in temperature had caused a drastic fall in the water level. A brief spell of rain on Saturday also brought garbage into the river, following which dissolved oxygen level decreased dramatically. The final blow appeared to have come from the release of untreated water from sugar mills upstream. UPPCB sources said that the team has taken samples of water for examination.

Significantly, there have been talks of water being released into the river by Sharda canal. But the water level in the river has been on a constant decline in the last couple of months following a sharp rise in demand for water.

UPPCB officials said that the dissolved oxygen should be around 3 mg per litre for survival of fish. Anything below that may lead to fish mortality. Officials said that from time to time they check the oxygen levels in the river and it invariably comes around 5-6 milligram per litre, which is considered to be safe.