Fish kill in the city’s lakes continue unabated. After Devarabisanahalli and Ulsoor lakes, it is now the turn of Hebbal lake where several dead fish were found floating on Sunday.
The overflow from an adjacent storm-water drain and the consequent inflow of sewage resulted in decreased oxygen levels, leading to the fish kill, sources said. While most of the dead fish had been cleared, some could be seen floating on Monday as well.
Environmentalist Vijay Nishanth, who visited the spot, wants authorities to plug sewage inflow into the lake. He also alleged that the storm-water drain had not been desilted.
The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, however, washed its hands off saying the water body comes under the purview of the Lake Development Authority (LDA). The LDA said that the maintenance of the lake has been handed over to a private enterprise on a lease.
Hebbal lake is spread over almost 150 acres. It is one of the few lakes to be frequented by visitors and is a popular spot for bird watching.
“After the Ulsoor lake fish kill, we visited nearly 25 lakes and found a pattern. Polluted water gushing into the lake from a storm-water drain, which in most cases had not been desilted. This happens even with a small spell of rain,” said Lakshman, chairperson of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). He also said that sometimes, construction debris and garbage is dumped in the water bodies. He, however, said that overflow from the storm-water drain was one of the main reasons for the fish kill.
KSPCB will soon release a study on reasons behind fish kill along with suggestions on prevention, Mr. Lakshman added.
Cases in 2016
May 29: Hebbal lake
May 9: Ulsoor lake area
March 18: Devarabisanahalli lake
March 7: Ulsoor lake
