Several thousand fishes died in a sprawling lake in Poosivakkam village near Wallajahbad in Kancheepuram district. While residents noticed a few dead fishes floating on the surface of the water earlier this week, many more were found along the banks since Thursday evening.
According to sources in Wallajahbad Panchayat Union, the death was due to contamination of the lake by effluents from several dyeing units in villages around the lake.
According to officials of the Kancheepuram district administration, there are two waterbodies in Poosivakkam – ‘chitheri' – spread over nearly 100 acres and the ‘periya eri' – spread over 150 acres.
Earlier this week, residents noticed dead fishes. But, on Thursday evening the site of dead fishes spread over almost the entire lake alarmed them. Residents made makeshift boats and using huge wooden slabs, pushed the fishes to the bank. The foul smell emanating from the dead fishes was simply too much to bear for residents of Poosivakkam and Pudupettai villages around the lake.
The dyeing units around Ayyampettai, which allegedly released the effluents, are crucial to the handloom sector in Kancheepuram, famous for silk saris.
Officials are considering steps to bury the fishes in such a way as to not pose a health hazard to residents of the surrounding villages. Kendai, viraal and kulithi varities of fishes had died.
The village panchayat and residents, during meetings of the gram sabha , had adopted resolutions urging the Kancheepuram district administration to ensure that effluents from the dyeing units did not pollute the lake.
However, no concrete steps have been taken so far, said residents.
