The Wildlife Management Division, Eluru, has launched an exercise to collect dead fish from the 300-acre pond in the Kolleru Bird Sanctuary at Atapaka in Krishna district to avoid water pollution.
Water analysis conducted by a Kaikaluru-based private laboratory have attributed the massive fish kill to the fall in the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level in the lake. “Our personnel are examining the dead fish. We are burying them with all necessary precautions without allowing any means of pollution,” Kaikaluru In-Charge Forest Range Officer L. Dhana Raju said.
Fish kill has been on the rise in the lake, thanks to the water level touching its lowest level. The forest authorities could not maintain the average depth of four meters in the pond by early summer owing to lack of water in the Polraj drain, a source of water source for the pond.
“We have proposed to divert drinking water that is being supplied from Krishna to the Kaikaluru area into the pond to maintain sufficient water level in the remaining summer period.
Water diversion
Our officials are yet take a decision to request the Krishna Collector, seeking permission to divert the drinking water,” said Mr. Dhana Raju.
Threat to birds
Meanwhile, Wildlife Management Division officials confirmed that there was no threat to migratory birds which relied on the pond for its feed. “Unless pollution of pond water is reported, there will be no threat to birds – Painted Stork and Pelicans – which have nests on trees and iron bunds in the pond,” he added.
Fish kill has been on the rise in the lake, thanks to the water level touching its lowest level
