Dozens of dead fish were found floating in Iblur lake on Friday, and Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials suspect that the influx of untreated sewage is to blame.
According to Chief engineer B. Devaraj (Storm Water Drain and lakes) the lake area has been encroached into by an apartment complex, which is releasing untreated sewage directly into the lake.
The sewage could have caused a drop in oxygen levels thereby killing the fish, he said, adding that the precise cause for the fish kill will only be known the water samples are tested. This is the second time in less than a year that fish have died en-mass at Iblur lake off Sarjapur Road.
The lake, which is among 135 lakes that will be rejuvenated by the BBMP, has also been leased out for fishing. BBMP has written to the Fisheries Department to take their approval before leasing out lakes that fall under the civic body’s jurisdiction.
Fish kills in Cubbon Park and Jakkur lake last year have prompted the Chairman of the Standing Committee for Horticulture, K. Ranganna to call for a detailed enquiry. “We will have a comprehensive report by Monday,” he said. BBMP officials added that the lake was only recently transferred to them and that they did not have a complete assessment of the level of pollution in the waterbody.
