In what can be termed a shocking incident, a huge quantity of fish died at Gandi Cheruvu, located at Sultanpur in Ameenpur mandal. The fish in the tank died, allegedly owing to release of pollutants into the tank by industries located at Khajipally. It was suspected that the pollutants were released into the tank during heavy rain so that it could not be detected. However, the large-scale death of fish has brought the incident to limelight.
The Industries department, which has initiated an inquiry, primarily identified that as many as 11 industries located in Khajipally area were responsible for releasing pollutants into the tank. The officials were collecting samples from the tank as well as the industries. They suspect that the number of industries involved in releasing pollutants may increase by the time investigation was complete.
Responding to the reports which appeared in a section of the media, Fisheries and Animal Husbandry Minister T. Srinivas Yadav spoke with Collector Manickaraj Kannan, the Pollution Control Board and fisheries officials, and directed them to register cases against industries responsible for the death of fish.
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“Fish worth ₹1.5 crore died in the 287- acre Gandi Cheruvu in Sultanpur village in Ameenpur mandal of Sangareddy district due to release of pollution by local industries. While the government has been trying to promote fisheries industry so that fishermen dependent on fishing could benefit, the industries released pollutants, resulting in the death of fish. The government will act tough against those responsible,” said Mr. Srinivas Yadav in a release on Friday.
Meanwhile, TSPCB Member-Secretary P. Satyanayana Reddy warned of stringent action against the industries located in the catchment area of Gandigudem lake, particularly in the Khazipally Industrial Estate, for discharging effluents, resulting in the fish kill on a large scale.
The Member-Secretary said that, as soon as the incident was reported, regional officials and their teams visited Gandigudem tank and collected samples of water, apart from inspecting the industries located in the area. Officials from the zonal office, RC Puram, and the Chief Environmental Engineer of the Board also visited the tank and the industries and collected samples for analysis. Based on the results of the analysis, industries as well as fishermen would be called for review before the Task Force Committee of the Board for taking further action.
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