Stories float on fish kill in lake

Stories float on fish kill in lake
DH News Service,Bangalore:
The Mallathahalli lake, where about a lakh fish were found dead over the last four days, was cleared of the waste on Saturday by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
Water samples were collected from different parts of the lake and sent for tests, the results of which would be ready by Monday. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the BBMP officials inspected the water body on Saturday morning.
Depletion in the Dissolved Oxygen (DO) level in the lake water is reported to have triggered the fish kill. The normal level for a fish to survive is 4 to 5 milligrams in 1 litre of water.
But there were other obvious reasons that could have killed the fish: A sewage water pipe line let out into the lake and the proximity of a factory for dying clothes on the lake bed.
The KSPCB has already filed cases against authorities for letting out drains into the lake. Said Ramesh, a Board official: “It is not only this lake. Such incidents have also occurred in Uttarahalli and Dorekere lakes.” Babu, the contract fish culturist at the Mallathahalli lake said, the fish in the lake had died due to excessive heat that had evaporated the water.
It is the first year of Babu’s lease of five years. The death of so many fish in the first year itself has hit his business badly.
“I bought around one lakh fish, six months back and now most of it are dead,” Babu said.
Insertion of more fish than required into the lake also could have caused the fish kill, with factors such as lack of space and oxygen playing a critical role.
BBMP Joint Commissioner (Rajarajeshwarinagar) M V Vedamurthy also visited the spot on Saturday. He said, “As there is sewage drain let out into the lake, fish in the lake have died.”
He has warned the public around the place against using the lake to clean their vehicles. A letter would be sent to the Lake Development Authority to take necessary action, he added.