Pollution killing fishing in Punjab
With 1,000 tons of fish turning up dead in Punjab's waters, it would be an understatement to say the state is not fit for pisciculture or commercial fishing.
By Shruti Setia Chhabra, TNN |
LUDHIANA: With 1,000 tons of fish turning up dead in Punjab's waters, it would be an understatement to say the state is not fit for pisciculture or commercial fishing. The auction for the fishing rights of Satluj near Ludhiana is still pending as the quantity of fish in the river is too low.
Experts put the blame on water pollution. A sample taken from a water treatment plant on June 13 was found unfit for the fish. According to a report submitted to assistant director (fisheries) by GADVASU, the water did not meet any of the standards required for carp culture. The water from the treatment plant near Kohara flows into the river.
Punjab Fish Farmers' Association president Kanwaljit Singh Sidhu said good amount of rainfall after a long time in the region had caused the polluted water of Buddha Nullah to reach so far causing the fish deaths at Harike.
According to the lab tests, the alkalinity in water from the treatment plant was found to be 450 mg per litre, which should ideally be between 60 to 300 for fish culture and hardness was found to be 292 mg per litre, which should be between 50 to 100, while salinity was 1.0 mg per litre, which should be less than 0.05.
Sidhu said government should take steps to improve the situation because what had happened with the fish could repeat itself with human beings.
Experts put the blame on water pollution. A sample taken from a water treatment plant on June 13 was found unfit for the fish. According to a report submitted to assistant director (fisheries) by GADVASU, the water did not meet any of the standards required for carp culture. The water from the treatment plant near Kohara flows into the river.
Punjab Fish Farmers' Association president Kanwaljit Singh Sidhu said good amount of rainfall after a long time in the region had caused the polluted water of Buddha Nullah to reach so far causing the fish deaths at Harike.
According to the lab tests, the alkalinity in water from the treatment plant was found to be 450 mg per litre, which should ideally be between 60 to 300 for fish culture and hardness was found to be 292 mg per litre, which should be between 50 to 100, while salinity was 1.0 mg per litre, which should be less than 0.05.
Sidhu said government should take steps to improve the situation because what had happened with the fish could repeat itself with human beings.
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