Fish at Sukhna in danger

(From expressindia.com) Sukhna Lake, India – After over 20 dead fish surfaced at the Sukhna Lake recently, experts warn that the death toll could increase if the administration does not take any measures to remove silt from the water soon. And they also point to another factor that contributes to the fatalities — methane gas at the bottom of the reservoir.

Professor M S Johal of the Department of Zoology at Panjab University, who had examined the dead fish, said: “Organic waste in the water produces methane, which is also a factor in the death of fish, apart from the presence of silt in Sukhna.”

Professor Johal explained that a warm environment causes oxygen levels in water to decrease — “this is a direct threat to fish”.

Also, the lake has overgrown varieties of fish which need to be removed immediately.

“These fish eat most of the food and hence, there arises an imbalance,” added Johal.

Johal said: “It is imperative that a panel of scientific experts be constituted and the administration implements the measures suggested by them.’

(By JYOTSNA JALALI)

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