PCB to probe fish kill

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The State Pollution Control Board has decided to constitute an expert team to study the recurring, massive fish deaths in the river Periyar.

K. Sajeevan, PCB chairman, said that an expert team would be formed next week. “The team will visit the area to study the causes behind so many fish deaths. The experts will study in detail the reason for lack of dissolved oxygen in river water, which has been cited as the cause for large-scale fish deaths,” he said.

According to the PCB chairman, industrial pollution was not the reason as the phenomenon was reported from areas where there were few industrial units.

“Still, experts will also take samples from areas near the industrial units to check the quantity of oxygen in river water. One of the reasons for depletion in dissolved oxygen might be the ‘lechets’ from factories, containing chemicals like ammonium nitrite, which spread into the soil and ultimately reach the river,” Mr. Sajeevan said. He added that dumping sewage along the river banks could also be a reason for the fish deaths.

Unlike previous years, major fish deaths were being reported frequently from Periyar and its tributaries even during the monsoon days.

Earlier the phenomenon occurred only during summer. “From May 3 to June 30, more than 18 instances of fish deaths have been reported, which is the highest number during recent times,” said Purushan Eloor, activist of Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi.

The major reason for fish deaths is said to be chemical pollution. The PPCB, despite collecting several samples from different areas to study the phenomenon, has failed miserably in checking its further occurrence, he alleged.

“The PPCB officials are keeping silent over the unchecked toxic effluent discharge from the 18 companies in the Eloor-Edayar region. Though the green activists have submitted details about the chemical discharge of each company, the PCB is least concerned about taking any follow-up action,” added Purushan.