Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia
Sullia, Feb 11: Several fish were found dead in the Payaswini river on Monday, raising concerns that water pollution might be the cause.
On Sunday, fish deaths were first noticed downstream of the Nagapatna vented dam. By Monday, similar incidents were reported in the Nagapatna, Bhasmadka, and Kanthamangal areas, where fish were found dead or struggling to survive. The river water has turned black and emits a foul odour, further indicating possible contamination.
Speaking to the media, Sullia town municipal chief officer Sudhakar confirmed that authorities have received reports of fish deaths. He assured that water samples would be tested to determine the cause and necessary measures would be taken. Sullia tahsildar Manjula also stated that she has sought information on the incident and will instruct officials to take appropriate action.
It is suspected that ammonia-contaminated water may have leaked into the river due to vandalism at the KFDC rubber processing unit in Nagapatna. Miscreants allegedly damaged a pipeline connected to the waste treatment tank, causing the polluted water to flow into the river. A similar incident had occurred in the past, and residents are demanding a permanent solution to prevent further contamination.