Agra: Hundreds of fish die once again washed on land on the banks of the Yamuna River, near Rambagh Ghat in Agra, on Tuesday, perhaps because of the disposal of industrial waste “very polluted” to the river between Mathura and Agra.
This is the second incident in the last five months.
Although officials of the Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) claim that dissolved oxygen levels are more than permitted limits needed for waters’ life, the source says that the release of recycled wastewater to the river after the treatment of Yamuna water with a high content of chlorine can be the cause of fish death.
In addition, non-functional waste treatment plants in the city can also contribute to the incident.
UPPCB Regional Officers Vishwanath Sharma said that water sample reports were taken from three different locations after the incident – Kailash Ghat (Hulu), Water Works and Dussehra Ghat (down-stream) – found adequately for waters’ life.
“Level DO is 7.5 mg / l in Kailash Ghat, 6 at Water Works and 4.5 in Dussehra Ghat,” he said, adding that water animals need 4.5 or more.
However, the report of biological oxygen demand (BOD) is still awaited.
Quoting the reason for dead fish, Sharma said that when the flow of water in a series of gokul in Mathura continued after being stopped for a certain period, the mud at the bottom of the river soluble in water has spent oxygen levels, affecting aquatic life.
However, Gokul officials in Mathura denied this claim and said that if this was true, then some fish should also wash there too.
The source of the meantime told TII that waste treatment plants at the dots where Yamuna Air entered Agra – Budi Nagla and Jaganpur Train – had non-functional.
The waste pump station in Manoharpura, Balkeshwar, Rajwaha and Narach also do not function properly, added sources.
Four months ago, on July 22, Shoals of Dead Fish had washed the land on the edge of Yamuna in Agra.
Environmental lovers in Agra then said that it was a matter of worries and serious authorities must take it seriously.