Excelsior Correspondent
SAMBA, Dec 27: Thousands of fish have died under mysterious circumstances in historic Mansar lake during last some days.
The authorities are ascertaining the cause of death but could not ascertain the same as yet and death toll is rising daily which has become a cause of concern for the people of the area who apprehend that continuous death of fish in the lake will contaminate the water and lead to the spread of water borne diseases in the area as the water of the lake is being supplied for drinking purposes in the area also.
The people of the area are also apprehensive that continuing death of fish can raise possibility of water-borne diseases spreading in the area. Many temples and religious places including the temple of Nag Devta exist on the banks of Mansar lake, which is also a center of religious faith for the people. Apart from fishes, the lake has aquatic animals of various species. According to religious belief, fishes are neither taken out of this lake nor can they be caught. People said that every year during Winters, fish die in the lake in this way, but this time as soon as the Winter season started, the fishes have started dying, which has become a matter of concern. Last year, seeing the increase in the number of fish dying, the District Administration Udhampur had ordered the Fisheries Department of Sher-e-Kashmir Agricultural Science University to conduct a thorough investigation in which it was found that the main reason for the death of fish was lack of Oxygen. The Investigation Committee had given several reasons for the lack of Oxygen, which included the large number of fish, flour fed to the fish and the trees planted on the banks of the lake. In their suggestion., They had said that the fish should be transferred to some other place where there is no lack of Oxygen. They had said that due to lack of Oxygen, most of the flour put in the food by the people falls down on the bottom of lake. The fallen flour and the waste of the fish produce Ammonia Gas due to the high amount of Ammonia, the fish become lethargic and eventually go into a coma, which leads to their death. They had also asked to install as many fountains as possible in the lake during this Winter season, which increases the amount of Oxygen.
For the last few days, fish are dying and floating on the water of the lake continuously. The concerned department should investigate how the fishes died. The number of fishes in Mansar lake is very high at this time. According to the belief, these fishes are not taken out, but the Government and the concerned department should take out the fishes from here and put them somewhere else, so that their number remains under control. He said that every year these fishes die in Winter, but this time they have started dying before the Winter season, this is a matter of concern said Deen Mohammad, a local resident of Mansar Panchayat.
Drinking water is supplied from Mansar lake and if the fishes remain in the water even after they die, then the water will become contaminated. Then if the same water is supplied to people’s, which can result in spread of epidemic. He said that to prevent any terrible disease from spreading, the dead fishes should be taken out of the lake, so that people’s health is not compromised said another local resident Sandeep Sharma.
According to the belief of Mansar lake, the fishes have not been taken out from here yet. Some fishes have grown in it, which cannot bear extreme cold, due to which they die. Every year fishes die due to extreme cold. The fishes which are swimming after dying are being taken out and buried. Along with this, he told that the number of fishes has increased a lot due to which they face lack of oxygen in the winter season.
Range Officer of Wildlife Conservation Department, Sanjeev Bogia said “Our Department continuously organizes awareness camps and makes local people and tourists aware that they should not feed flour and rice fluff to the fishes, which proves to be very dangerous for these fishes. Many people had dumped the dirty water of their houses in the lake. All were issued notices and asked to stop this. Many people have dug pits in their houses. One or two houses have asked for time from the department. Soon they will also complete their work. Considering the centre of faith of the people and keeping in mind the famous Tourist Centre of Jammu, the Department will leave no stone unturned to keep the lake clean he said.
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