Reduced levels of oxygen kills fish

Expertspeak

The department of fisheries were informed about it on Tuesday and the assistant director visited the spot for assessing the situation on Wednesday.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, he said the tank water has been sent for laboratory test and upon examining the dead fish the exact cause for the same will be known.

He also opined that large number of fish that had collected from river and other lakes during monsoon had begun breeding and the excess number of fish in the small tank must have led to oxygen deficiency, one of the reason for the fish death.

Meanwhile, gram panchayat has swung into action and have begun clearing the tank of dead fish which is being buried at a distance.

The tank comes under the Shivenahalli gram panchayat limits, but it had not taken up fish breeding. However, the water which collects during monsoon season brings fish from rivers and tanks and that has led to natural breeding.

Gram Panchayat member Ningappa told Deccan Herald that there is no chance of contaminating the water with pesticides and ruled out incidence of mixing poison to the tank.

Farmers washing ginger yield, which is grown using liberal quantities of pesticides and chemical fertilisers in the tank water also affects the aquatic species. But the locals say that though they were involved in washing the ginger produce last year, denied washing them in the tank this year.

Meanwhile, the department has also advised the farmers not to use the tank water until lab results are announced and not allow cattle to drink them until further information.