Fishkill in Ulsoor lake, yet again

2nd incident in 2 months; glare on private fishing, sewage water

Hundreds of fish were found dead floating in Bengaluru’s famous Ulsoor lake on Monday, shocking morning walkers and two months after a similar fishkill resulted in the death of thousands of fish.

The dead fish were floating along with garbage dumped in the lake. Kalidas Reddy said he was one of the first people to see the fishkill. A group of 50 walkers passing by the lake opposite MEG Gate, Kallahalli, noticed the fishkill around 6 am.

“We got scared as some of the fish were very large. The incident seems to have taken place on Sunday night. Sewage water enters the lake and plastic and other garbage are dumped here every day. This might explain the fishkill,” Reddy said.

Incidentally, the last fishkill was also reported on a Monday morning (March 7) and almost at the same spot in the lake. According to walkers, no official from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) arrived to enquire about the matter.

Srinivas, another regular walker, said it was unfortunate that fishkill was becoming a regular feature in Ulsoor lake.

“Despite requests to keep the lake clean, no action has been taken. I have lost hope in the government and the so-called elected representatives,” he said. Oxygen level in the lake is also said to have dropped significantly as garbage is being dumped indiscriminately and sewage enters the waterbody.

Ulsoor ward corporator, Mamatha Saravana, blamed the Department of Fisheries for awarding fishing rights to private players.

“The BBMP’s higher officials need to take strong action against the Fisheries Department and ban fishing. Ministers and MLAs have visited the lake and promised to take up steps to preserve the waterbody, but nothing has happened,” Mamatha said.