Mortality high, officials ask people not to consume fish

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 20

High fish mortality in the Beas following a hazardous spill from a sugar mill has prompted the Tarn Taran and Amritsar administrations to warn the residents not to consume fish for the next few weeks.

On the other hand, the wildlife authorities moved court against Chadha Sugar Mill at Kiri Afghana, Gurdaspur, for violating the wildlife preservation norms. A Batala court will initiate hearing on Monday.

It is feared that people living in the vicinity had collected the dead fish even before the wildlife and forest officials could reach the spot following the incident on May 17.

Kuldip Kumar, Principal Chief Conservator of Wildlife, said there was no arrangement to take such a huge quantity of dead fish into possession.

“We could not restrict people to stay away from the area either. Dead fish are still floating in the river and being collected by people living in the vicinity. It is thus advised that people should refrain from eating fish as a precautionary measure,” he said.

Tarn Taran DC Pardeep Sabharwal said an advisory had been issued, warning people not to buy fish from the market. Besides, residents of villages located near the Beas had been told not to let their cattle consume water from the river till the contamination worry was over, he said. Meanwhile, the samples of water and dead fish were taken by scientists of Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) for analysis.

The report will be submitted to Amritsar Deputy Commissioner KS Sangha shortly.