Bovikanam: Hundreds of fish are turning up dead at Nedumkayam in the Payaswini River. Kasaragod District Collector D Sajith Babu, taking note of the matter, has directed the Fisheries Department to adopt urgent steps to solve the issue. The Collector had visited the spot before issuing the directive to the Fisheries Deputy Director.
The authorities feel that supplying oxygen to the water could be considered as turbidity is very high in this area of the river. After an inspection by the Fisheries Deputy Director, all necessary measures would be launched with the Collector’s sanction.
Supplying fresh water to this part of the river which has a whirlpool is another method to end the crisis, but all the ponds in the vicinity have dried up in the hot weather. It is felt that low oxygen levels in the turbid water is causing the fish deaths
Meanwhile, the incidence of dead fish floating in the river has seen no letup. Local people are engaged in the strenuous task of removing all this fish from the river and burying them on land. With the dead fish rotting, the water has become polluted and is also spreading a foul smell all around.
Another phenomenon witnessed in the river is that of fish coming to the surface to breathe. However, people began to catch these fish, prompting the Kerala State Biodiversity Board to intervene. The police soon stopped the fishing based on a directive from the Biodiversity Board. District coordinator of the Board Krishnan, Dr E Unnikrishnan, N Anil Kumar and panchayat president Khalid Bellipady visited the area.
Heritage site
Meanwhile, the Biodiversity Board has instructed the Muliyar panchayat to submit a feasibility report to convert Nedunkayam into a biodiversity heritage site. Board’s member secretary Dr V Balakrishnan has asked the panchayat to study whether the area hosts rare fish species.
Water to be analysed
The authorities have sent samples of the water taken from the spot for detailed analysis. The main purpose of the exercise is to determine whether the water has the presence of poison.
