TS Govt Asks TSPCB To Check Water Quality In 118 Water Bodies: A letter to the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) has been written by the Telangana fisheries department, to check the water quality in 118 water bodies in certain districts for the state for possible contamination.
A senior official from the Fisheries department, who did not want to be quoted said, industrial pollution, dumping of garbage and sewage water, are the main reasons for the water bodies, primarily irrigation tanks, to have been likely contaminated. The TSPCB sent the letter last week.
“They have already responded to us, asking on what parameters they should test the water bodies,” he told a leading news channel. Out of 31 in Telangana, the 118 water bodies are located in about 10 districts, he added.
After the TSPCB penalized 18 industrial units in Sanga Reddy district, about 50km from Hyderabad, for letting contaminated water into the Gandigundem lake, the development comes a few weeks later. Thousands of fish—120 tonnes, perished in the contaminated water. A huge amount worth Rs1 crore, suffered losses. After it received complaints about Gandigundem and another lake called Ayyamma Medka district on 4 and 5 October, a penalty of Rs1.03 crore on 18 units was imposed by the TSPCB. It directed the fine amount to be paid to the members of the Fishermen Cooperative Society there, for Gandigundem lake.
A fine of Rs40,000 to be paid by another 11 industrial units as compensation to fishermen at Ayyamma lake was also ordered by it. All the 29 industrial units are situated near the catchment areas of the two lakes.
“The 118 water bodies about which we have written to the TSPCB were primarily irrigation tanks, but due to urbanization in nearby areas they are presently being used for re-charging ground water,” said the official. He added that a major cause for concern with regard to the contamination are dumping of garbage and letting in sewage into water bodies, apart from industrial pollution.
According to another senior official from the fisheries department, about 24,000 water bodies are there in the Telangana government, most of which are secure. The Katla, Rohu, Brigala and common carp are the most common, among the fish that are bred in the state, added the official. “In the list we sent to the TSPCB, we have provided details of each water body, as we found out about possible contamination based on field reports,” said the official, requesting anonymity.
A TSPCB official, when contacted, who also did not want to be named, said that, a committee will be set-up to assess the issue, like in the case of the Gandigundem lake. “Based on the committee’s findings on the analysis we get on the water quality, action will be taken,” he stated.
Closure notices on 14 industrial units in the Khazipally industrial area near Hyderabad for violating rules, have been served by the body, according to a press release dated 20 October from the TSPCB.
SUPRAJA
