BAHAWALNAGAR: Thousands of fish have died in the river Sutlej due to the polluted water coming from India while the dead fish are allegedly being sold in the market.

The administration denies the reports of the dead fish sale.

India reportedly released polluted water into the Sutlej for a second time in seven days, killing thousands of fish at the Head Sulemanki, Bhokanwala Pattan and Chishtian. Videos also went viral on social media showing the people gathering the dead fish at the Head Sulemanki.

The locals said the administration did not take any action despite the videos going viral. They said besides the sale of dead fish in the local market, the tourists coming from other cities were being fed the same unwholesome fish. They said they had lodged several complaints with the Environment Department, the Food Department and the assistant commissioner Minchinabad but no action had been taken so far.

Environment District Officer Muhammad Babar told Dawn a large number of fish died at three locations in Bahawalnagar due to the deficiency of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in the water released from India. He said India released such water in January and February every year that caused death of a large number of fish in the river.

Mr Babar said the Environment Department’s responsibility was to test the river water, which it had fulfilled and controlling the sale of fish was the responsibility of the local administration, the Food Department and Fisheries Department.

According to the Minchinabad AC office, there was no truth in the reports of dead fish being sold in the local market. It said AC Muhammad Akmal was not only himself active in this regard but he had issued instructions to the Fisheries Department, Public Health department as well as fish contractors at Head Sulemanki.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2021