Daijiworld Media Network – Beltangady

Beltangady, Mar 18: Several fish were found dead and floating in a large lake near Guruvayanakere in Kuvettu village of the taluk. A trader who had secured fishing rights through an auction for three years has now filed a complaint with the local gram panchayat administration, seeking an investigation into the cause of the fish deaths.

Fish farming in the lake is carried out under the gram panchayat administration. A local fish trader, Riyad, had participated in the auction conducted by the gram panchayat and secured the contract for a fixed term of three years for Rs 6 lac.

On Tuesday, when Riyad visited the lake to catch fish, he noticed several fish lying dead and floating. The exact cause of the deaths is yet to be ascertained. He has submitted a written complaint to the gram panchayat administration, urging them to conduct an investigation, take action against those responsible, and provide compensation for the loss.

Following information about the incident, tahsildar Prithvi Sanikam, taluk panchayat executive officer Bhavani Shankar, pollution control board officer Maheshwari, and gram panchayat development officers visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Speaking to the media, taluk panchayat executive officer Bhavani Shankar said, “There are allegations that the lake is polluted. A team of pollution control board officials has collected water samples and sent them for testing. The assistant director of the fisheries department has also been informed and will inspect the matter. The exact cause of the fish deaths will be known only after the reports of water and fish samples are received.”