Daijiworld Media Network – Panaji

Panaji, Apr 21: The Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of reports of large quantities of dead fish found floating in Mala Lake, raising concerns over pollution in urban water bodies.

During a hearing on Monday, a bench comprising Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit Jamsandekar expressed serious concern over the incident and similar environmental issues affecting lakes on the outskirts of cities. The court also referred to the pollution reported at Saipem Lake.

The court has made the Directorate of Health Services and the Goa State Pollution Control Board parties to the matter and sought details on the cause of the incident.

Advocate General Devidas Pangam informed the court that authorities would investigate the issue and submit a status report. He later said that the state government and GSPCB are conducting inspections and collecting samples to determine the cause of the fish deaths.

The issue came to light after local residents raised alarm over the sight of dead fish floating in the lake. Samples of the water have been sent for testing.

Among the dead fish were popular Goan varieties such as chonak (giant sea perch) and kalundar (pearl spot), raising concerns among locals and environmentalists.

Officials from the fisheries department also visited the site for inspection.

Meanwhile, Panaji Mayor Rohit Monserrate attributed the incident to the discharge of sewage into the lake. He said the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) would identify households in Taleigao and Panaji allegedly releasing untreated sewage into the water body.

The court is expected to hear the matter again after receiving the inspection report from the authorities.