Hundreds of fish found dead in Virija Canal

Mandya: Hundreds of fish were found dead in Virija Canal at Belagola village due to release of chemicals from nearby factories in Srirangapatna taluk, on Saturday.
The canal connects the famous Balmuri waterfalls. Villagers who saw the dead fish floating water expressed their anger against the factories in Metagalli Industrial Area in Mysuru and the dyeing factories nearby for releasing chemicals directly to the canal.
They alleged that the chemicals which were released from factories has polluted the water and killed the fish. Despite complaints to the authorities concerned, no action had been initiated resulting in the incident.
Thammegowda, AEE, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited, KRS division, said the waste water from Mysuru is seeping into the canals in Srirangapatna through Virija Canal from the past many years. “The issue has been brought to the notice of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. As the drainage repair work is pending near Hebbal region in Mysuru, the chemical water is entering the canal. Muda and MCC authorities have assured that the repair work will be taken up soon,” he said.