Dead fishes in lake raise concern among villagers

Krishnagiri: Several hundred fishes were found dead in Thurai lake at Anasandram village near Soolagiri here on Tuesday. The villagers have urged the district administration and village panchayat authorities to find out the actual cause behind their death and address the same.
K Asaithambi, a villager, said they were shocked to find dead fishes floating in the lake. “We immediately alerted the officials to clear them from the lake.”
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) officials have collected samples of dead fishes and lake water for lab test. “We could tell anything only after scrutinizing the lab report,” a TNPCB official said.
Pointing out that the lake water might have been getting heated in the scorching sun, he said it was impossible for tiny fishes to withstand the heat. “Hot water could have caused their death.”
According to the villagers, the man-made lake, which is spread across nearly two acres, was set up around six decades ago for irrigation purposes.
They said the lake was desilted in December last year under the ‘Kudimaramathu’ scheme. “After desilting the lake, we had filled it with Thenpennaiyar river water and released tiny fishes in it,” another villager said.