Gujarat: Dead fish, snakes raise stink in Tapi

SURAT: Locals in Sarthana area of Surat were in shock on Monday morning when they found dead fish and snakes on the shore of Narmada Sarovar on river Tapi. Locals who informed the civic authorities were in panic as water from the river was their main source of drinking water.
The water body created due to weir-cum-causeway on Tapi river is named Narmad Sarovar. Water flows from bank to bank in the river throughout the year due to regular discharge of water from Ukai reservoir. Recently, due to heavy rains in the catchment area, a lake was formed in the area with water level going up to 6 meters.
As soon as the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) officials got news of the dead fish and snakes on the shore of the river, they swung into action. The health department teams visited the spot and collected water samples.
“Actions will be taken by concerned departments like fisheries or GPCB. But SMC’s health department team is closely monitoring the situation,” said an SMC health official.
“If more fish are found in the next couple of days we will start an investigation with the support of other departments,” the official added.
In the past, thousands of dead fish were found on Dumas beach. Marine experts said that due to a drop in dissolved oxygen in water, sometimes the fish die in large numbers.