Dal Lake, renowned for its picturesque beauty, is facing a crisis as thousands of small fish are found dead, floating in various parts of the lake. Local residents express shock, stating that such a large-scale fish mortality is unprecedented. The stench from the dead fish is affecting the ambiance, and residents are urging authorities to investigate the cause.
Abdul Rashid, a local resident, expressed his concern, saying, “Fish used to die, but they used to be few and mostly big ones. This time it’s the small fish that have died in huge numbers. I have not seen this in my lifetime. God knows how these fish have died, and now the authorities should look into it.”
The residents are speculating about potential causes, including the use of de-weeding machines or exposure to chemicals. The issue is not only impacting the local ecosystem but is also affecting tourism, as the lake emits a foul odor.
Experts, however, attribute the fish deaths to growing pollution in Dal Lake. Despite continuous cleaning efforts by authorities over the years, the water quality has not shown significant improvement. Dr. Feroz Ahmad Bhat, Dean, Faculty of Fisheries at SKUAST-K, stated, “We call this phenomenon fish kill. Wherever there is a stagnant water body, lakes or wetlands, due to pollution load or organic load, there is a natural phenomenon that there will be oxygen depletion due to which fish can die.”
Authorities responsible for Dal Lake argue that the mass fish deaths are due to thermal stratification—a change in temperature at different depths in the lake. They reassure the public that it’s a normal occurrence and not a cause for panic. Bashir Ahmad Bhat, VC of Lakes and Conservation Management Authority (LCMA), stated, “We have done the preliminary analysis and found that it’s the thermal stratification which has caused it. There is no need to panic. It’s an annual affair.”
However, residents remain skeptical, and the authorities are awaiting final results from detailed investigations to determine the exact cause of the fish deaths. As concerns escalate, the incident underscores the urgency of addressing pollution and environmental challenges faced by Dal Lake
Source: WION
