Dip in oxygen level, high organic load behind deaths of fish at Dighalipukhuri

June 27: Scores of dead fish were found floating on the Dighalipukhuri tank in Guwahati on Sunday. Following the detection of many dead fish floating on the water and reporting of the incident in the media, Minister for Fisheries, Parimal Suklabaidya directed the officials of the department to visit the site and ascertain the cause behind the mass deaths of fish.

Officials of the department after examination of the collected samples of the dead fish and the waterbody found that dissolved oxygen depletion in the tank coupled with high organic load were the causes behind the deaths of fish.

“Fish mortality was due to sudden dip in oxygen level and high organic load in the tank. Departmental officers after examination found deaths of fish not due to poisoning but environmental degradation,” said Suklabaidya. The department, as a short term measure, increased the oxygen level of water by showering water through water pump and boating.

Dighalipukhuri or ‘long pond’ in Assamese is around 500 metres long and is located in the Ambari area of Guwahati, which was dug by the Ahom rulers.