Toxicity in Fashkoori wetland causing death of fishes
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Toxicity in Fashkoori wetland causing death of fishes

Post by on Saturday, July 9, 2022

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Pulwama:  High levels of toxic ingredients including phosphate and ammonia nitrate in the Fashkoori wetland in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district may have killed a large number of fish, experts believe. 
 
The Fashkoori wetland is situated in Pampore town along Khrew road and is spread on 341 kanals of land.
The wetland supports different varieties of aquatic species. Each year thousands of migratory birds visit this wetland for a winter stay.
For the past couple of days, local residents said, dead fish in large quantities are floating to the shore.
 
A local resident, John Mohammad, informed that for the past two days, they noticed much dead fish floating on the water's surface.
"I don't know what caused their death," he said. He said that the exit route of the wetland was due to rampant encroachment. “It may be one cause; also the sewerage from surrounding residential houses is also drained into the wetland.”
He said that a month ago, a contractor was seen carrying out dredging for a single day in the middle of the wetland. 
Concerned Officer of Wildlife department, Sajjid Farooq, said that water quality is analysed by different parameters including the presence of arsenic, zinc, and urea.
 He said that the presence of some pollutants like urea is harmful for fish and other aquatic species.
"Fashkoori wetland has a large build-up area, which means it is surrounded by a number of residential houses," he said adding that sewerage from many residential houses is discharged into the wetland. 
He added that the local population also throws garbage into the water body. "The residents were served notices asking them not to release sewerage into the wetland," he said.
He said that a sample of water from Fashkoori wetland was collected by officials of the pollution control board. “The results found high levels of phosphate and ammonia nitrate. The oxygen level is normal but phosphate and ammonia nitrate levels are alarming high which are suggestive of sewerage pollution," he said adding that they will take up the matter with the concerned municipality.
He said that the residents causing sewerage pollution in the water body will be fined or appropriate legal action will be taken against them under the wetland management act.
 

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