Sewage Water Kills Fish At Sankey Tank

BANGALORE: Hundreds of fish in Sankey Tank have died as a result of sewage water entering the tank through storm water drains. 

Walkers at the Sankey Tank Park noticed the dead fish on Friday and informed the officials of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and the BBMP.

The officials on Monday fixed the leak which caused the problem.

A R Anand, president of Sankey Park Walkers Association, told Express: “The sight of dead fish floating in the lake disturbs the walkers. We had informed the BWSSB in April about the leakage. Had something been done then, hundreds of fish would not have died.”

He said that during rain, the sewerage pipes and the manhole nearby overflow, and this water then enters a storm water drain and the tank.

Gopalkrishna, in-charge of Sankey Tank, said his staff noticed crows and eagles hovering over the lake for some days. When they went around the lake, they found hundreds of fish floating in the tank bund.

He said: “Every day three bags of dead fish are being cleared and buried in the park. Varieties like Rohu, Carp and Catla are in the tank. On an average 60 Catla, which are more sensitive, are found floating and taken out everyday. Other fishes that were taken out measure two to four kilograms.”

BWSSB Executive Engineer Puttamallappa told Express that immediately after the department received the complaint, action was taken.

“The tender process to fix new pipes at the location were hastened. The sewage pipe at Bhashyam circle is very narrow, just seven inch, and as a result of pressure during rain it overflows from manholes. We have now replaced it with an 18-inch pipe. The work on repairing the manhole will also be taken up and completed in two to three days,” Puttamallappa said.