Large number of fish found dead in irrigation tank near Tirupattur town

A large number of fish were found dead in the irrigation tank, which is maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD), at Bommikuppam village near Tirupattur town on Thursday, primarily due to depletion in the oxygen level in the water. Officials of the Department of Fisheries said that most of the fish that were found dead in the tank was Jalebi fish (zoological name: Tilapia fillets). The fish is a common variety from fresh and brackish water bodies.

As per estimates, over 50 kg of fish were removed from the tank by the department on Thursday. “The tank is a key water source for irrigation in the village. Many civic bodies have also dug bore wells around the tank to pump water for domestic consumption. Such sudden death of fishes should be probed and the tank should be cleaned,” said V. Ramu, a resident.

Residents and local fishermen alerted the panchayat and Fisheries Department officials after noticing the fish floating along the tank bund.  The officials removed the dead fish and collected samples to find the cause of death. Residents said unauthorised discharge of sewage into the tank might also be a major reason for the depletion of oxygen-level in the water, resulting in the death of the fish.

Spread over 80 acres, the tank is around 40 feet deep and a lifeline for farmers and residents for irrigation and domestic consumption. At present, the entire tank has been used to cultivate fish for commercial purposes. Revenue generated from auctioning, which is done once in three years, of the lake for fishing goes to the civic body to provide basic facilities in the town.

Catla fish, varying from two to four feet, forms the major fish variety. On an average, three tonnes each of major varieties like Catla and Jalebi are netted every year and sold in the local market and in big towns like Tirupattur, Jolarpet, Ambur, Vaniyambadi and Gudiyatham

Apart from irrigating more than 1,200 acres of farmland in the area, the tank also helps to provide drinking water to the village residents