Hyderabad: The Telangana fisheries department has written to the Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) to check the water quality in 118 water bodies in certain districts for the state for possible contamination.
The water bodies, primarily irrigation tanks, are likely to have been contaminated by industrial pollution, dumping of garbage and sewage water, said a senior official from the Fisheries department, who did not want to be quoted.
“They have already responded to us, asking on what parameters they should test the water bodies,” he told Mint.
The 118 water bodies are located in about 10 districts out of 31 in Telangana, he added.
The development comes a few weeks after the TSPCB penalized 18 industrial units in Sanga Reddy district, about 50km from Hyderabad, for letting contaminated water into the Gandigundem lake.
Thousands of fish—120 tonnes, worth Rs1 crore—perished in the contaminated water.
It also ordered a fine of Rs40,000 to be paid by another 11 industrial units as compensation to fishermen at Ayyamma lake.
All the 29 industrial units are situated near the catchment areas of the two lakes.
Among the fish that are bred in the state, the Katla, Rohu, Brigala and common carp are the most common, she added.
“Based on the committee’s findings on the analysis we get on the water quality, action will be taken,” he stated.