Free flow of untreated industrial effluents has ruined natural growth of fish in Suutlej, Ravi and Chenab rivers DG Fisheries Punjab, Muhammad Ashraf while taking to newsmen on Thursday expressed concern that industrial effluents and sewage waste were discharged in natural waters without treatment.
High concentration of toxic elements in water rendered it unsuitable for fish life. Severe drought and water shortage had aggravated the problems in the form of aquatic pollution, he explained. Muhammad Ashram said that water level of fish "impoundments" and small dams had reached dead level, while a number of tubewells dried up at fisheries units in public and private sectors. Due to this prevailing scenario, the fish and seed production suffered to a considerable extent in almost all units.
He said the few recent rains did not improve the water level condition in most of the areas. Regarding reduction of pond areas attached to barrages, the DG said that with the passage of time, it was observed that the pond areas at all barrages on rivers, especially in Punjab, got reduced due to safety bunds and lease of huge portion of land by Irrigation Department to big landholders.
The official said that drought situation had badly affected fish growth in Punjab as water level in rivers dropped and rapidly diminished the spawning grounds. DG Fisheries said it was earlier proposed that original pond area be restored at each barrage so as to maintain a balanced eco-system and attain sustained fish production.
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