HC seeks report on sudden death of fish in Dal Lake last month

Srinagar: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh has asked authorities to submit the report on the sudden death of thousands of fish in Dal Lake last month.

A bench of Chief Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi sought the report while hearing an application filed by senior advocate Z A Shah who assists the court as Amicus Curiae in the Dal matter.

Shah submitted that there has been sudden death of fishes in the Lake without there being any apparent cause. While the Amicus submitted that thousands of dead fish were seen floating in the lake on May 25, he said that this was a matter of grave concern and that there must be certain reasons for the same.

“It would be appropriate that matter is looked into by the Fisheries Department, so as to ascertain the cause of death of fishes at the earliest,” he said.

In response to the submissions, the court directed the Director, Department of Fisheries, Kashmir to examine the matter and ascertain the cause of death of fishes in the Lake at an earliest.

The director has been asked   to submit a report in this regard.

The Court also asked the State Pollution Control Board, Srinagar to submit its report attesting to the quality of water and oxygen content of the Dal Lake. The matter has been ordered to be listed on June 14.