Death of fish at Thazhayuthu creates panic

Local residents, who spotted the dead fishes being pushed ashore by the strong wind, immediately informed Sathanaur Dam officials as also officials of the Chengam and Pudupalayam town panchayats as the location is from where both the town panchayats draw theirdrinking water.

Thazhayuthu is the location where the south Pennai river enters the Sathanur Dam catchment area and hence initially officials believed that the dead fishes were in the dam proper itself. Only after inspection of the dam water spread and getting belated information did officials realise that the incident was in a location 40 km away from the actual dam.

While the dam officials, including PWD officials have rushed to the spot to ascertain the reason for the death of fishes, official sources revealed that investigations would focus on whether the water was wantonly poisoned.

It may be recalled that some months ago, the contractor who was given the fishing rights in the dam proper clashed with illegal fishers from nearby villages resulting in five persons appointed by the contractor as security going missing. While two of the five were found dead in the water, the other three had fled the area to avoid being beaten by locals. Whether this episode had any connection with the fish death was also being investigated, officials added.

Later in the day, Tiruvannamalai Collector Kandasamy said investigation revealed that local fishers had used detonators which have led to massive fish death. “We Are trying to fix responsibility to initiate action,” Kandasamy told DT Next.