Pune: Animal Welfare Board Takes Action Over Fish Deaths In Mutha River; Issues Notice To PMC

Pune, 17th January 2025: The Animal Welfare Board of India has taken serious note of the mass fish deaths reported in the Mula-Mutha river near Naik Island. The board has issued a notice to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), directing the municipal authorities to take legal action against those responsible for the incident.

In late December, thousands of fish were found dead in the river near the Sangamwadi and Naik Island area. Environmental experts speculated that the fish fatalities were caused by polluted water discharged into the river. In response, the PMC collected samples of the dead fish and sent them to a laboratory for analysis. Preliminary findings from the authorities suggested that the death of the fish was caused by a lack of oxygen in the water due to blockages in the river, which led to water stagnation.

However, the Animal Welfare Board has now stepped in, emphasizing that the provisions related to animal welfare were not followed, based on the incident. The board’s notice to the PMC states that the death of thousands of fish is a serious matter and calls for legal action against those responsible. It also instructs the PMC to report the outcome of such action to the board.

The key question now is who exactly is responsible for blocking the river water, which resulted in the fish deaths. According to the PMC, the water stagnation occurred due to the blockage of water channels, leading to a reduced oxygen supply. However, the ongoing river rejuvenation project in the area has raised questions about whether it was the cause of the blockage. With no clear accountability assigned yet by the PMC, it remains to be seen who will be held responsible and what legal actions will be taken in response to this incident.