Fishermen in the Ukkadam Big Tank were in for a shock when they found the fish turning green due to the algae bloom in the lake. Senior scientists said this was the result of high discharge of effluents into the lake.
Despite a treatment plant being in place at Ukkadam, scientists questioned its functionality and why it was not being utilized to treat the water before letting it into the lake.
"We thought only the lake water was turning green. But with the fish also turning green, it is hazardous not just for the fish but for us as well as we get a lot of skin diseases because of this," said a fisherman.
He further said that the civic body did not take any steps to stop effluents from entering into the lake. "In lakes where fishing is permitted, the civic body should ensure that effluents are not let in. They collect a fee from us. The least they could do was set up treatment plants and ensure the existing treatment plant runs to its full capacity," said another fisherman.
Scientists in the city said that this type of green colour was due to a phenomenon called algae bloom. "Generally, due to the increase in water pollution, this occurs in almost all the wetlands. The only solution for this is to ensure that water is treated before being let into the lake," said senior principal scientist of SACON P Pramod.
But scientists did not rule out the possibility of dyeing units letting out effluents into open drains. S Muralidharan, senior principal scientist at SACON, said some dyeing units in Telungupalayam and some other parts of the city which operate out of homes as cottage industries discharge waste in the drains.
"Most of these algae blooms are high in phosphorus, sulphates and nitrates which are harmful for humans and animals. They form a layer onto the water which might lead to a condition called dead zone where the oxygen level of the water in the deeper areas will reduce and cause mass mortality of fish," he said.
The environmentalists said that this could expose humans and animals to harmful toxins causing skin rashes, headaches, fever, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and liver failure.
Despite a treatment plant being in place at Ukkadam, scientists questioned its functionality and why it was not being utilized to treat the water before letting it into the lake.
"We thought only the lake water was turning green. But with the fish also turning green, it is hazardous not just for the fish but for us as well as we get a lot of skin diseases because of this," said a fisherman.
He further said that the civic body did not take any steps to stop effluents from entering into the lake. "In lakes where fishing is permitted, the civic body should ensure that effluents are not let in. They collect a fee from us. The least they could do was set up treatment plants and ensure the existing treatment plant runs to its full capacity," said another fisherman.
Scientists in the city said that this type of green colour was due to a phenomenon called algae bloom. "Generally, due to the increase in water pollution, this occurs in almost all the wetlands. The only solution for this is to ensure that water is treated before being let into the lake," said senior principal scientist of SACON P Pramod.
But scientists did not rule out the possibility of dyeing units letting out effluents into open drains. S Muralidharan, senior principal scientist at SACON, said some dyeing units in Telungupalayam and some other parts of the city which operate out of homes as cottage industries discharge waste in the drains.
"Most of these algae blooms are high in phosphorus, sulphates and nitrates which are harmful for humans and animals. They form a layer onto the water which might lead to a condition called dead zone where the oxygen level of the water in the deeper areas will reduce and cause mass mortality of fish," he said.
The environmentalists said that this could expose humans and animals to harmful toxins causing skin rashes, headaches, fever, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting and liver failure.