Toxic wastes destroying aquatic life in Sarsa River

Shimla, Oct 14 (UNI) Toxic wastes from industrial units are killing fish and other aquatic life in Sarsa River near the township of Baddi in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, reports recieved here said today.

A large number of dead fish were seen floating on the river waters between Haripur Sandoli Nullah and the Kaunduwal village of the district on Friday evening and Saturday morning, third time in about four months this year.

No official of the State Pollution Control and Environment Protection Board, which had lifted water samples of 23 units after dead fish were last noticed about three weeks ago, was available for comment.

The board had issued notices to 123 industrial units, besides disconnecting power of six units, after being told of the death of fish in the river in July and then again in September this year.

The environment principal secretary had appointed a two-member fact-finding committee after these incidents to inquire into the death of fish, but it has not deterred the industrial units from releasing toxic waste into the river, exposing the claims of the State Government and the district administration that penal action was being taken against the erring units.

UNI