Tamil Nadu forms expert panel to probe mass fish kill in Kosasthalaiyar

Tamil Nadu Environment Minister V.K. Rajeev told the Assembly on Friday that a four-member expert committee has been formed to investigate the mass death of fish in the Kosasthalaiyar river near the Ennore estuary. Replying to a Calling Attention Motion moved by AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the Minister denied that toxic industrial effluents had mixed with the river water, attributing the pollution to sewage from nearby areas. He said the committee has been instructed to submit a detailed report within 10 days.

Officials from the Fisheries Department and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board have collected water and dead fish samples for laboratory analysis. A total of 2,150 kg of dead fish has been removed from the Ennore estuary. Mr. Palaniswami said the incident was a serious concern affecting the livelihoods of catamaran and fibreboat fishermen, and demanded a proper inspection by TNPCB officials. Former Environment Minister Thangam Thennarasu called the Kosasthalaiyar-Ennore creek an ecologically sensitive area needing immediate attention, while PMK MLA A. Ganesh Kumar alleged that industries were discharging effluents into the river.