Kashmir: Dead Fishes Float In Dal Lake After G20 Beautification, Locals Blame Authorities

Thousands of small dead fish were found floating on the famous Dal Lake in Srinagar, locals blame lake authorities for the sudden cleanup before the G20 Meeting in May.

Thousands of fish have been found dead in Srinagar's famous Dal Lake, and residents are now pointing fingers at the authorities for the incident. While scientists attribute the mass death to thermal stratification, residents argue that the unscientific and unregulated cleaning of the lake in preparation for the G20 meeting is to blame.

Residents living near the lake have reported numerous dead fish floating on the water's surface in the days leading up to the G20 meeting held between May 22-24.

"We found dead fish in various parts of the lake, particularly in areas where vegetation and weeds were cleared to beautify the lake for visitors. The stench of rotting fish is now spreading throughout the entire lake," said Manzoor Ahmed, a local resident.

However, officials from the fisheries department attribute the deaths to erratic weather and changes in hydroponic properties. They suggest that the large-scale death of small fish is a result of thermal stratification, which refers to changes in temperature at different depths in the lake.

Firoz Ahmed Bhat, the Dean of the fisheries faculty at SKUAST-K, explained that low oxygen content in the lake may have caused fish deaths. 

"Pollution and weed growth reduce the concentration of oxygen in a lake," he said, noting similar incidents in Lake Nigeen. However, authorities have not provided a definitive reason for the death of only small fish, especially in the areas around the SKICC, which were cleaned by the Lake Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) ahead of the G-20 meeting.

Meanwhile, local fishermen accuse LCMA officials of destroying fishing spots due to deep digging and cleaning in areas where the fish usually spawn. 

"We have not seen big fish dying, only small fish are visible, and it shows that de-weeding machines have destroyed fishing areas," said a fisherman, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

Srinagar's Dal Lake served as the venue for the G-20 meeting on tourism and garnered significant attention. In preparation for the event, traditional lotus pods and other beneficial water plants were uprooted to create an appealing sight for the visiting delegates.

Now, local residents are attributing this action as the main cause of the death of thousands of fish, which could also prove harmful to the ecosystem.