Fish Kill Returns: Campal Pond Choked with Trash

Fish have once again died in large numbers at the pond in Campal Lakeview Colony, Miramar. The waterbody, which connects to the St Inez Creek, was found with scores of dead fish floating on Tuesday. Workers from the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) removed the deceased fish, alongside a significant amount of litter, including empty milk and potato wafer packets and plastic water bottles. This incident raises serious concerns about pollution impacting urban water bodies.

A foul stench emanating from the pond has become a deterrent for local residents, according to CCP corporator Leonid Furtado. He suggested that proper maintenance and upgrading of the area could potentially generate revenue for the city. Although the pond was developed with maintenance provisions, high tide often causes water from St Inez Creek to flow in, bringing debris.

This event echoes a similar fish kill that occurred two months prior in the Rua de Ourem creek. In that instance, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) collected water samples, and the fisheries department conducted an inspection. Officials had attributed those deaths to oxygen depletion due to declining water quality.

The earlier incident in Mala also drew the attention of the Bombay high court, which took suo motu cognisance. The court expressed concern over the condition of water bodies near urban areas. Subsequent inspections identified households allegedly discharging sewage into the Mala waterbody.