JAMSHEDPUR: In the wake of dead fish being spotted in the Subarnarekha river as well as on its banks over the past few days, Seraikela-Kharsawan deputy commissioner Arava Rajkamal has directed officials to find out the reason behind the deaths.
Notably, Subarnarekha river water is used by the residents of the Steel City and many areas of neighbouring Seraikela-Kharsawan district. Even Tata Steel Utilities & Infrastructure Services Limited (TSUISL), which supplies drinking water to around 10 lakh population living in the company command areas, draws water from the Subarnarekha.
Jitendra Kumar of the regional pollution department said samples of the river water have been collected from Kapali Ghat and near the intake well of TSUISL. The samples have been sent for testing and action would be taken based on the report received, he added.
On Monday, TSUISL had stopped drawing water from the intake well. Company sources said large quantities of plastic waste along with discharge from the encroached bustees along the banks and many small scale factories not treating their waste before dumping in the river multiplied the pollution level. Pumping of water was later resumed.
A report published in TOI earlier on a study by environmental scientist and former professor of Ranchi University MK Jamuar revealed the water pollution of Subarnarekha showed the pH value of water exceeded its normal limit. While the pH of natural water ranges between 4 and 9, it was 9.4 near the city. The level of dissolved oxygen, which helps in dissolution of inorganic substances in water, was also low. Against a desirable limit of 5mg/litre, the dissolved oxygen content were in the range of 3.07mg/litre to 4.03mg/litre.
