Chemical hazard: Dead fish blamed on insecticide spray

“On Wednesday, we found dead fish on the bank of the lake," says a resident.

LAYYAH:

Dead fish in a lake near Layyah was blamed on Firday by villagers nearby on an anti-mosquito spray by the Health Department. Chundi Moar Waali lake is located around 2km north of Layyah city.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sabir, a resident of the area, said that the Health Department had sprayed the area on Tuesday. He said, “On Wednesday, we found dead fish on the bank of the lake. "

Arshad Meerani, another villager claimed having seen the dead dogs and cats.

Ramazan said buffaloes had stopped giving milk after drinking from the lake.

District Health Officer Dr Khalid Naeem denied that the lake was sprayed. “We sent teams to spray the area but why would we have sprayed the lake?” Naeem asked.

In any case, he said, the insecticide they were using finthene cannot kill fish or animals.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 21^st, 2012.