Hundreds of fish found dead in Rawal Dam

FIR registered against pouring poison in water; Wasa denies charge;  police say inquiry underway and those involved will be booked     

 ISLAMABAD: Surprisingly, hundreds  of fish have been found  dead in Rawal Damhere on Saturday.  According to the First Information  Report (FIR) which  registered with the Secretariat  Police Station that fish died due  to pouring of poisonous substance.  On the other hand,Water  and Sanitation Agency (WASA)  stated that poison had not been  found in the water of Rawal  Dam.WASA’s denial came after a  large number of fish died at the  Rawal Damand a First Information  Report (FIR) had been filed  against a localmafia for pouring  poison into the dam.  Deputy Director Fisheries  Department Islamabad,Muhammad  Sadiq Buzdar registered  FIR that people from the mafia  were stopped fishing and boating  in the dam as it is banned.  A major operation was carried  out by ICT against themafia  and 20 boats were confiscated  while five personswere arrested.  This action, he said, irked mafia  which has added poisonous material  into the water that has  killed huge numbers of fish in  the last few days and others are  dying on daily basis.  He also said that public at  large is now at risk due to apprehensions  of deaths of fish  and serious dangers to health.  He demanded strict action  against those responsible of this  act. The police officials said that  investigation is underway into  thematter and those involved in  this act would be booked.  According toWater and Sanitation  Agency (WASA) they test  water samples fromRawal Dam  every day and so far nothing has  been found out regarding poisonous  substance being present  in the dam.  Following the development,  water supply to Rawalpindi was  suspended on the request of  WASA. According to WASA, a  24/7 tanker servicewould to use  for water supply in Rawalpindi,  adding that supply would be increased  from Khanpur Dam.  The administration officials  added that fish and water samples  are being tested and supply  to the city will resume after the  report has been completed.  Pakistan Army personnel  also reached the site to collect  water samples. However, the  case was filed at Secretariat police  station, while the relevant  authorities have taken water  samples from the dam.  When contacted official  spokesman for WASA Umar Farooq  said they test water samples  from Rawal Dam every day  and so far nothing has been  found regarding poisonous substance  being present in the dam.  The dam provides an estimated  24 million gallons of  water to Rawalpindi daily.