Miscreants poison water, kill fish en masse in Ri Bhoi

NONGPOH, June 1: Notwithstanding the total curfew order in the district, some miscreants reportedly poisoned water bodies using ‘Kharu’, a local chemical substance, as well as other chemicals resulting in large-scale extermination of fish and aquatic life.
Following reports from several quarters, the Deputy Commissioner of Ri Bhoi, RM Kurbah, on Tuesday prohibited poisoning of rivers, streams or any water bodies with the explicit or implicit intention to cause widespread and large-scale destruction of aquatic life. The order is applicable to all minor and major rivers as well as other water bodies within Ri Bhoi, the DC said, adding that such activities have also resulted in loss to local economy as the “short-term gains of few unscrupulous elements have upset the long-term economic interest of the people and their well-being as well as endangered the local indigenous fish population, flora and fauna beside undermining the local ecology”.
She added: “The unrelenting practice of this clandestine or traditional convention of poisoning water bodies has resulted in unprecedented law and order problems within the district.”