JOWAI: The Sohkha Combined Water Supply Committee in West Jaintia Hills has lodged a complaint with the public health engineering, forest (wildlife) departments and police against the “killing” of thousands of fishes in a water body at Sohkha.
The water body is the source of the Amtyrnad Drinking Water Supply Scheme that caters to three villages, Sohkha Shnong, Sohkha Mission and Sohkha Phlang. The committee’s secretary, Marshall Manner said the incident took place on December 20. ) “Villagers had informed us about the incident following which members of the committee along with some PHE muster roll workers inspected the water source and found hundreds of dead fishes floating on it,” Manner said.
He further said that seeds of ‘U Sohluh’ – a poisonous fruit used to kill fishes for a big catch – were also found.
Leaders of the three villages along with the committee has warned all those involved in the killing of fishes besides urging the concerned authority, particularly the police to trace the miscreants involved and punish them in accordance with the law.
“We also request residents of the area to take care of nature’s gifts by not involving in illegal killing of any fish and bird or cutting of trees in the interest of the present and future generation,” he said.
