Tamil Nadu forms expert panel to probe Kosasthalaiyar river fish kill

The Tamil Nadu Environment Minister informed the state Assembly of the decision to establish an expert panel tasked with examining the causes behind the mass fish mortality in the Kosasthalaiyar river.

The announcement followed allegations raised by PMK MLA A. Ganesh Kumar, who pointed to industrial discharge as a primary concern. The legislator highlighted that numerous manufacturing units have been operating along the river basin and releasing their effluents directly into the waterway, contributing to severe water quality degradation.

The four-member committee is expected to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the incident and determine the extent of industrial contamination affecting the river ecosystem. The Kosasthalaiyar river, which flows through Tamil Nadu, has faced increasing pressure from urban and industrial pollution over recent years.

The expert panel's findings are anticipated to guide remedial action and potentially lead to stricter enforcement of environmental regulations on industries operating near the river. Environmental groups have long expressed concerns about the deteriorating health of Tamil Nadu's water bodies due to unchecked industrial waste discharge.