10 Tonne Fishes Dead In Chitkul Tank, Livestock Dying Of Starvation: Telangana High Court Initiates Suo Moto PILs

The Telangana High Court has initiated two Public Interest Litigations, one for implementation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rules 2016 and second, to investigate the allegations that effluents were being released into the Chitkul tank causing the death of 10 tonne fishes.

The PIL for implementation of the Animal Protection Rules was taken up on the basis of two letters addressed to the Court on 30th April, describing the sorry state of affairs in transporting the livestock to slaughterhouse, wherein animals were being deprived of any kind of nourishment leading to starvation.

Noting the seriousness of the matter, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti issued notice to the State. Additional Advocate General Mohammed Imran Khan has sought 4 weeks time to get instructions.

The second PIL was taken up by the Court based on an article titled “10 Tonnes Of Dead Fish Found Floating In Chitkul Tank, Locals Blame Effluents”, published in the Time of India.

The news item revealed that much to the distress of locals and fishermen nearly 10 tonnes of fish were found floating in the Chitkul tank in Patancheru, suspected to be the result of discharge of industrial effluents in the water body. The locals claimed that this was not the first time.

The news item further revealed the accumulation of chemicals in water body and extremely low levels of dissolved oxygen.

The Division Bench deemed it necessary that a thorough investigation be conducted in the matter. Thus, the State and the State Pollution Control Board were directed to file their replies within a period of 2 weeks.

Case no.: SUOMOTUWP(PIL) 3/2024

Case no.: TUPWP(PIL) 6/2024

Counsel for respondents: Additional Advocate General, Imran Kkan (Sr)

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