Activists Urge Civic Body to Prevent Fish Deaths in Historic Banganga Tank After Pitru Paksha Rituals

Activists have called on the civic body to take urgent measures to prevent the annual death of hundreds of fish in the historic Banganga tank in Walkeshwar, which occurs following the Pitru Paksha rituals. They have proposed banning the immersion of puja remains directly into the tank and suggested the creation of artificial ponds around the tank to accommodate these offerings during the ritual period.

Recurring Problem at Sacred Banganga Tank

On Monday morning, hundreds of dead fish were seen floating on the surface of the Banganga tank, a sacred water body surrounded by ancient temples in the Walkeshwar area of Malabar Hill. This occurrence is not new; fish deaths have been a recurring issue every year after the last day of Pitru Paksha, when Hindus perform rites to honour their departed ancestors.

Rituals and Their Aftermath

On Sunday, hundreds of devotees gathered at the holy site to perform shraddha and pinda daan rituals, believed to provide peace to the departed souls. As in previous years, the rituals were conducted at the tank, after which numerous fish were found dead.

The civic body promptly responded by cleaning the tank and removing the dead fish. Mangal Prabhat Lodha, state minister and MLA from Malabar Hill, visited the site on Tuesday along with Manish Walunj, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of D ward, to engage with local residents and assess the situation.

Call for Preventive Measures

Activists have demanded concrete action from the civic authorities to stop the annual fish deaths. They recommended setting up artificial ponds around Banganga tank, similar to those used during Ganeshotsav visarjan, to prevent puja materials from polluting the water during Pitru Paksha.

Activists’ Perspectives

Sneha Visariya, founder trustee of Just Smile Charitable Trust, stated: “Puja materials should be banned from entering the water and instead immersed in artificial ponds, with only the water being released into the tank. This approach will allow devotees to fulfil their rituals without harming living beings. Killing aquatic life in the name of religion must stop.”

Visariya also recalled that after a similar incident in 2022, she had taken the dead fish to Parel Veterinary Hospital for a post-mortem. The hospital reportedly submitted a report to the police, identifying contaminated water as the cause of death.

Animal Welfare Concerns

Roshan Pathak, animal rights advisor at Pure Animal Lovers (PAL) Welfare Foundation, emphasized the necessity of regular tank maintenance. “If fish inhabit the tank, their well-being is the BMC’s responsibility. Devotees often throw various offerings into the tank assuming the fish will consume them, but fish have specific dietary needs. Unconsumed materials can turn into toxins, harming aquatic life.”

Local Residents’ Views

Locals revealed that such incidents have been occurring for decades, although the number of fish deaths this year was considerably lower. Notably, the BMC had banned the immersion of Ganpati idols in the tank before Ganesh Chaturthi this year.

Residents also complained about the foul stench caused by decaying fish, making the area unpleasant.

Chirag Dave, a local resident who facilitates rituals at the tank, shared: “I have witnessed fish dying after Pitru Paksha for over four decades. While we ensure that devotees do not immerse the pinda directly in the water, other ritual remains like oil, sesame seeds, and barley still flow into the tank, causing fish deaths. The area smells unpleasant every year after the incident, though the cleaning was quicker this time. While it is important to prevent fish deaths, devotees should not be stopped from performing their religious rituals.”

Looking Ahead

The situation at Banganga tank underscores the delicate balance between religious practices and environmental conservation. Implementing artificial ponds for puja immersions and regular cleaning could be effective steps toward preserving the sacred water body and its aquatic life, while respecting devotional sentiments.

https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-news-activists-urge-artificial-ponds-for-pinda-daan-to-prevent-annual-fish-deaths-at-banganga-tank