Thousands of dead fish were found floating in the Panje-Dongri wetlands in Raigad district. Environmentalists claim this is the work of anti-social elements aiming to destroy the wetland’s biodiversity and facilitate land encroachment. Environmentalist Nandakumar Pawar had written to the Collector of Raigad district, Secretary of the Environment Department, Maharashtra Pollution Control Bureau (MPCB), and Panvel sub-divisional officer (SDO) informing them about the incident.

Pawar, also the president of Maharashtra’s small-scale traditional fish workers union, said, “On Tuesday, thousands of dead fish species were seen floating on the water at Panje, Dongri wetlands in urban taluka of Raigad. Some kind of harmful chemicals seem to have been used.  People may consume these fish, which will cause health hazards. People need to be prevented from doing so.” Pawar in his email requested that a team be sent immediately to the site to investigate the matter.