Thousands of fish were killed in a minor environmental calamity to hit the Makkasan area, one of the last green spaces in the capital.
The fish were found dead Wednesday by officials who’d gone to investigate complaints from residents near the Burachat Chaiyakan pond in Makkasan.
Representatives from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration concluded the mass death of all the pond’s fish was caused by oxygen levels in the pond falling to absolute zero. The fish had been dead for three days, they concluded.
Nonn Panitwong, a water health expert with the Green World Foundation said this was caused by a high concentration of waste water after the pond was not siphoned following the rainy season, reported Bangkok Post.
Most of the dead fish were tilapias, known for their ability to survive at very low oxygen levels. These fish are hard to kill, but the critical conditions in the pond proved lethal.
Though the pond is on land owned by the State Railway of Thailand, it is city hall taking action. To resolve the situation, the municipal authority will drain the pond and refill it with water from Khlong Saen Saep.
Makkasan has been at the center of a green battle since last year. The railway wants to transform the expansive, lush space into a mixed-use commercial development, while environmentally conscious Bangkokians are fighting for it to become protected green space.
Railway officials are nonetheless moving forward. According to The Nation, as of July this year, the state railway planned on opening bids for the project deemed “Makkasan Complex” to developers.
Photo: Clker.com
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