Why truckloads of fishes die in Banganga every year after Pitru Paksha?

In the last three years, the BMC has deployed four trucks every year to clear similar accumulations from Banganga. However, despite these recurring incidents, the authorities have yet to come up with a solid plan to prevent this annual mishap. Here’s why:

About Banganga Tank

Located in Walkeshwar in Mumbai’s upscale Malabar Hill neighbourhood, Banganga is a rectangular step-water tank whose origin dates back to the 12^th century. This tank is protected as a heritage site by the state Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. The steps are constructed with black basalt stones, while deepastambhs or pillars located within the periphery are constructed with lime-plaster and bricks.

Banganga is one of the last remaining natural water bodies in Mumbai, and the tank is known to store fresh water even though it is in proximity to the Arabian Sea. Therefore, devotees make religious offerings in the tank’s water on the last day of the Pitru Paksha period every year. The offerings mainly comprise flowers and food items, which later pollute the tank. The increase in pollutants reduces oxygen levels in the water, harming the aquatic life in the tank—Banganga is home to 220 different species of fish—often resulting in large-scale fish deaths.

What are the authorities doing?

Every year, after the Pitru Paksha rituals end, the civic authorities remove the dead fish along with floral waste. Following this, the BMC also increases the oxygen in the water by installing water pumps and artificial aerators. However, no concrete action has been taken so far.

“Previously, we tried setting up artificial tanks around the periphery of Banganga to prevent immersion in the natural water body. But that process had failed terribly since people gathered over there in large numbers, and the artificial tanks were not enough to cater to the crowd,” a civic official said.

Who is responsible for the Banganga tank?

According to the authorities, since the tank is a listed heritage structure, its ownership is with the state Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, while the responsibility of the management of the water body lies with the Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB) Trust. Civic officials said that the BMC does not have any administrative power to maintain or protect the tank.

“Since the tank is managed by the archaeology department and trust, it is their decision to allow or disallow Pitru Paksha rituals at the tank. The BMC, as a civic body, cannot take these decisions. If they need any logistical support, the BMC can provide, but we do not have administrative power to stop these rituals,” the civic official explained.

In 2024, the Maharashtra government, along with the BMC, had proposed a renovation of the Banganga Tank. The project, which stands incomplete today, was backed by Guardian Minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha, who also happens to be the local MLA. Prior to this, between 2018 and 2019, massive restoration works of these projects were proposed by the GSB trust as well as the state government. However, those projects too have failed to take off.

“The GSB trust does not have the authority to maintain it, considering it is a listed heritage structure. The onus is on the archaeological department of Maharashtra to maintain the site,” a representative of the trust told The Indian Express.

When contacted, a state archaeology department official said, “Whether to stop religious offerings in the tank is not a decision that needs to be taken up by the archaeological authorities. Our job is limited to the physical state of the structure. The methodology of usage of the site stands with the trust, and they have to decide.”

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