145;Fish at Sukhna in danger146;

Professor M S Johal of the Department of Zoology at Panjab University, who had examined the dead fish, said: 8220;Organic waste in the water produces methane, which is also a factor in the death of fish, apart from the presence of silt in Sukhna.8221;

Professor Johal explained that a warm environment causes oxygen levels in water to decrease 8212; 8220;this is a direct threat to fish8221;.

Also, the lake has overgrown varieties of fish which need to be removed immediately.

8220;These fish eat most of the food and hence, there arises an imbalance,8221; added Johal.

Administration officials, meanwhile, do not admit to the presence of methane as 8220;the lake has no organic waste8221;.

Conservator Officer Ishwar Singh said: 8220;We check the level of oxygen in the water at regular intervals and they are under control. Organic waste is present only at the sides of the lake and is not a cause for concern.8221;

Johal said: 8220;It is imperative that a panel of scientific experts be constituted and the administration implements the measures suggested by them.8217;