The municipal corporation met residents and priests to discuss recurring pollution during ritual offerings.
Hundreds of fish have been found dead in the historic Banganga Tank in Mumbai’s Walkeshwar neighbourhood. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) held a meeting with residents and priests after another mass die-off.
A BMC official said the problem occurs at roughly the same time each year. During Pitru Paksha, which runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 10 this year, people pour milk and flour mixtures into the water as offerings to honour ancestors. Civic officials say the pollution lowers oxygen levels and harms the freshwater ecosystem.
Hindustan Times reported that the BMC is considering increasing the number of artificial ponds used for offerings from five to 10 and adding pumps to improve water circulation and aeration. Water samples have been sent for testing. In 2025, the civic body removed about 10 tonnes of dead fish and floral waste from the tank. It had previously installed collection bins and organised clean-up drives.