T.N. forms four-member panel to probe Kosasthalaiyar fish kill; sewage blamed

The Tamil Nadu government has constituted a four-member expert committee to investigate the recent mass death of fish in the Kosasthalaiyar river near the Ennore estuary. The decision was announced by Minister for Environment and Climate Change V.K. Rajeev in the State Assembly on Friday (August 21, 2026), in response to a Calling Attention Motion moved by AIADMK floor leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Mr. Rajeev denied that toxic industrial effluents had mixed with the river water. He maintained that the pollution was caused by sewage from nearby areas entering the river, leading to the fish kill. The expert committee, he said, has been instructed to submit a detailed report within 10 days.

The Minister further stated that officials from the Fisheries Department and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) have collected samples of both water and dead fish, which have been sent to a laboratory for analysis. He added that a total of 2,150 kg of dead fish had been removed from the Ennore estuary so far.

Earlier, while moving the motion, Mr. Palaniswami expressed serious concern over the incident, noting that it directly affected the livelihoods of catamaran and fibreboat fishermen who depend on the river and estuary. He demanded that TNPCB officials conduct a proper inspection to determine the cause of the fish kill.

Former Environment Minister Thangam Thennarasu highlighted that the Kosasthalaiyar-Ennore creek is an ecologically sensitive area requiring immediate attention to curb pollution. He stressed the need for proactive measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

PMK MLA A. Ganesh Kumar alleged that several industries have been operating in the region and discharging their effluents into the Kosasthalaiyar river, contributing to its pollution. He called for permanent solutions to stop industrial waste from entering the waterway and to safeguard the river's ecosystem.

The Kosasthalaiyar river is one of the major rivers flowing through northern Tamil Nadu, with the Ennore estuary serving as a crucial fishing ground and ecological zone. Environmental groups have repeatedly raised concerns about pollution in this area, citing industrial activity, untreated sewage, and encroachments. Local fishermen, who were among the first to report the mass fish kill, have urged the government to undertake a comprehensive study of the river's health and ensure that those responsible for pollution are held accountable.

While the exact cause of the fish kill will be determined by the expert committee's findings, the incident has reignited public debate over the balance between industrial development and environmental protection in regions surrounding Chennai. Authorities have been advised to take all necessary steps to prevent further loss of aquatic life and to restore the ecological balance in the Kosasthalaiyar-Ennore wetland system.