Guwahati News Desk: Passersby and city residents visiting Dighalipukhuri are facing hardships due to the foul smell emanating from the water of the pond. The reason for the smell is traceable to the fact that the Dighalipukhuri pond has not been cleared for the last four months.
Last June, hundreds of fish died in the Dighalipukhuri due to the low oxygen levels in the water body. Nearly 200 people including children visit the Dighalipukhuri every day.
“We have been getting the foul smell from the last seven days. Authorities concerned were informed about the condition of the pond. As a temporary measure to remove the odour, bleaching powder has been applied from the side of the department,” an official of the park said.
The recreational facility and the pond are maintained by the State tourism department. “We visited the park for our children. The foul smell emanating from the water was so strong that we could not stay even for five minutes. It could lead to serious health hazards to the people visiting the park and nearby people in the area,” said a parent.
“It is total negligence from the side of the department. The pond could not be cleaned due to lack of funds,” said a source. If the department does not take immediate action to clean it, there is a risk of decreasing the oxygen level which can lead to death of fish. An official of the Tourism department said that the water of Dighalipukhuri stinks every year during this time as the water level of the pond goes down.