Prof Johal’s report comes nearly five months after the increasing fish mortality in the lake prompted the Chandigarh Administration to seek a report from the professor.

Prof Johal has submitted that water in the Sukhna needs regular churning for proper distribution of oxygen. For this, he has suggested the Administration to further promote boating in the lake.

Speaking to Newsline, Prof Johal said: “There is a dead zone in the lake where no boating is allowed. The stagnant water there gives birth to bacteria thereby cutting oxygen levels and increasing toxic gases emanating from decomposed matter”.

Boating, the professor suggests, will keep the lake water in motion and help improve oxygen levels while simultaneously checking the growth of bacteria. “The fish at the Sukhna die mainly because of lack of oxygen. Four to five hours of boating in the dead zone is required every day,” adds Prof Johal. The Administration also has plans afoot to weed out big fish from the lake, which require more oxygen and cause the death of small fish. Fishing contracts will be given to contractors for catching fish of a certain size, approximately 40 centimeters and above.