Paradip: The Odisha State Pollution Control Board has directed the urban local authorities here to restore hygiene and cleanliness in a heavily polluted water body.

The Bata creek meandering through the port township has become a dumping ground of waste, thereby polluting the water.

Last week, large-scale death of fish and other aquatic animals had been reported from the water body.

"Because of the anthropogenic activities, the water body is slowly dying. The untreated sewers from Balijhara, Tarinigada and Sukhuakhoal residential areas are directly discharged to the water body. Most of the residents at Balijhara directly discharge human excreta through temporary toilets. The water body is filled with algae blooms (water hyacinth). Measures to clear the large pond of weeds and waste are the need of the hour as the polluted water body poses threat of health hazard," said the board's regional officer (Paradip) Mukesh Mahaling.

"Water samples of the creek had been collected and were sent for laboratory test to ascertain the exact cause of fish death. The scientific test has detected the spectre of fish death because of the ecological hypoxia (oxygen depletion). It occurred because of the unregulated deposits of waste in the water body. The water flow in the 10-acre-stretch water body has been plugged by unabated human interference. It is precariously polluted, and the water contents from it are even unfit for animal consumption," he said.

However, it has rich nutrients, which are ideal for fish and other aquatic species to grow in it, he said.

The urban local body has been asked to undertake the clearance of weeds, prevent the discharge of untreated raw sewerage from the catchment area to the creek to conserve the wetland, he said.