Traces of chloromethane, a solvent used in the pharma industry that triggers neurological and reproductive ill-effects in humans, was found in the samples analysed from Gandigudem Lake near Kazipally industrial area that saw death of lakhs of fish after heavy rain on October 3. “On Saturday, we received results of 10 of the 72 samples collected. They contained chloromethane, an industrial solvent used in pharma companies. The diluted traces of the chemical in the lake confirm contamination. As the lake is huge with a spread of 266 acres, dilution occurs quickly,” Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) member secretary P Satyanarayana Reddy told TOI. The Telangana fisheries department advised fisheries cooperative societies of Gandigudem lake and Gaddapotharam lakes not to sell or consume the leftover fish. “Fish from tanks with mass mortality shall not be consumed. In polluted tanks, there could be heavy metals in the fish and when they are consumed, it automatically affects humans.,” V Srinivas, deputy director of the department, said. On Saturday, fisheries commissioner C Suvarna held a video conference with all district fisheries officers and directed them to submit a report on all polluted tanks and lakes across Telangana. “There could be around 50 to 60 polluted tanks or lakes across Telangana. In contrast, there is only one polluted tank apiece in Medchal and Bhadradri districts,” V Srinivas pointed out. The department is avoiding releasing fish seed into three highly polluted lakes in Sangareddy, Kazipally lake, Isnapur lake and Kistareddpet tank, said Sangareddy district fisheries officer G Sujata. “PCB gave a report that these three tanks have high level of organophosphoric pollution. Village revenue officers have labelled seven other lakes under the jurisdiction of local panchayats as contaminated. In all, we are steering clear of all these 10 tanks,” she said. On Saturday, the PCB officials continued collecting samples, an exercise it commenced on October 5. Satyanarayana Reddy told TOI, “All 13 companies who were issued notices were found erring. When PCB environmental engineers inspected the industries, there were discharges from the plants into the drains. Those companies named in the FIR but not in the notice list are still to be investigated. They were not found discharging at the time of inspection.” Ameenpur sub inspector, Lalu Nayak, who is investigating the case against pharma companies, said the viscera of dead fish has been sent to the Telangana State Forensic Science Lab. “We are recording statements of complainants. We will also write to the PCB seeking reports. Once the forensic reports are in, we will take action,” he said. Sources said police are also probing the role of a local politician of Kazipally who allegedly constructed a drain between Kazipally IDA and Kazipally lake, due to which water got diverted into Gandigudem. “This doesn’t exonerate pharma industries. But the role of local politician is also being looked into,” they said.