Taking precautionary measures after thousands of fishes were killed by contaminated water the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration has sealed cattle and poultry farms established on the bank of Rawal Lake and imposed Section 144 for two months.
Experts have suggested that these establishments in the catchment areas of Rawal Lake have been polluting the inlet of lake by discharging toxic waste, which caused bacterial infection, killing fish.
The district administration warned that anybody found violating the orders would face necessary legal action.
Bacteria was found in Rawal Lake last month, which caused contamination of water, resulting in large-scale killing of fish. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA) collected water samples from the lake which also confirmed the presence of toxic contents in water but no remedial measures were taken so far.
The Rawal Lake is the only major water reservoir from where clean drinking water is supplied to the residents of Rawalpindi.
The toxic waste inflow into the lake originating from Bani Gala and other adjoining localities is badly affecting the quality of water.