TEAM HERALD
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PONDA: Dead fish were found floating in the Cumbharjua canal and fishermen have attributed the incident due to the discharge of wastewater into the canal by a factory.
The Cumbharjua canal passes through the areas of Tiverem-Orgao and Cumbharjua Panchayats and fish deaths were also reported in the Cumbharjua canal earlier in February 2008.
Following protests by fishermen, both panchayats had requested the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to take necessary action in the matter. The GSPCB in its report did not mention the name of the company, but confirmed that fish deaths had occurred due to dumping of organic waste, resulting in oxygen depletion.
“On Sunday morning, I saw several dead fish floating in the water. I believe the fish had died due to wastewater being released into the canal by the factory,” said Mahendra Sawant, a fisherman from Tariwada-Marcel.
“This was reported some years ago and now it has happened once again. I hope the authorities will take action,” added Sawant.
Incidentally in 2008, the company had flatly denied that the fish had died due to the effluents released in the water, but had paid a compensation of Rs 4,000 each to 15 fishermen from Tariwada.
When contacted, both panchayats informed that there were oral complaints from the fishermen but no written complaints were submitted as yet.
According to reports, the factory had been closed for some months last year after GSPCB had issued a notice to the company for releasing effluents in the Cumbharjua canal. However, the company resumed its operation after complying with the directives.
