VASCO: For the second time in two weeks, a large quantity of dead fish washed ashore at Velsao beach on Saturday. Distressed fishermen, whose livelihoods are threatened by this recurring phenomenon, gathered at the beach demanding action against a nearby chemical factory that allegedly discharged effluent into the sea through a pipeline.
The shore was dotted with dead fish and crustaceans, and the fishermen said they had to keep vigil to prevent people from picking them up for sale or consumption. “There were several people trying to take the dead fish away in bags. We stopped them and explained that they were possibly poisoned and would make them and their children sick,” said Alister Pinto, a local fisherman. Pinto lambasted the Goa government and the leaders of the State’s fishing community for failing to take any action after last month’s fish mortality. “Why has this factory not been prevented from releasing its effluents into the sea? Why were they given permission to build this large pipe that clearly pollutes our sea and rivulet?” he questioned. “Not a single MLA has come here or pushed for samples to be collected. Does the government not care about our health? Our children may consume these contaminated fish and get sick, they may die. They should have prevented this from happening again,” Pinto said.
Cortalim MLA Anton Vas visited the beach on Saturday and told the fishermen that he had already written to the South Goa Collector and the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB), urging them to investigate and determine the exact cause of the fish deaths.
Vas said he had contacted Paradeep Phosphates, requesting them to conduct an inspection to identify the cause of the fish mortality at Velsao beach.
On May 26, a massive fish kill event was reported at Velsao bay and a rivulet nearby. Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) Chairman Mahesh Patil had previously informed O Heraldo that the Board would issue a show-cause notice to the factory responsible for negligently storing fertiliser, which washed into the water bodies, resulting in widespread fish deaths in the Velsao bay.
