VASCO: Traditional fishermen from Velsao have threatened to approach the National Green Tribunal (NGT) or the High Court of Bombay at Goa if the authorities fail to take action against the company allegedly responsible for the large-scale fish mortality reported in the bay off Pale-Velsao and the Poie rivulet at Dando-Mollo last week.
Speaking to O Heraldo, traditional fisherman Aliston Pinto said that before the incident of dead fish was reported, he had expressed his apprehension about the fish mortality due to the release of effluents by Paradeep Phosphates, Zuarinagar.
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Pinto alleged that the company had laid two pipes to release its effluents into the sea, posing a danger to the livelihoods of fishermen and damaging their fish nets. He stated that after a large number of fish were found dead on Velsao beach, a team of environmental engineers from the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) inspected the site and collected samples of water from the rivulet and Velsao Bay, as well as the dead fish. However, Pinto alleged that the GSPCB had yet to submit its examination report more than a fortnight after the incident.
Pinto mentioned that he and others met with local MLA Anton Vas, who informed them that he had written to all concerned authorities requesting immediate action to halt fish mortality at Velsao.
It should be noted that GSPCB Chairman Mahesh Patil had stated that prima facie, the urea and fertiliser being stored by the company in the courtyard were getting washed into the sea and rivulet due to rain, causing the fish deaths.
GSPCB officials had also instructed company officials and decided to conduct an audit of the entire premises by experts.
