Water bodies on the fringes of fertilizer plants here have turned into a graveyard for marine species, especially fish, following a suspected discharge of acidic fluid. Fisheries department personnel have rushed to the spot following reports that fish and aquatic species were dying in water and creeks close to the plants. All these allegedly polluted water bodies and creeks owe flow into the Mahanadi river system. Traditional inland fishermen have blamed a nearby fertilizer plant for the death of fish en masse and the forest personnel are gauging the gravity of the situation. “We are assessing the situation. Though we spotted dead species, the mortality is not on the scale as was being alleged. We have sent samples of dead species for laboratory tests,” said Paradip fisheries officer Bharat Bhusan Sahu.”There is visible presence of toxic liquefied substances in the creeks near the plants. The water bodies are heavily polluted.It is likely that effluents discharge by nearby industrial units have resulted in large-scale fish morality,” alleged environment activist Ayashkant Ray.”We are investigating whether the nearby fertilizer plant is accountable. But it is beyond doubt that industrial effluents have led to the death of the aquatic species,” he said.Inland fishermen also gave vent to their anger. “This phenomenon of fish dying en masse has become a regular occurrence. Effluents from the nearby plants pollute the water bodies and creeks near Paradip and cause the death of fish and aquatic animals, alleged Dayanidhi Behera, an inland fisherman. The fertilizer plant authorities, however, denied the charges and claimed that foolproof pollution control mechanism was in place at the plant.”The plant is equipped with state-of-the-art pollution control system. The effluents are scientifically treated at the treatment plant and are never released into the water bodies,” said the official of one of the fertilizer plants at the site.
2018 The Telegraph.