Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jan 13: The issue of pollutants released by fishmeal plants located in Udyavar near here into rivulet hogged limelight once again on Thursday January 12, after locals, aggrieved by the phenomenon of death of thousands of fish in Udyavar rivulet, summoned officials of different departments including taluk tahsildar to the spot to enable them to see for themselves the extent of destruction unleashed by fishmeal plants.

Thousands of fish were found to have died for the umpteenth time in about two kilometers area in the rivulet, covering Ankudru, and Gajani villages in Udyavar. The locals have been accusing the three fishmeal plants functioning in Pitrodi of being responsible for these deaths. As the issue has caused grave concern among the villagers and fishermen, tahsildar, Prasannakumar, visited the fishmeal plants in Pitrodi and inspected their effluent treatment plants.  He was accompanied by assistant environment officer in Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Rajashekhar Puranik, as well as official of fisheries department, Harish Kumar. When they arrived on the scene, the locals accused them of siding with fishmeal plants and turning a blind eye to their problems.

Gracy Machado, president of Udyavar gram panchayat, complained that the fishmeal plants have clandestinely obtained licence through panchayat development officer, Panchakshariswamy Hiremutt recently. She accused the development officer of overlooking a panchayat resolution not to issue licences to these plants, and violating rules. The locals also supported Machado, by saying that the people in this area have been suffering from a number of problems because of the functioning of these fishmeal plants.

Prasannakumar said he will submit a detailed report on the death of fish and treatment of effluents by the plants, to the district deputy commissioner. Puranik said that on the face of it, it looks like the fish have died due to lack of oxygen in water. He noted that effluents can never be discharged into rivulets under any circumstances, and that they are expected to release the same into sea alone. He said the fishmeal plants have been instructed to build channels to verify the discharge of effluents.

Owner of a fishmeal plant M K Balaraj, said that as per the suggestion of the then deputy commissioner, who had visited the mills and suggested them to use ETP technology while treating the effluents before releasing it into the sea, the fishmeal plants had fallen in line. “We have been following this instruction. We are not aware of the reasons why the fish continue to die in the rivulet here,” he added.