Periyar fish tragedy – prompt action needed
TRAGEDY struck the Periyar River this week when tonnes of fish were found dead, suspected to be caused by effluent from nearby industrial areas contaminating the water.
This has resulted in a gigantic loss to hundreds of people who are engaged in aquaculture farming.
Fishermen, facing substantial losses running into crores, accused pollution control officials of negligence.
Fish farmers allege that pollutants released by industries along the banks of the river caused the tragedy.
The Pollution Control Board has meanwhile passed the blame on to the Irrigation Department suggesting that the sudden opening of the shutters of Pathalam regulator bridge might have caused the fish die-off.
“For long we have been demanding action from the Pollution Control Board to prevent the discharge of effluents by factories located in the area. All our pleas have fallen on deaf ears and those engaged in fish farming have suffered losses running into lakhs. We demand our losses be compensated,” said the protesters.
The protests turned violent with the police guarding the Board office being roughed up by the protesters.
To vent their anger, the protesters came with quantities of dead fish and threw them into the compound of the Pollution Board office.
In this area, fish farmers are engaged in cage farming and they are the ones who have suffered huge losses after toxins entered the cages resulting in the death of the fish which included pearl spot, tilapia and Asian sea bass among others.
Industries Minister P. Rajeev on Wednesday said the state government has asked for a detailed report from the authorities.
The rotten fish causes a major health threat, besides the damage caused to the river ecosystem.
Meanwhile, the blame game among the various departments of the state government has started with each blaming the other. The Ernakulam District Collector has issued orders to the Pollution Control Board seeking an investigation and prompt action.
Hope the government and the authorities concerned will heed the farmers’ plea for compensation and take appropriate steps to ensure that such disasters do not recur.
