Fish dying due to chemicals or pollutants in water bodies has triggered a concern as three incidents have surfaced in the past few days. Dead fish were found lying scattered on the shores of Velsao in two separate instances, both within a week. A few days later, a large quantity of fish was found in a creek near the Waste Treatment Plant at Cacora-Curchorem.
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) team visited Cacora and observed that the fish die-off happened due to the leachate that flowed from the nearby remediated dump into the creek. The Pollution Control Board also revealed that improper storage of urea and other fertilisers by a fertiliser company Paradeep Phosphates Ltd at Velsao led to a spill which made its way to the Velsao bay.
Time and again, reports from various quarters have pointed to water bodies in Goa being heavily polluted, but nothing seems to change. A recent report released by the GSPCB said major rivers in the State are having exceeding levels of faecal contamination threatening the aquatic ecosystem. The report has also highlighted the industrial contamination of some rivers. Last year, the Central Pollution Control Board released a report citing that major beaches in Goa are polluted with high levels of faecal coliform with contamination way beyond limits. Tourists have cited pollution of beaches on travel portals like Tripadvisor with a mention of business establishments and shacks channelling untreated sewage to the seas.
In the last monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly, Minister for Water Resources Subhash Shirodkar submitted in a written reply that 75 lakes across Goa are polluted with sewage and have a high presence of e.coli bacteria. Incidentally, Salcete led with 29 lakes being polluted. An earlier study published in 2016 by the GSPCB maintained that water in most of the rivers in Goa was unsafe for human consumption.
It is obvious that the situation is spiralling out of control, and the fish die-off at the Velsao shore and Cacora are indicators that we are headed for worse times. The beauty of Goa has been its pristine beaches and water bodies that include creeks and rivers. River water contamination in various forms and scales, which is going unchecked, does not bode well for the State. The fish die-off cannot be the alarm, rather, it is an indicator that we don't have inherent mechanisms and checks and balances to stop violations.
It appears that the GSPCB is handling the issue with kid gloves. In the Velsao incident, although the company was served a show cause notice over the chemical leak, it has let them off the hook without any reprimand. They have been asked to submit an action plan for improving housekeeping, and the company have promptly agreed to do so. That’s all. Let’s not forget, that Velsao was a witness to fish die-off twice within a week.
Fish die-off raises a scare because fish forms part of Goa’s staple diet, and there is a vast section, especially in villages that consume river fish and there is even a larger section that is dependent on netted sea fish for their daily fish-curry-rice. The worry is not only because of sewage release but also the flow of toxic chemical waste into rivulets, the recent cases being Ponda and Bicholim.
The State needs robust monitoring coupled with swift punitive action. An accident cannot be a trigger to act or visit these polluting industries or contamination sources. Strong deterrents must be set, including suspending of licences, and there has to be zero tolerance over such violations.
