MAPUSA
Dead fish found floating on the surface of Tar River created panic among locals in Mapusa on Sunday morning.
People rushed to the spot after hundreds of small and medium-sized fish were found floating near the Ganesh visarjan site of River Tar.
An eyewitness informed that while most of the fish were dead some were still alive. Soon a foul stink enveloped the entire area.
The cause of death was not clear but locals suggested that effluents released into the water could have led to the death of the fish.
Reports also suggest that the deaths could have been caused due to a lack of oxygen.
A resident from the area informed that the national highway authorities were in the process of building a parallel concrete bridge across the river along the NH 66 and have therefore blocked the flow of the river.
“For the last few months the water has been blocked and the colour of the water has turned blackish. The fish may not be getting oxygen to breathe,” the resident said.
The Tar River has gained notoriety for being one of the most polluted rivers as the entire sewage of the town and the main market flows into the river.
The Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority in one of its report had submitted that River Tar has been polluted.
In the report, the GCZMA had observed that dumping of waste, sewage and siltation had rendered the riverine area toxic.
Several NGOs and individuals had constantly raised the issue of the river’s pollution and demanded that the Mapusa municipality takes steps to clean the river.
The river falls partly in the jurisdiction of Mapusa municipality and partly in Bastora panchayat.
Social worker, Shekar Naik said both Mapusa municipality and Bastora panchayat have failed to attend to the issue of pollution of the river.
“We have been raising the pollution issue of the Tar River for the last several years. The water of the river has become putrid and is stinking as the entire sewage of Mapusa flows into it. It's high time the government takes action in the matter,” Naik said.
A local, Gaurish Keni informed that such incidents (of fish perishing) were bound to happen as the concerned authorities failed to revive the river which is badly polluted.
“As long as the sewerage treatment plant does not come up in Mapusa such incidents are going to happen. The sewage from the entire Khorlim area and Mapusa market flow into the main nullah which later empties into the Tar River,” Keni said.
Mapusa Municipal Council Chief Officer Clen Madeira and Bastora Sarpanch Ranjit Usgaonkar could not be reached for comment.
