MAPUSA
The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) has taken stringent action against Paradeep Phosphates Ltd after an investigation linked the recent mass fish mortality in Velsao bay to negligence in the company’s housekeeping practices.
Following the discovery, the GSPCB has issued a show-cause notice to the company and conducted a personal hearing with its officials to address the issue and prevent future occurrences.
The GSPCB’s preliminary investigations revealed that a significant amount of urea and fertiliser, which had been improperly stored and spilled across the factory floor, was washed into a nearby rivulet during the first rains of the season.
This runoff resulted in elevated concentrations of chemicals in the water, leading to the death of fish in the area.
“In the first rains, there is usually a lot of surface runoff,” explained Mahesh Patil, Chairman of GSPCB.
“The urea and fertiliser, particularly in the railway yard where the fertiliser is loaded, got washed into the rivulet. This caused a sudden rise in the chemical concentration of the water, leading to the fish mortality.”
Patil noted that while some parameters in the water samples collected from the rivulet showed slightly elevated readings, they were not alarmingly high. He emphasised that the primary issue was the poor housekeeping practices that allowed the fertiliser to be dispersed and subsequently washed away.
A comprehensive investigation conducted by the GSPCB confirmed these findings, prompting the Board to issue a show-cause notice to Paradeep Phosphates Ltd.
The company officials were summoned for a personal hearing on Monday, where they were instructed to devise and submit an action plan aimed at improving housekeeping practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“We have asked the company to clear the entire area where the fertiliser was lying, especially in the railway yard,” Patil stated.
“They have agreed to improve their housekeeping and submit an action plan within a fixed timeline.”
The incident, which occurred late last month, saw a significant number of dead fish washing up near the rivulet and along the shores of Velsao bay.
Local residents were quick to allege that the release of effluents into the water bodies was the cause of the fish deaths, drawing attention to the environmental impact of industrial activities in the region.
The GSPCB’s swift action highlights the Board’s commitment to environmental protection and its readiness to hold companies accountable for lapses in safety and environmental protocols.
As the investigation progresses, Paradeep Phosphates Ltd is expected to comply with the directives issued by the GSPCB and take concrete steps to rectify the identified issues.
