Paradip: A month after the fish kill in Bata river here in December, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) has said in a report that obstruction of river route and severe pollution are the reasons behind the mass deaths of the aquatic creatures.
Dead fish in large numbers were found floating in Bata river near the Balijhara slum here, December 31, 2022. OrissaPOST had carried a report on the fish kill. Although the incident had sparked concern among the people, no one could state the actual reason behind it.
Notably, the death of such large number of fish without any particular reason was a first-of-its-kind incident in winter season. On being informed, SPCB officials collected dead fish and river water samples and sent it for laboratory examination. Meanwhile, its report has come out which claims obstruction of river route and severe pollution to be the reason behind the fish kill.
The report says that shrinking of Bata river, open defecation and dumping of wastes like polythene, plastics and growth of weed has resulted in severe pollution of the river and subsequent mass death of fish. The shrinking of the river route and heavy pollution has led to decline in acidic content in the river water. This was stated by SPCB regional officer Pushkar Chandra Behera to mediapersons.
To prevent such fish kills in future, the river route has to be freed from obstruction and the river should be cleaned failing which such incidents will continue to occur in future, he warned.
Sources said there were 18 rivers and other forms of water bodies in and around Paradip in the sixties (1960s). Meanwhile, 15 industrial plants have come up in the port town after construction of Paradip Port.
The expansion of the port town and establishment of industrial plants has shrunk the river routes leading to obstruction in free flow of water in these rivers. Things have come to such a pass that many rivers and water bodies like Bata, Shamukati, Munda, Kapilajor, Haladipani, Kaudia, Majhidian, Saharapentha, Matsyadian have either lost their existence or are on the verge of extinction. The Kansaripatia and Sandhakuda rivers are barely visible now. Some rivers have lost their existence and have turned into small ponds in many places.
A residential colony has come up around the Bata river in the last 15 years where the fish deaths occurred. The residential colony comprises over 2,000 multi-storied buildings. The waste and sewage water of the colony is discharged into the Bata river. Some people in Balijhara slum have even installed some bamboo platforms on the riverbank and are openly defecating in the river.
The Sukhuakahala slum where dry fish is prepared in large numbers is on the other side of the river. The water used during preparation of dry fish containing toxic chemicals like formaldehyde is discharged into the river. Encroachment by people has also led to shrinking of the river basin.
Long back, the river used to flow from Paradipgarh via Udayabata and Atharbanki before merging at Kansaripatia river, a traditional fisherman Alok Rout said. The river was then over 25 km in length but with the rapid shrinking, it is apprehended that it may vanish from eyes within a few years, he added.
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