DEATH of marine species due to frequent oil leak and release of effluents into rivers and creeks has left fishermen of Jagatsinghpur district worried. Thousands of dead fishes were found floating in river Kaudia on Saturday, four days after miscreants drilled a hole in an IOCL pipeline at Kaudia riverbed to steal fuel. Apart from river Kaudia, fishermen depend on rivers like Bata, Kadua, Santra and Pattakani creeks for their daily catch. They alleged that oil spill from IOCL pipeline and discharge of effluents by other industries has led to heavy pollution of the water bodies. Pollution leads to shortage of oxygen in the water bodies, killing fishes, prawns and crabs. Officials of the Odisha State Pollution Control Board claimed that drop in the oxygen level in water bodies has led to death of fishes like Rohu (Rohi), Mrigal (Mirkali) and Catla (Bhakura). They are, however, yet to ascertain if oil spill and release of effluents are the reasons behind drop in oxygen level. At least three to four mg of oxygen is required per litre of water for the marine species to survive. Regional Officer, OSPCB, Prasant Kar said preliminary investigation into the Saturday’s incident has revealed that drop in oxygen level in Kaudia river led to death of the fishes. We have sent the water samples to Bhubaneswar for tests, he said. District Fisheries Officer, Gyanranjan Samal informed that water of different rivers and creeks has turned black due to chemical reaction. We are ascertaining the exact loss of fishes due to leakage from IOCL pipeline, he said.
2016, The New Indian Express.