Toxic sludge being released by an illegal plastic factory into the canals that feed fish farms in East Kolkata Wetlands has triggered concern among ecologists. Not only is the toxic waste affecting fish workers, there are fears of chemicals entering our food chain through the fish and vegetables cultivated in the belt situated along the eastern fringes of Kolkata.The plastic factory has been set up illegally in the EKW, a Ramsar site that is supposed to be protected against such encroachment. Unlike other Ramsar sites, fish farms are integral to the EKW as it acts as Kolkata’s natural sewage treatment plant. But with the water being contaminated by toxins released by the unit, ecologists are wary of the impact. Kolkata’s rainwater and sewage accumulations are pumped out through a dry weather flow (DSF) which operates during dry seasons and storm water flow (SWF) which functions during the rainy season. Kolkata has a pair at Topsia and one more at Dhapa lockgate. The plastic unit which is allegedly releasing unknown toxins is situated off an embankment on the canals that flow out from the Dhapa lockgate. “The factory started functioning a couple of months ago,” said Rajat Mandal, who stays near Dakshin Gorumara Bheri. “We saw black smoke spiral from the building; it had a distinct smell of burnt polymer. “The alleged factory is only a minutes’ walk from Bantala lockgate. WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra said the Central Pollution Control Board had forwarded a complaint to the South 24-Parganas DM. We have relocated factories that operated in Kolkata or facilitated their switch to fuel that are less polluting. Since this unit is not registered, it has not come under our scanner. But we will definitely look into it,” he said. Illegal institutions operating on the wetlands will have calamitous effects as they do not follow any emission restrictions or guidelines,” said environment activist Bonani Kakkar.
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