30-tonne of fish die; NGOs, denizens protest

VISAKHAPATNAM: After around 30-tonne of fish were found dead near Hindustan Shipyard Limited (HSL) on Sunday, various NGOs in the city are up in arms against the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) alleging that it failed to rein in pollution in and around the city despite strong protests from Vizagites.Fisherfolk in Visakhapatnam district said they would lose their livelihood in future owing to rising marine pollution due to release of untreated effluents into sea water by various industries in around the Visahkapatnam city. However, APPCB said the fish died due to asphyxiation on Saturday and Sunday and not by any chemical contamination in thse waters.If the ammonia levels in the waters are less than two per cent, chemical contamination is possible, said APPCB.However, industries in the area including Hindustan Corporation Limited and Coromandel Fertilizers have not released any harmful effluents into the sea, they said.Speaking to Express, Superitendent Engineer of APPCB, Usman Ali Khan said they collected water samples from the area showed zero oxygen after examination on Sunday.Oxygen levels plummeting in less than four Counts Per Minute had resulted in the death of tonnes of fish which is quite commonplace, he said.The water samples and dead fish were sent to the Central Institute of Fish Technology in Vizag for further examination.However, Convener of Forum for Better Visakha (FBV), a NGO, EAS Sarma said APPCB officials are misleading Vizagties.APPCB officials have utterly failed to monitor pollution levels in Visakhapatnam city and the district, he said.APPCB officials have joined hands with industrialists and the mining mafia, he added.Sarma said marine pollution results in dipping of oxygen levels in the sea.He pointed out that if asphyxiation was the sole reason behind the death of the fish, such incidents could occur daily.Meanwhile, representatives of NGOs alleged that APPCB has failed to give proper information about the dead fish.Due to dumping of unprocessed and toxic wastes into sea by various industries and the resulting pollution, majority of fisherfolk have lost their livelihood in Parawada, Nakkapalle, S Rayavaram and other mandals.