Chhatrapur: The Ganjam district administration Tuesday served notices on authorities of Gopalpur Port and the Indian Rare Earths Limited (IREL) over floating of large number of dead fish at a jetty mouth near the port here.
Officials of the fisheries department conducted a probe while a national-level technical team would soon visit the site to ascertain the exact reason behind the death of aquatic animals, collector Premchandra Choudhury said. Based on the investigation report, necessary action would be taken, he added.
Gopalpur Port and IREL plant are not far from the site, it was learnt.
Meanwhile, a preliminary probe indicates that the mountain of fertilizer lying on the port premises can be a major reason behind the large scale deaths of fish in the jetty mouth.
Earlier in the day, a team led by deputy director (fisheries) Shiv Prasad Bhoi went to the site and examined the dead fish. The members found piles of fertilizer lying in the open. Rainwater, after coming in contact with the fertilizer, enters the jetty mouth which has caused the massive deaths of fish, observed Bhoi after getting the odour of ammonia from the site.
He also held a discussion with the port authorities and said a report would soon be submitted to the collector.
Tonnes of dead fish, crabs, frogs, snakes and other aquatic animals were seen floating near the fishing jetty since Sunday. Fishermen’s union got panicked after the decomposed carcasses generated stink. The union raised the issue with the district administration.
According to reports, an expert team had visited the site in August last year after fishermen spotted tonnes of dead fish floating in the water for over a week. Though, the team submitted a report to the government in this regard and suggested corrective measures, no action was taken which resulted in repetition of the incident, alleged local fishermen. PNN
