Post News Network
Boudh, April 13: Use of harmful chemicals and explosion of dynamites over the years for catching fish by dishonest fish traders in Mahanadi have made the river water unfit for human use here. Moreover, the polluted water has become dangerous for the fish population and other aquatic species in the river.
A constant decline in the fish population has also been noticed. Not only this, locals have fallen prey to various diseases after consuming fish caught from the river. Unless the dangerous practice of using chemicals and dynamites for fishing by the traders is stopped, the diseases will continue to affect people, locals said.
According to health officials, consumption of such fish can cause liver and kidney ailments in people. “Health officials have issued a caution on consuming such fish. One can be affected with diseases related to kidney and liver after consuming such fish,” chief district medical officer Ajaya Krushna Mohanty said.
Hundreds of traditional fishermen and their families residing in the locality have been dependent on fishing in the river for their livelihoods for ages. They have been using traditional boats and fishing nets to catch fish. After meeting the demands of the local market, they used to export it outside the state.
However, according to sources, the scenario changed completely with the entry of non-fishing communities in the profession in recent years. They started using harmful chemicals and explosives to catch fish in order to earn quick money.
According to local fishermen, the dishonest traders have been using ammonium nitrate, dynamite and other explosive materials for about seven years. This has resulted in the rapid decline of population of aquatic species like prawn, crab and other creatures, which were once available in abundance.
Earlier, traditional fishermen used to catch fish after reduction of water level during summer. However, the traders catch fish throughout the year, making traditional fishermen jobless. Every day, around 20 dynamites are exploded in the river between Mushundi and Karadi area, the fishermen said.
Blaming the district administration and law enforcement agencies for the prevalent situation, they said the officials have done nothing to check the dangerous practices by the traders.
According to the villagers, a youth from Bankapada village died in 2011 while he was catching fish in the river because of dynamite explosion, while several others have been injured recently. Yet the administration has failed to take action against the traders, they rued.
However, Boudh tehsildar Jayendra Kumar Sethi said his department has not received any written complaint about illegal fishing in the river. “Neither the fisheries department nor the locals have made any complaint in this regard. However, action would be taken once a complaint is made,” he said.
