Fish and Fishy Environment M S H SHEIKH

Fish, and Fishy Environment M. S. H. SHEIKH President Brackish Water Research Center Kasba Mohalla Mougal Street OLPAD. Dist Surat. GUJARAT. Mail: bwrc@yahoo. co. in

PANOLI AND ANKLESHWAR • Asia’s biggest chemical industry. • Chemical, Pesticide zone Ankleshwar and Panoli. • Highest pollution of Air, Water, and Hazardous Waste. • Worst case scenario of Water Pollution now in this decade.

Amla khadi the Most polluted creek of the India as per CPCB

• Hon High Court order for the project of Sub sea disposal of Effluent Treated Water of Amla Khadi.

The sub sea pipe line project for effluent disposal faces hurdles [BEAIL]. Till this disaster lethargic work is going on.

Disposal point in River

Disposal Point of Amla khadi at Aliya bet in Narmada River.

Narmada River

The fisheries is totally dependent on estuarine/ coastal fishing in Narmada river in Bharuch District.

• The fisherman catches fishes by hand held nets from the coastal/ estuarine belt. Wooden boats are used for the fishing in Narmada River.

• Due to the change in ecology and Narmada dam the Aliya bet, the delta of Narmada disappeared.

• More than 100 villages of Bharuch district and Over 50, 000 people depends on fishing business.

Sr Name of Fish 1999 -2000 2003 -2004 Reduction % In 5 years 1 Catla catla 23, 18, 654 2, 062 91. 20% 2 Labeo rohita 24, 96, 327 3, 11, 189 87. 50% 3 Cirrhina mrigala 15, 14, 284 23, 449 98% 2, 88, 253 0 100% 5 Minor carp 44, 561 0 100% 6 Bekti 14, 827 0 100% 7 Mahasheer 82, 097 1, 200 98. 50% 10, 52, 359 39, 390 96. 25% 1, 26, 662 150 99. 80% 4 Kalbasu 8 Wallago attu 9 Scorpion 10 Murrel 8, 34, 873 66, 260 92%

Sr Name of Fish 11 Catfish 12 Bombay duck 13 Hilsa 14 Mullets 15 Eel 16 Shrimp 17 Prawn 18 Crab 19 Levta 20 Misc TOTAL Kg Total in Tons/yr 1999 -2000 2003 -2004 Reduction % 18, 96, 465 2, 63, 293 86. 10% 3, 41, 423 34, 463 89. 90% 58, 50, 114 25, 70, 874 56% 13, 03, 584 3, 23, 404 75% 2, 48, 916 2, 700 98. 40% 11, 26, 609 4, 05, 464 64% 10, 83, 455 3, 22, 933 70. 10% 19, 106 7, 035 63. 10% 3, 86, 302 2, 46, 007 36. 30% 9, 11, 709 4, 96, 717 45. 50% 2, 19, 40, 580 53, 16, 590 75. 76% 21, 940 ton 5, 316 ton -16, 624 tons

• Conclusion: There is 75. 76 % fish catch reduction noted in five years in Bharuch District. Source of the data: Assistant Director of Fisheries Bharuch Dist. State Fisheries Department. Govt of Gujarat.

Reasons For Fish Reduction • The Dam has played a role in the fish reduction the fresh water flow drawing from dam is decreased. Fresh water level decreased so saline water is reaching in far area of river creating salinity problem. In comparison to other dams this effect has no major role in this fish disaster. • Dead zones theory not stand here as this Narmada river have no more pollution reported due to sewage the algae level is sufficient.

• In compare to other district fish data of Gujarat / National data / International data no such huge gap is reported any where ranging 75% reduction in 5 years. • Some commercial fishes like Kalbasu, Major carp, Bekti is being reported totally NIL from last 3 years. The condition of environment may become horrible if this situation continues. There is no future for fisheries. • If the commercial fishes are disappeared then what we can hope about the estuarine biodiversity / ecology / aquatic environment and endangered species.

*The pesticide units of Ankleshwar/Panoli treats effluent water in ETP but there is no facility available with Pollution Control Board to assess the toxic chemicals and related toxicity in the waste water. * There is no or weak facility for bio monitoring. * There is huge difference in day’s analysis and night’s analysis of the Amla khadi water. No one is taking samples in night like Pollution Control Board/ University/Govt agency/ third party monitoring. * The Pollution Control board has now acted strongly after shocking event of fish disaster.

What happened to Narmada River? • The fish reduction is due to industrial pollution in the estuarine brackish water area where salinity varies due to tidal fluctuations. The fish breeding takes place in this brackish water area. The estuary of Narmada have no dilution for this industrial effluent. The toxic effluent has stopped the natural breeding of fishes. • Bio assay test fails every times. Fish can not survive more than a minute in the Amla-Khadi water. • The EIA reports of Bharuch District say for new/expansion projects ‘There is no adverse impact on environment reported and there will be no adverse impact on environment’ a routine sentence.

• The Environmental Impact Assessment report making agencies and Pollution Control Board claims that every thing is normal. The government wants that the nick name ‘Critically Polluted Area’ should be lifted from the Ankleshwar region. • The supreme environmental authority NEERI is quoting fish data in EIA report but doesn’t care to quote the reasons of fish fall this is very unfortunate for our country. • Then why this fishes are at devastation and government is silent? ? ? • Where are our pollution control measures and policy makers? ? ?

• Where we are standing in way of development? ? ? • Where is eco friendly and sustainable development? ? ? • What are the human rights of fisherman whose lively hood is badly affected? ? ? • Will the polluters pay them ? ? ? Or fisherman should fight for their existence and for their human rights? ? ? • Will the Authority and Developers think about the so called “their development”, our environment and affected fisherman ? ? ?

Thank You. • Humble request……… • Please Think.