Paradip: Hundreds of dead fish were found floating in the Kapiljor creek near Paradip on Sunday, sparking widespread concern among local residents, fishermen, and environmental groups over the deteriorating health of the region’s water bodies.
According to sources, large heaps of dead fish were spotted on the water surface, with many others seen struggling and gasping for air, signaling a sudden and severe disruption to the aquatic ecosystem.
While the exact cause of the mass fish mortality is yet to be ascertained, officials from the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), Paradip, have pointed to likely factors, including the discharge of industrial chemicals or a rapid drop in dissolved oxygen levels due to high organic waste. A definitive conclusion can only be reached after conducting a thorough field investigation and detailed scientific analysis of water samples, they added.
Environmental activist Siba Biswal, Secretary of the Environment Protection Trust in Paradip, criticised local authorities for alleged inaction. He claimed that repeated alerts about rising pollution, including calls for sludge removal and stricter controls, to the Paradip Municipal Corporation and port authorities had been ignored. “Unchecked industrial discharge could be behind the large-scale fish deaths,” he added.
Cleaning contractor Suryakant Biswal confirmed that sludge removal operations by the municipality are now underway, but noted that the fish had already died by the time work began. “The fish are decomposing, and a strong foul odour has spread across the area. It appears that some chemical contamination might have caused the deaths,” he said.
Local fish exporter Giridhari Samal emphasised the need for urgent intervention: “There is an urgent need for strict monitoring of industrial effluents and effective management of water bodies in the Paradip region. Otherwise, there shall be huge losses of the fish resources in the creek.”
