Concerns have been raised over the presence of a greenish oily substance in the waters along the Paradip coast. Local fishermen from Paradip to the Barunei estuary and Gahirmatha in Kendrapada district have voiced their grievances, suspecting that the phenomenon is linked to sewage discharge from the Paradip Oil Refinery.
Odisha Marine Fisheries Federation president Srikant Parida alleged that the oily substance in the water is a mixture of waste water containing toxic chemicals from the Paradip Oil Refinery.
In response to his complaint, samples were collected by the Odisha State Pollution Control Board's regional office in Paradip. However, as of now, the official report on the samples is pending.
IOCL authorities on the contrary have categorically denied any wastewater discharge from the oil refinery, and asserted that the samples collected by the Pollution Control Board did not originate from IOCL.
However, reports confided on Sunday late night, after 12 am, repairs were conducted on the wastewater pipeline of the refinery's Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP). This operation was conducted discreetly and away from the media's attention. Some courageous journalists managed to capture the clandestine repair work by IOCL authorities on camera during the late-night hours. But these claims have been refuted by senior IOCL officials.
In addition, there are reports of fish kills in various tributaries of the rivers due to toxic water from the IOCL project. Environment Protection Committee president Shiba Biswal along with OMFPA president Parida have reported that numerous fish, frogs, snakes, and other aquatic lives have perished in the Kaudia river, raising alarm among local communities.
Biswal has voiced fears for the safety of the common people, criticizing the alleged nexus between the IOCL and State Environment Pollution Control Board officials. He threatened to approach the Green Tribunal against the move in the interest of public welfare.
"The situation underscores the need for a thorough investigation and environmental protection measures to safeguard the local ecosystem and community," he demanded.
