The Gopalpur port has no role in the mass deaths of marine fish and other sea animals near Gopalpur in Ganjam district as reported in some sections of media, clarified port officials.
On June 27, the news reports anticipated that fertiliser and urea might have moved into the sea due to rains from the port and contaminated water impacting the sea-life.
The reports were on assumption that the fishing jetty, where fish deaths happened, was adjacent to the port. But the jetty is situated in the old harbour which is no longer a part of the Gopalpur Port premises, said the officials.
Besides, there is hardly any water in this harbour due to low tide, and the water level stay low generally throughout the day. For this, fishermen have been urging the Government for construction of a new fishing jetty. Hence, port-related activities seem unlikely to be the reason for the dead fish, they said.
They also revealed that no fertiliser vessel had been handled by the port sinceApril 2017.The analysis of the water samples taken from the lagoon on June 26, 2017 (a day after the dead fishes were spotted) showed no chemical or fertilizer traces, theofficials added.
But the reason behind the deaths has not been determined yet. The Fish Workers Union and social activists have urged the Government to take necessary steps to investigate and resolve the problem for the panicked fishermen.