Fishermen appeal to help save Kasadi river

Foam seen on the banks of the Kasadi river due to chemical effluents being released into it

Fishermen of Kasadi river have now appealed to the residents to join their movement in attempting to stop the chemical effluent being disposed into the river as the authorities have hardly taken any action to protect the river.

The fishermen’s community has been protesting the rampant discharge of pollutants into the river that has apparently killed about 25 species of fishes within two decades.

The river that flows from Taloja to Belapur has allegedly fallen prey to the untreated discharge of affluent from the MIDC units in the vicinity. Fishermen also alleged that inspite of the common effluent treatment plant, the untreated water is being released into the river. At the same time, the affluents are also being released into Kasadi river through the storm water drain that does not even pass through the treatment plant.

Only three months ago, the regional officer from Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) had ordered a probe on the unnatural death of fish in a pond inside Kopra village that falls near the banks of Kasadi. The pond that gets its water from the river had witnessed an overnight death of fish after which the MPCB had sent the fish and the water samples for testing. The results, however, are yet to be declared.

Yogesh Pagade, a member of Koli Machhimar Kriti Samiti that is fighting to save the river, said that the polluted river banks have affected breeding of the fish. He also said that the presence of a high amount of amount of pollutants in the river has resulted in wiping out the marine biodiversity of the river. “Finding dead fish floating on the river water has become a common sight. Moreover, authorities are yet to take any action strengthening the treatment plant which is making the situation worse,” said Mr Pagade.

The group has made numerous visits to MPCB officials and even met the environment minister to discuss the issue; however no action has been taken in the matter as of now. “We have now filed an RTI to know what action has been taken by MPCB in this regard so that we can take the issue forward. We are awaiting results,” said Mr Pagade.

Moreover, a number of residents have been repeatedly complaining about sore throat or burning eyes due to the amount of chemical fumes erupting from the river. Most of the complainants have been frequenting the CIDCO-made jogging track on the banks of Kasadi river.