Authorities promise to stop fish waste water discharge on roads

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 02, 2019: DK district administration has promised to stop woes of the public from the menace of waste water spillage from fish-transporting vehicles and foul smell emanating from vehicles transporting decayed fish to fish meal factories.

 

While people have been suffering silently from this problem for years, the phone-in programme initiated by former Mangaluru City Police Commissioner M. Chandra Sekar about four years ago had provided them a platform to air their grievances. Following complaints about this, the police took action and booked cases against erring vehicles many times.

But years later, similar complaints still pour in during the phone-in programme, now being continued by Commissioner T.R. Suresh. Mangaluru Bundar fishing harbour is a major source of fish procurement. Activists  wonder why such activities continue despite the police having all the power to rein in nuisance-makers.

Both Goa and Kerala have imposed strict restrictions on this, but Karnataka has turned a blind eye. Besides emanating foul smell, the waste water on the road can become fatal to road users, particularly two-wheeler riders. What is more, sometimes the spilt water falls on other road users, he said.

Of late, decayed fish being transported in small goods vehicles from Bunder to Ullal too have added to the trouble as roads stink for long time as and when such vehicles pass through.

 The issue is with small pick-up vans, which either do not have tanks or let the taps remain open throughout, he said. Responding to a senior police officer’s claim that local bodies should have provided a place to dump waste water.

DK DC S. Sasikanth Senthil told media that he was aware of the problem. “We will discuss the matter and enforce [the rules]," he said. The administration might even invoke executive powers if needed, he said.