Fish meal industries ignore NGT orders, PUCL

Fish meal industries ignore NGT orders, PUCL

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 22, 2016: Addressing media in the city on  july 21, Thursday, PUCL district President Muhammed Kabir,  said the fishmeal and fish oil industries in Ullal Town Municipal Council limits have been consuming large quantities of water and produce large quantities of effluent, malodour, noise, waste water sludge and emissions of highly polluted air that has been affecting the health of residents in the area.  Despite the National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, the fishmeal units near Ullal have been releasing effluent to the sea, said PUCL district President Muhammed Kabir.

These industries are based in CRZ area, in violation of the rules. Even though Ullal Town Municipal Council has suspended all trade licenses on March 13, 2007, the industries have continued the trade without any license.  The port officer had issued a letter on June 12, 2007, directing them to close down their operations.

Also, Mangaluru assistant commissioner had passed an order directing the industries concerned to establish common effluent treatment plant, which is not followed by the industries. The industries have also encroached upon the land. They have not installed the deodoriser and evaporator to control foul smell, on or before October 3, 2014, as directed by the Pollution Control Board.

The matter was brought to the notice of the Green Tribunal by PUCL in 2014 and the tribunal had levied fine on the violating industries. As per the NGT order issued on July 8, 2016, Asian Fish Meal and Oil Company has been directed to close down the operations and vacate the place within 30 days as it was set up in September 1991, after the CRZ notification 1991 came into force. The tribunal has described this as clear violation of CRZ notification 1991 and has ordered the closure of the case. A penalty of Rs five lakh each, for eight units and Rs eight lakh for five units had been levied.   Also, Fishmeal and Fish Oil Manufacturers’ Association has been imposed with a fine of Rs 25 lakh.  PUCL Vice President Brigadier C D’Souza, Treasurer Butran Pinto and Central committee member P B D’Sa were present at the press meet.