While the administration have directed vehicles transporting fish to install waste-water collection tanks to prevent spillage on roads, the facility to discharge waste water safely appears to be non-existent.
Many large trucks, which installed collection tanks, were found to be discharging waste water on the flanks of highways.
Hamza, driver of a pick-up van transporting fish, said it was easy to compel vehicle owners/drivers to install collection tanks.
“Where should we empty the waste water?” he asked, adding that they were forced to discharge waste water at secluded locations fearing backlash from people.
There is no facility either at the market or at fish-processing units to discharge waste water, he said.
The southern bench of National Green Tribunal in Chennai in the P. Sasi versus State of Kerala case had directed the Kerala government to ensure that waste water was discharged at pre-fixed locations, preferably at destination points.
Markets and fish-processing units should have adequate septic tanks and soak-pit systems to receive waste water.
The Tribunal had said all major markets, owned by local authorities, should provide septic tanks on their premises.
Fish landing centres and auction centres, markets etc., should be modernised and equipped with storage facilities to handle fish.
A Fisheries Department official said Goa has facilitated the discharge of waste water into local underground sewage system at select locations.
However, there is no such facility in Karnataka. Acts and regulations on marine fishing are silent on this.
Marine products harvested along the Karnataka coast are transported from minor ports, including Karwar, Belikeri, Tadadi, Honnavara, Bhatkal, Maravanthe, Gangolli, Hangarakatte, Malpe and Mangaluru, to different parts of the State as well as places in Goa and Kerala.
All along the route, most of these vehicles spill waste water on roads even as the crew close the tap of the tanks whenever they approach villages or towns to escape people’s ire.