Oil leakage robs Mahul fishermen of livelihood

The fishermen from Mahul gaon, a quiet fishing village near Chembur, are a distressed lot. Oil leakage from refineries located in the area over the past two months has not just threatened their traditional fishing business, but has also adversely affected the health of the families residing there.

“Nobody dares venture into the sea due to the oil spillage. The health of the fishermen is deteriorating. They get boils all over their bodies, and this is accompanied by swollen legs and eye disease,” said Suryakant Vaity, president of Waniwale Macchimar Mandal, a fishermen’s body in the village.

Rajendra Mahulkar, former Shiv Sena corporator and local leader of the fishermen community, said that an underwater pipeline carrying crude oil from Butcher Island to Indian Oil, ONGC, BPCL and HPCL refineries in Mahul, has been leaking over the past couple of months. He added that despite sending letters to the Maharashtra State Pollution Board and the state’s environment department, no one has visited the spot.

“Apart from affecting the health of the fishermen who venture into the water, the oil has damages their nets and boats. It has also destroyed the mangroves in the area,” Mahulkar said.

Suresh Koli, a Mahul fisherman who has been in the business for over two decades, said, “The polluted water has affected the fish, too. No one wants to buy the fish caught by us because of the stench emanating from the catch.” He added that the income flowing into their homes in the past few months is negligible. In fact, the fishermen have had to spend a lot of money on repairing their boats and fishing nets.

Vaity recalled that, in September 2012, oil leakage from the BPCL pipeline had hampered the fishing business of Mahul for two to three months, damaging equipment used by fishermen. The losses had run into Rs 50 lakh. “BPCL gave the fishermen Rs10 lakh as compensation for the damaged nets and boats. But what about the loss of income?” he asked.

RR Vasave, regional officer, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, on Tuesday said, “I will have to take a look at the letter submitted by Mahulkar. Our officers will visit Mahul soon to sort the problem faced by the fishermen.”

One of the most polluted industrial areas
A dna report from 2009 revealed that Chembur ranked 46 in list of the most polluted industrial clusters in the country with a comprehensive environment pollution index (CEPI) of 69.19. The chemical industries, a power plant and refineries have severely affected marine life in Mahul creek. The worst-hit have been the fishermen. A decade ago, Waman Koli, a fisherman from Mahul, used to net over 300kg fish every day at the Mahul creek, but today the average daily
catch is around 50kg. The contamination of water at Mahul has forced Koli to rethink his occupation to earn his livelihood. Koli now doubles up as a guide to bird watchers who visit Mahul creek supplement his income.