No report on Caranzalem fish contamination, says Harlankar

Panaji: Goa govt did not receive any report on the alleged contamination of fish off Caranzalem beach, including claims of heavy metal accumulation, fisheries minister Nilkanth Halarnkar said on Wednesday.He also said the fisherfolk from Caranzalem have not approached him regarding the issue so far. Halarnkar’s remarks came amid speculation about the presence of heavy metals in fish caught near the beach.“The news that is doing the rounds is only creating panic in people’s minds. The scientists who prepared the study neither submitted their findings to the fisheries department nor the environment board. However, this may affect the livelihoods of the fisherfolk,” he said. A report on the matter, however, was sought.“I instructed the fisheries department to write to the people concerned and submit a report. Based on the report, we will decide what must be done,” he said.The minister also said that institutions such as the NIO and Goa University regularly conduct research on the state’s waters. He assured that if any study confirmed the presence of heavy metals posing a risk to public health, govt would take appropriate action.“If the NIO makes a study on this and finds heavy metals, it will approach us directly because it concerns the people,” he added.Fisherfolk from Caranzalem met the deputy director of fisheries, Smita Mazumdar, to raise serious concerns regarding the alleged presence of heavy metals in fish caught off Caranzalem beach. They demanded that experts must clarify whether the fish is safe for consumption so that their livelihood is not jeopardised.