‘Stop Public Nuisance while Transporting Fish – DCP warns Drivers

‘Stop Public Nuisance while Transporting Fish’s DCP warns Drivers

Mangaluru: In spite of the city traffic police cracking the whip against tempos and trucks transporting fish for letting waste water on roads, many of the drivers of these vehicles still break the laws. These vehicles use ice to avoid fish from getting stale and let this water on roads making the entire area filled with foul smell and also causing accidents as this water contains oil- and this is very dangerous especially for two wheeler riders, where they skid and get injured.

Residents and motorists have been facing hardship from vehicles carrying fish as they were discharging waste water along the road leading to Ullal and Kerala. The waste water, which contained oil, had rendered the roads slippery and resulted in motorists skidding and falling off their vehicles. Motorists were also facing problems from droplets of waste water that were often falling on their trousers. With many complaints coming through phone-in programme, on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (law and order) K M Shantharaju held a meeting with fish transporters, fish merchants and fish meal factory owners to discuss the issue where the latter were strictly instructed not to discharge waste water on roads and public places.

Speaking to Team Mangalorean, DCP said, “It is a common sight during the peak fishing season that roads in Ullal, Mangaluru and those leading to Udupi are being polluted due to the discharge of waste water from trucks that transport fish and fish meal. We have instructed fish transporters, fish merchants and fish meal factory owners not to discharge waste water from trucks on the roads. We have warned them that legal action will be taken against them if they continue to discharge waste water on roads or near residential areas. They have been asked to convey the message to all owners and drivers of the trucks that transport fish. We also asked them to create awareness through their associations in this regard”.

“The city police will also issue show cause notice to fish meal factory owners if their trucks are found violating this instructions. We will do whatever permissible under law and they have been advised to refrain from creating public nuisance while transporting fish. We have been booking cases against trucks that discharge waste water on road for the last one month. We will continue the action against violators by imposing spot fine of up to Rs 500. Transporting fish is not a crime and moreover, it is a favourite food of many. However, they should see that the transportation should not create trouble for the people. Our action is not against fish transporters, but it is aimed only against those who violate rules,” DCP added.

The DCP said the police will consider asking fish transporters to move perishable commodity using refrigerated trucks. During the meeting, Dakshina Kannada Tempo Drivers and Owners Association members agreed to adhere to the rules. “The association has requested every member to look into the matter and make necessary arrangements so that people are not affected,” members of the association said.

Yogish Shetty- convener of Tulunadu Rakshana Vedike speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” In spite of registering several complaints, the authorities had failed to initiate any action against vehicles discharging waste water on roads. The drivers close the knob and prevent waste water from being discharged while entering Kerala. But laxity on the part of local officials here had allowed drivers to ignore discharge of waste water along the road here. I am glad that the DCP has addressed this issue to concerned people, let’s wait and see if it materializes”.

In the meantime, Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha has constituted a committee to suggest how spilling/ discharging of waste water could be prevented. The committee will have officials from Transport, Revenue, Police, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and representatives from fish transporters as members and it will submit a report within a week. “We would issue a circular after getting the report, detailing the steps to be taken to prevent discharge/ spillage of waste water. Any vehicle violating the conditions would be seized. Fish transportation cannot be restricted as coastal districts heavily depend on fishing industry. One has to find out a solution,” has said DC.

Some of the transporters’ associations have already brought out informative pamphlets urging owners of tempos and mini goods vehicles not to discharge waste water on to roads.The transporters have demanded suitable place to discharge waste water collected in tanks attached to vehicles, a issue which has to be addressed by the district administration. Arun Chakravarthy, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range), has asked superintendents of police of Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada districts to make use of provisions of the Indian Penal Code including Section 278 to curb waste water discharge. Section 278 provides for imposition of Rs 500 as fine on those voluntarily making atmosphere noxious to health.

Currently the traffic cops have been cracking down on these fish truck drivers for violating the rules, where they confiscate their driver’s license, and the violators have to appear the court, and pay the fine imposed by the judge, which could be around Rs 1500-2000, only after paying that fine the drivers will get their DL back, said a traffic circle inspector.