Fish meal industry effluents kill thousands of fish in Udyavar

[email protected] (CD Network)
January 13, 2012

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Udyavar, January 13: A large number of fish were found dead in Udyavar River in Gajani and Ankudru areas, authorities confirmed Thursday.

It is believed that the effluents discharged by the fish meal industries led to this tragedy. The dead fishes were reportedly floating in a 2 kms radius area in Udyavar River on Thursday.

Udupi Tahsildar Prasanna visited the area for spot inspection as aggrieved public demanded immediate solution to the problem. He also visited areas where effluents of the fish meal industries are discharged. There are as many as three fish meal industries working in the region.

According to members of the public, all these three industries discharge the effluents directly to the river water, reportedly without any sort of desalinating procedures. All the three industries are also functioning without the license from Gram Panchayats, they alleged.

Speaking to media persons, Panchayat President Gracy Machado informed that the foul smell of the discharged effluents has contaminated the entire atmosphere in the area. People find it difficult to take food owing to the foul smell. The thick smoke from the chimneys has massively affected the health of the people. There are increasing number of cases related to skin diseases, breathing problems, stomach ache and coughing, she said.

Machado informed that Panchayat PDO Panchakshari Heeremutt has given the license without the approved decision from the Panchayat. Public have protested against the PDO, she said.

Tahsildar Prasanna informed media persons that spot inspection is done and the report will be submitted to the DC. Effluent Treatment Plant is being installed in the industries. The owners of the fish meal industries have confirmed that the effluents are decontaminated before releasing it to the sea water and nothing is released to the river water, he added.

Tahsildar was accompanied by Environment Pollution Control Board Officials and Fisheries Department Officials on the occasion. Environment Pollution Control Board Assistant Officer Rajashekar Puranik informed that the scarcity of required amount of oxygen in Pithrodi, Mattu and Ankudru areas has resulted in the deaths of the fishes.

The present availability of oxygen in the areas is somewhere around 2.5 to 3.5 DO, it should be around 3.5 DO. However, there are no possibilities of effluents discharged without undergoing desalination process. The company officials were asked to construct a channel to discharge the effluents to the sea water. Inspection will also be done regarding the desalinated effluents that are discharged to the sea water, he added.

GP member Vijay Kumar informed that the problems of fish meal industries do exist in the area since two years. The company officials tell that they don't release the effluents to the river water. The fishes in the river are dying very often and the poisonous effluents discharged in the river seem to be the major cause. In spite of submitting several memorandums to the district administration, it has been no use. However, if the problem is not solved, public will take up rigorous protest against the district administration and the government, he added.

Hindustan Fish Meal industry owner K M Balalaraj said the company was set up in 2006 after taking necessary precautions. However, all these problems started only during 2009 and the problem is not connected to the effluents of the fish meal industries. The company is releasing the desalinated effluents to the sea water as per the instructions of the district administration.

High level inquiry is necessary to find out the causes that led to the deaths of large number of fishes. There are possibilities of the poisoning the river water as it had taken place in Kemmannu river in Karkala recently, he added.


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News Network
December 17,2025

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Melkar, Dec 17: The 17th Annual Day and Graduation Ceremony of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, themed “Fusion-2K25,” was celebrated with dignity and enthusiasm, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s academic journey. The programme reflected the college’s steadfast commitment to academic excellence, character building, and the holistic development of students.

The event was inaugurated by Mr. Asif Mohammed, whose presence greatly enriched the occasion. The celebration was further graced by the chief guests Mr. P. B. Ahmed Mudassir and Mr. Nissar Fakeer Mohammed, along with the distinguished guests of honour Mr. B. A. Nazeer and Mr. Ibrahim Gadiyar. In their inspiring addresses, the guests encouraged the graduating students and appreciated the dedicated efforts of the management, faculty, and students.

The annual report was presented by the Principal, Mr. Abdul Majeed S, highlighting the institution’s academic progress, notable achievements, and extracurricular accomplishments during the academic year.

The presidential address was delivered by the esteemed Chairman of Melkar Women’s PU and Degree College, Dr. Haji S. M. Rasheed, who emphasized the vital role of education in empowering women and shaping responsible citizens. He also stressed the importance of discipline, dedication, and perseverance in achieving success.

Cultural programmes and academic recognitions formed an integral part of the celebration, showcasing the talents and achievements of the students. The graduation ceremony was a proud moment for the outgoing students as they were formally conferred degrees and wished success in their future endeavours.

Ms. Mashmooma Fathima served as the Master of Ceremonies. The welcome address was delivered by Ms. Fathima Nida, and the programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ms. Ayisha Suhana.

The event successfully achieved its objectives and was highly appreciated by the guests and attendees.

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News Network
December 5,2025

Mangaluru: In a significant step to curb online hate and intimidation, Mangaluru City Police have registered a suo motu case against multiple Instagram accounts accused of circulating alleged provocative and threatening content.

While monitoring social media activity on Tuesday, Kankanady Town PSI Anitha Nikkam identified the Instagram handle ‘team_targetttt_900’ for posting a hate message alongside images of lethal weapons. Another account, ‘team_nagara_900’, allegedly shared a threatening post targeting activist Bharath Kumdelu, tagging additional pages such as KARAVALI-OFFICIAL.

Several other accounts — including ‘immu_bhai.fan’, ‘target_boy_900’, ‘kings_of_manglore’, ‘team_target_boys.900’, ‘arshad_mangalore’, ‘target_ka19_ullal’, ‘team_target__’, ‘troll_tigersz_900’, ‘tr_group_900’, and ‘team_target_900’ — are also under scrutiny for spreading similar inflammatory material, police said.

Authorities have urged citizens, especially young social media users, to report suspicious pages and avoid engaging with groups that glorify violence or threaten individuals. Online hate can quickly escalate into real-world harm, and police stress that sharing or promoting such content can attract legal consequences.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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