Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SP)

Mangalore, May 10: A barge which had been anchored off Mukka in the sea for laying pipeline to carry effluents from industries coming up under Mangalore Special Economic Zone, sank on Monday May 9. The barge had arrived at Mukka from Bunder here on Friday evening.

The locals had stoutly resisted the pipeline laying work, as they fear that it will pollute sea water and affect fishing activity. The protestors had said that the discharge of effluents will cause the destruction of fish species and make their own lives difficult.

On Sunday, a Hitachi engine fitted to the barge had gone under water. With the sinking of the barge and its engine, the people are afraid that the water will get contaminated with the mixing of diesel and other oil found inside the engine. They had, in the recent past, come across deposits of black oily pellets on the sea shore, supposed to have been caused by the discharge of oily effluents into the sea.