What's Behind the NGT's Investigation into Gadre Marine Export in Balasore?

NGT Launches Investigation into Gadre Marine Export

In Balasore, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has established a four-member committee to probe alleged illegal operations at Gadre Marine Export Private Ltd. The committee is tasked with conducting an on-site examination at the facility located at Tundura Chhak and is expected to present its findings to the tribunal within four weeks. This announcement was made by Bipin Bihari Das, president of the local organization Purbanchal Bikas Parishad, during a press briefing at Balasore Station Club on Sunday.

Founded in 2023 near the Kantiachara River, Gadre Marine Export Pvt. Ltd. specializes in processing spoiled fish for its products. The company claims to produce 500 metric tonnes of fish feed and 10,800 metric tonnes of surimi each year.

Concerns have been raised regarding the company's operations, particularly its daily extraction of approximately 850 cubic metres of groundwater, which is seen as excessive. Additionally, the discharge of contaminated water from the facility has been linked to environmental degradation, including a decline in soil fertility.

The company is also accused of obstructing a catchment area, which hampers effective drainage of floodwaters.

A recent incident involving a gas pipeline leak at the plant resulted in the tragic deaths of two workers, prompting serious questions about the safety protocols in place. In light of these issues, Das lodged a formal complaint with the NGT’s Kolkata bench.

In response to the complaint, the environmental regulatory body has issued notices to various authorities, including the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB), the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB), and the promoters of the fish processing facility, requiring them to provide their responses within four weeks.

The tribunal's committee will include representatives from the CGWB’s regional office, senior scientists from the pollution control boards, and the District Collector of Balasore, who will serve as the nodal officer. The NGT has mandated this committee to deliver a detailed investigation report within one month. Advocates Biplab Kumar Yadav and Pratap Chandra Mohanty were also present at the press conference. Efforts to reach Sachin Sourav, a senior official at the company, were unsuccessful.