Amid concerns expressed by the fishermen community and environmentalists over Gujarat government’s deep-sea discharge projects, senior BJP MLA from Porbandar, Arjun Modhwadia, Tuesday requested the state government to, if available, opt for the technology under which chemical effluents could be treated and recycled water could be used. The state government, on its part, assured that “ technology and rules” will be followed and “not a single fish is going to die.” Modhwadia’s request was regarding the two government deep-sea discharge projects, Ahmedabad-Ankleshwar and Jetpur, under which, the treated industrial effluents are planned to be discharged into deep-sea near Gulf of Khambhat and Porbandar through a pipeline respectively. Modhwadia is a former Gujarat Congress president who had quit the party in March 2024. He had resigned as Congress MLA and then joined the BJP before being re-elected from Porbandar seat. Porbandar, in particular, has been witnessing a huge public protest by locals and fishermen against the project. The request from Modhwadia came in Gujarat Assembly during the Question Hour when a starred question raised by Congress Legislative Party leader Amit Chavda related to the projects was taken up for discussion. In reply to Chavda’s question, Industries Minister Balvantsinh Rajput in a written reply stated that a decision to implement the two projects to Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation was taken in 2023. The reply also stated that the state government has already spent Rs 10.16 crore for the Jetpur project and Rs 61.53 crore for Ahmedabad-Ankleshwar project. Rajput too is a former Congress leader who had quit the party ahead of the crucial 2017 Rajya Sabha elections contested by party stalwart the late Ahmed Patel. Minister Rajput also informed the House that the state government has received 472 applications from fishermen and locals objecting to the projects. During discussion on the question, Chavda said, “It is said that treated water will be discharged (in the deep sea). But we all have seen how much polluted water is being openly released in Ahmedabad’s Sabarmati river in the name of releasing treated water. Here, the water will be released in the deep sea through a pipeline, so one would not get an idea of what will happen. And therefore, fishermen from Porbandar and other coastal areas are registering their objection and saying that this will prove to be a disastrous project for the environment.” Chavda added that fishermen are holding agitation against the project. Replying to Chavda’s concerns, Rajput said, “I want to tell the member (Chavda) that (the water) will be released 5 km inside the sea. That too with technology, rules and as decided by institutes…Not a single fish is going to die. Nobody is going to be harmed.” At this juncture, Modhwadia, joined the discussion and said, “In Gujarat, as industries come, it also raises issues of effluents. For that, the state government takes steps as per the rules of the pollution control board. Accordingly, the deep sea pipeline projects have been set up in Ankleshwar and Jetpur. Especially because of the Jetpur project, fishermen are worried that instead of treated water, effluents will be released which will result in damage to living beings.” “I want to ask and request the minister if a similar pipeline (project) is there in any other place of the world or country; and do they receive similar complaints or not? Secondly, the technology under which recycled water is utilized after treating effluents, wherever the technology is available, then we can get chemical as a by-product as well as water and it can also increase the employment,” he added. The Porbandar MLA further said, “As per the principle of Circular Economy given by Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), if the option of recycling the water after treating (effluents) is available…then will the government consider it or not?” In reply, Minister Rajput said, “I want to tell Arjunbhai that in Jetpur, we are going to spend Rs 689 crore…” Rajput added that Gujarat Pollution Control Board works in the entire state and in case of any complaint of violation, strict action follows including shutting the business or snapping its power or water connections. About Modhwadia’s request of recycling the treated water, Rajput said that in Bharuch, Gujarat government has made arrangements where even sea water could be turned into sweet water. “Minister (Rajput) has said that now we treat sea water for its use as potable water. A similar project has been done in Porbandar as well. My point is just that if the option of giving treated water for farming…or to factories is available in Jetpur, it is my request to think about such technology,” Modhwadia said. Following this, Chavda too reiterated the request to recycle the treated water instead of releasing it in deep sea for the protection of fishermen and their livelihood.
