OneWorld.net (U.S.)

When was it last that you went to a beach in Mumbai and marvelled at the beautiful seafront? Think hard. If the dead fish washing up on the city's beaches are any indication, this might have been a long time back! With effluents from the industries going further and further into the sea, more dead fish are being washed ashore by the day.

There is no dearth of theories on what may have actually triggered these deaths, but pollution seems like the obvious reason. The local factory units dump hazardous waste into the waters, which adversely affects the fish. The 40 000 strong fishermen community says that their catch has dropped by about 50% in the last few years.

To find out the extent of pollution, water along Mumbai's coast at four different beaches from north to south was tested. The tests only reveal what the fishermen feared for long-at some points it is almost as if the waters are poisoned. And here we are dreaming of sandy beaches, shining sun, and sparkling blue waters!

The Mithi river is reduced to just a sewer as it enters the sea at Mahim, picking up waste and sewage all along. The tests conducted looked at parameters like dissolved oxygen levels and presence of heavy metals like mercury and cadmium. The water is laced with these toxic metals, and their levels are higher than what is accepted anywhere around the world.

Mercury levels at the Mahim beach are 310 times more than the international standards, while the cadmium levels are 55 times more. Doesn't that raise eyebrows? All sewage from the industrial units in Dharavi goes into the Mithi river, and from there into the sea, and then the waves wash back the filth to the shore. With only dead fish (replete with toxins) on the shore, the fishermen have to go deep into the sea to get a good, healthy catch: even during high tide.

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