BJP MLA Umanath Kotian claims untreated sewage water is being discharged into Nandini river in Dakshina Kannada

Mangaluru: Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian on Saturday said that untreated water discharged from an educational institution and Mangaluru City Corporation's STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) has been polluting the Nandini river.

The residents are all set to stage a protest on March 4.

"Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner should intervene and ensure that untreated water is not being discharged into Nandini river," he exclaimed during the `Disha' (District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee) meeting held at Netravathy hall in DK Zilla Panchayat premises.

“During Kandevu Jathre in Chelairu thousands of people participate by fishing in Nandini river. It is a ritual. Due to the intense pollution, fishing is no longer possible in Nandini river. The water in the river has turned black,” MLA explained.

However, MCC Commissioner Ravichandra Naik clarified that STP was not discharging any untreated water to the river.

"Lab reports confirmed that secondary treated water from STP is within permissible limits as per the guidelines of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)," Naik said.

KSPCB Environment officer Lakshmikanth said that he had inspected the college's STP. Some apartments in the nearby areas are also discharging untreated water to the drains, which enters the river, Lakshmikanth said.

MCC commissioner was asked to take action in connection with STP,” he said. DC directed KSPCB to serve notice to the college and apartments. DC also asked KSPCB to test water from three inlets that enter the river and submit a report within a week. A joint inspection by MCC and KSPCB along with gram panchayat representatives should be conducted immediately.

MLA D Vedavyasa Kamath stressed the need to conduct survey all STPs and wet wells in MCC limits. Some of the STPs are outdated. There is a need to prepare an estimate and submit it to government for modernisation of STPs, he emphasised.' KSPCB officer in response to Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja clarified that notice was already served to the institution seeking explanation on why their untreated water was polluting Guruvayanakere lake.

Toll exception

MLA Umanath Kotian urged MP and DC to exempt local vehicles from Mulki Town Panchayat and Hejamady GP from paying toll at Hejamadi toll plaza.

“If the local residents fail to get an exemption, a protest is inevitable,’ he warned. DK MP directed KSRTC divisional controller to deploy KSRTC buses from Nettana to Kukke Subrahmanya, once Mangaluru to Subrahmanya road passenger train begins.

When Harish Poonja raised the issue of load shedding, Mescom official said that due to excessive heat, demand had increased all of a sudden. For the equipment healthiness, the power cut was initiated. “We are monitoring the situation,” sources added.