Udupi: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) Southern Zone, Chennai, issued an order directing the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to take appropriate action against all violators discharging sewage into the stormwater drain in and around Kollur Mookambika temple.In the matter of an application made by Harish Tholar, judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member Satyagopal Korlapati issued an order directing the deputy commissioner of Udupi to constitute an appropriate committee in this regard for the execution of the tasks. “We direct the committee (to be constituted by the DC) to complete the task in four weeks’ time,” reads the order dated July 9.“In the above factual scenario, we direct the Karnataka SPCB to take appropriate action against all violators discharging sewage into the stormwater drain—not only those identified in the report submitted by the DC, but also any others found to be in violation upon conducting inspection,” the tribunal directed.In fact, an application was filed to prevent commercial establishments like lodging and hotels in and around the Mookambika Temple, Kollur, which are allegedly discharging sewage and sullage water into the Agni Theertha and Souparnika rivers.The tribunal observed that the primordial concern at this stage is to make the defunct sewage treatment plant (STP) operational. The functioning of the STP involves coordination among various stakeholders, including commercial establishments, residential units, and other entities, as well as official departments such as the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB), KSPCB, and the temple authorities, the tribunal stated and directed the DC of Udupi to coordinate with the concerned departments and ensure that the STP is made operational.Furthermore, the DC is also directed to ensure that all households and commercial establishments that are presently not connected to the UGD system are provided with such connectivity, as this would effectively address the issue, the tribunal directed, posting the matter for Sept 3.
