Mangaluru: Minister for health and family welfare Dinesh Gundu Rao directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Belthangady tahsildar, taluk panchayat and gram panchayat officials to take immediate action against an institute that allegedly polluted the historic Guruvayanakere lake.At a tri-monthly KDP meeting held at Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat hall on Saturday, the minister said that an action taken report should be submitted at the earliest. Belthangady MLA Harish Poonja raised the issue during the meeting chaired by Rao and sought action against the institute. The MLA said that pollution led to the death of fishes in the waterbody.A KSPCB official said that the issue of lake pollution was already reported to the KSPCB head office.The officer said untreated sewage from the institute is flowing into the lake, leading to an increase in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) value in the lake. The educational institution undertook construction without obtaining consent for establishment from KSPCB. The Board conducted a spot inspection soon after a complaint was received from the respective panchayat development officer of the village. The existing STP of the institute is not suffient to handle the required load, the officer said, adding that it has around 3,000 students.A report with a closure order request was sent to the KSPCB head office. The board also wrote a letter to the tahsildar of Belthangady taluk, executive officer of the taluk panchayat, and the PDO seeking action against the institute, the officer said.The environmental damage was assessed at Rs 1.09 crore and a report in this regard was sent for approval. Meanwhile, an authorisation also has been sought to file a criminal case against the institute. A criminal case under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act provisions will be filed in the JMFC once the board gives an administrative approval, the officer said, adding that the institute has agreed to set up an STP.The minister warned that lake pollution should be taken seriously. “The pollution control board should ensure that the lake should not be polluted at any cost. The institute should pay for the environmental damages, construct a new STP and the pollution control board should initiate strict action as per law,” he added.
