Mangaluru: Activist Bhuvan Mangaluru brought to the attention of the senior environmental officer, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), an ongoing environmental and public health emergency concerning the Phalguni (Gurupura), Nandini, and Netravathi rivers in Dakshina Kannada district. These critical freshwater systems are undergoing severe degradation due to unchecked discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluents, he alleged.He stated in the complaint that recent laboratory analysis of water samples from the Phalguni river backwaters confirmed extreme contamination, with Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) at 120 mg/L, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) at 660.9 mg/L, ammonia at 4.3 mg/L, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) at 3.2 mg/L, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) at 27,360 mg/L. Microbiological contamination was equally alarming, with E coli present and faecal coliform levels exceeding 1600 MPN/100 ml, clearly indicating untreated sewage discharge. In addition to river pollution, there was a serious and growing concern regarding contamination of groundwater sources, particularly open and bore wells located in the surrounding areas of the Phalguni and Nandini river basins. Local observations indicated that these wells were becoming increasingly unsafe, suggesting infiltration of polluted river water and sewage into groundwater systems, thereby posing a direct risk to drinking water security and public health. Further, there was credible evidence and field indication of industrial discharge into the Phalguni river, contributing significantly to chemical pollution and oxygen depletion. He stated that, under the provisions of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the board is duty-bound to prevent pollution and take immediate remedial measures. Section 32 of the Act clearly empowers and obligates the board to take urgent action to remove pollution and mitigate environmental damage. He urged the KSPCB to conduct immediate and comprehensive inspections across the Phalguni, Nandini, and Netravathi river systems and identify all sources of untreated sewage and industrial discharge. He also urged it to order the immediate suspension and closure of all industries and facilities found discharging untreated effluents into the Phalguni River until compliance and restoration are ensured. He further urged the KSPCB to initiate urgent remediation measures, including filtration, treatment, and ecological restoration of affected water bodies. He also called for assessment and action to address groundwater contamination in surrounding wells, particularly in the Phalguni and Nandini river basins, and deployment of emergency pollution control mechanisms to prevent further ecological damage. He also urged the board to publish a transparent action-taken report with defined timelines for restoration. Responding to the complaint, the Central Pollution Control Board has asked the KSPCB to investigate and take necessary action.
