Udupi: DC Swaroopa TK warned that legal action will be taken against residential high-rise complexes that pollute water by failing to treat wastewater.“Residential complexes must manage and reuse wastewater through proper treatment. If untreated wastewater is discharged into rivers and streams, immediate legal action will be taken against those responsible,” she said.She was speaking while presiding over a meeting of Apartment Owners Association at the DC’s office in Manipal Thursday.With the rising number of apartments in the Udupi City Municipality area, more than 376 complexes are discharging wastewater into stormwater drains without treatment. Notices have been issued by the municipality. Of these, 200 are in Manipal, 105 in Udupi city, and 70 in Malpe. Complex owners must scientifically manage waste, she said.She noted that while some apartments have sewage treatment plants, they are not used properly, and some lack treatment facilities altogether. Wastewater is directly contaminating water sources, she said, adding that keeping the environment clean is a primary duty. All residential high-rises in the city must manage sewage treatment facilities to address water pollution, she said.She said there were complaints of wastewater being discharged into rivers and streams at night, contaminating wells, and this must be prevented.A proposal for a comprehensive underground sewage system in all city wards was submitted to the government at an estimated cost of Rs 400 crore, but it has not been approved, she said.The city municipality commissioner and the regional environmental officer were instructed to submit detailed information within 20 days on the existence, management, and scientific handling of wastewater treatment facilities in residential complexes.The meeting was attended by city municipal commissioner Mahantesh Hangaragi, regional environmental officer K Keerthi Kumar, office-bearers of the Apartment Owners Association, and others.
