MADIKERI: The Cauvery River, which originates in Kodagu and serves as a vital water source for South India, has seen increasing pollution at its source in recent years, making the water unfit for drinking.This decline has been attributed to rapid urbanisation, population growth, and the careless behaviour of both tourists and locals. Waste continues to enter the Cauvery due to various reasons.To address the issue, a project worth Rs 49.56 crore was launched to prevent polluted waste from contaminating the river, which flows from Talacauvery through Triveni Sangam at Bhagamandala, benefitting numerous regions across South India. After lying dormant for 13 years, the project is now regaining momentum.Currently, sewage from Madikeri’s residential and commercial areas enters the city’s main canal, flows through lower Kootuhole, passes the Abbi Waterfall, and eventually joins the Cauvery via the Harangi Reservoir.The Karnataka government approved the Rs 49.56 crore sewage treatment project on 25 August 2012, aimed at preserving the Cauvery’s purity and improving urban sanitation.The plan involves directing the city’s sewage through dedicated pipelines to treatment facilities. The Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board proposed a unique facility for treating sewage from homes below road level. Areas not connected to the main system will use septic tanks.From the outset, the project faced several setbacks including land disputes, road-related hurdles, and public resistance. Although the local Municipal Council approached the Deputy Commissioner for land allocation in March 2012, delays in the land transfer process hampered timely implementation.Construction under Package-1 began in November 2015, with a company awarded the Rs 40.99 crore contract. The work included laying 109 km of sewer pipelines, building wells and septic tanks, and providing 7,373 household connections, with a scheduled completion date of December 2018.The drainage system, designed considering the city’s slope and topography, was approved by the Chief Engineer. While 77% of urban Madikeri falls within the STP coverage area, the rest was divided into nine septic tank zones. Roadblocks and public resistance delayed full execution.Once all works are completed, household connections will begin, preventing sewage from flowing into the Cauvery River, according to Karnataka Water Supply and Sewerage Board District Assistant Executive Engineer Prasanna Kumar. So far, 69.1 km of sewer pipelines, 2,460 machine holes, and 3,400 house connections have been installed. Remaining work involves cutting through 10 km of asphalt and 5 km of concrete roads.Foundation work for the sewage treatment unit began in January on 1.70 acres of land in K. Badaga village. A Bengaluru-based company was awarded the Rs 7.17 crore Package-2 contract on 2 June 2019, which includes constructing a 3.0/4.50 MLD treatment plant, auxiliary structures, and five years of maintenance.Additionally, the municipality acquired three acres to develop a green belt around the treatment unit, as mandated by the Environmental Pollution Control Board. Officials are hopeful the project will be completed within the stipulated one-year tender period.
