Bengaluru: Think before you take a sip of river water in the state. The Union government and Central Pollution Control Board have identified stretches of 15 rivers in Karnataka as polluted following the release of untreated sewage water into them.
Among the 15 rivers, the stretches of Malaprabha, Ghataprabha and Arkavathy rivers are categorised as 'highly polluted' and the water as not fit for ‘human consumption’.
The Central government and the Central Pollution Control Board have identified 302 polluted river stretches in 275 rivers across the country and 15 of them are in Karnataka. This was disclosed by Union minister for forests, environment and climate change, Anil Madhav Dave in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
“It’s true. Release of sewage into rivers due to absence of toilets in villages situated on the banks of these rivers is the biggest culprit. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has set two-year deadline for the department concerned to provide an underground drainage system and build toilets in all villages to check the polluting of these rivers,” Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Chairman Lakshman told Deccan Chronicle.
According to a Government of India document, the polluted stretches are found in all the 15 rivers- Arkavathy, Bhadra, Bhima, Cauvery, Ghataprabha, Kabini, Kagina, Kali, Krishna, Lakshmantirtha, Malaprabha, Manjira, Shimsha, Tungabhadra and Tunga. Maharashtra tops in the country for the maximum 49 polluted river stretches, followed by Assam with 28 rivers.
Mr Lakshman said that he had visited the polluted stretches in Malaprabha and Ghataprabha and was horrified to see the release of untreated sewage into these rivers.
The analysis of water of these two rivers has revealed that it was not fit for drinking. It was shocking to see open defecation near rivers in the absence of home toilets. One of the most urgent things to do is build toilets to prevent villagers from polluting rivers.
“I will be visiting the Arkavathy stretch soon to monitor it in the wake of complaints about untreated effluents being released into river Cauvery. If it is true, the board would issue strict guidelines to the authorities concerned to check the pollution of Cauvery-the lifeline of people of Mysuru and Bengaluru.”
Clean Cauvery drive
Agreeing that the Cauvery was getting polluted at Srirangapatna in Mandya district due to immersion of ashes of dead bodies, dumping of animal carcasses and release of sewage water, the chairman said he would launch the clean-up of the river by involving local people and youth next month.
Directions would be issued to Srirangapatna taluk officials to take immediate measures to save the Cauvery from polluters. At Sangama and Snanada Ghatta near the ruins of Tipu Sultan's palace, the river was getting polluted due to absence of toilets. People wash clothes and polluted the river using chemical laced detergents.
Incinerators
Mr Lakshman said Dr Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sree Kshethra Dharmasthala has offered to install an incinerator to burn the clothes offered by devotees in the Netravathi. Every year, tonnes of clothes are manually cleared from the river to ensure free flow of water and check pollution.
Even the temple authorities of Kukke Subramanya have agreed to install an incinerator near River Kumaradhara. Likewise, Sringeri Town officials are keen on a stormwater drain to stop pollution of the Tunga River.
