MADIKERI: The District Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has issued show-cause notices to local bodies of the district over releasing pollutants to water streams. The board has sought a reply from Kushalnagar, Somwarpet and Virajpet town panchayats on the steps taken to treat sewage even as a review meeting in this regard will be hosted shortly.
A resident of Ponnampet, Chagulanda C Suraj of district Janatha Darshan and president of Kodava Kootaliyada Koota organisation had recently alleged that increased pollutants are being released to River Cauvery and River Lakshmana Theertha in the district without proper sewage treatment.
He had also highlighted the encroachment of buffer zones across the river streams in the district and demanded for the preservation of the water bodies. A complaint in this regard was also filed to the Pollution Control Board in the district.
Following this, the district Pollution Control Board has issued show-cause notices to the town panchayats of Virajpet, Kushalnagar and Somwarpet. The board has demanded a reply from the local bodies in 15 days. The reason for not renewing the licence for ‘Consent for Operation’ (CFO) to discharge sewage/sullage water to the streams has been demanded by the board.
“The licence for CFO has lapsed and the same is not renewed. Further, the local bodies had sought permission to establish Sewage Treatment Plans which stand incomplete. The board has issued notice demanding a reply from the local bodies on the measures they are taking to manage sewage. Further, the board has urged for the fast-paced completion of underground drainage and sewage lines,” confirmed Dr Manju, an official at the District Pollution Control Board.