BENGALURU: Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa has asked Mandya Deputy Commissioner (DC) to find a permanent solution to the issue of pollution of the Cauvery due to sewage flow in Srirangapatna.
The Upa Lokayukta said there was no proper Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Srirangapatna to treat the effluent of the Underground Drainage (UGD) water within the vicinity of the Srirangapatna Municipality before it joined the river.
Justice Veerappa said there must be coordination among all departments concerned and ensure five wet wells constructed at Srirangapatna should be maintained by Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board in order to lift the UGD water from Srirangapatna town and Ganjam.
He said the authorities should ensure that there will not be a merging of effluent water to the Cauvery river during rainy season. All five wet wells should align with the notification dated July 30, 2025, issued by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board regarding the buffer zone, he ordered. The Upa Lokayukta directed that the DC should have a meeting with all the officials and find a permanent solution to the issue, and submit a separate action report by November 27.
After registering a suo moto complaint following his visit to Srirangapatna, the Upa Lokayukta passed a series of orders on June 3, July 16, 31 and September 3 to the 11 officials who are respondents to the case. Except for appearing before him, they have not taken any steps to prevent the discharge of sewage water to the river.
Improper report by the Chief Officer:
The Upa Lokayukta stated that the report submitted by the Chief Officer of the Srirangapatna Town Municipal Council does not align with the order dated September 3. He has produced an incomplete logbook of the wet well only for the period from April 2025 to October 2025.
The officer has not given a detailed report regarding the location, capacity and construction of five wet wells, the details of the inlet and outlet of the sewage water, the capacity, location and construction of STP, the quantity of treated effluent water and its discharge for which purpose.
Therefore, the Chief Officer should submit the details of the estimation of the work, a detailed project report DPR, execution of work, completion of work pertaining to 5 wet wells each and STP, the Upa Lokayukta ordered.
AC remain absent:
Pandavapura's Assistant Commissioner (AC), along with the Tahsildar, was directed to visit the spot to sort out the menace of sewage joining the river. Unfortunately, the AC remained absent, and there is no explanation for his absence. Therefore, the Upa Lokayukta passed the order to implead AC as the respondent to the case and directed him to appear in person on the next date of hearing without fail, along with an action taken report to address the issue.