BENGALURU: For the last 200 years, the entire sewage of Srirangapatna town has been let into the Cauvery river which supplies drinking water to Bengaluru. The sewage, which passes via Rampal Road in Srirangapatna, joins the river under Wellesley Bridge through the water gate.
This the point from where drinking water is lifted to Pandavapura and Mandya towns. The very same polluted water reaches Thorekadanahalli from where it is lifted to Bengaluru. People of Bengaluru, Pandavapura and Mandya are using the same polluted water for drinking and other purposes.
“Though the KRS reservoir was constructed across Cauvery river with the vision of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar and Sir M Visvesvaraya to supply drinking water to Bengaluru and Mysuru, besides supplying water for agriculture in Mandya district, no steps were taken by the Town Municipal Council of Srirangapatna, taluk administration, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd and Environment Department officials to stop sewage from entering the river,” said Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa, who has registered a suo motu case against all the concerned, directing them to fix the issue.
This is one among the 22 suo motu complaints registered by him after he witnessed a flood of public grievances about rampant maladministration in Mandya district during his recent surprise visit.
According to the Upa Lokayukta’s report, sewage from entire Mandya town joins Guttalu Lake, spread over 169 acres 33 guntas, directly through the Raja Kaluve.
Toxic Lake Water, Polluted Borewells Plague Residents
Schoolchildren and locals using the lake water are suffering from skin diseases, while people are drinking polluted water from borewells in areas adjoining the lake, but officials have turned a blind eye.
Complaints about maladministration
Some among the 22 suo motu complaints registered by the Upa Lokayukta pertained to hotels, resorts and other constructions being allowed within the 30-metre buffer zone from the high flood level area of Cauvery river near Bangaradoddi Dam. These joints are being allowed to function without obtaining any licences.
Bursting of crackers and DJs playing at bars and hotels in the vicinity of the river has led to noise pollution affecting the bird population at the Ranganathittu Birds Sanctuary in Srirangapatna. A similar situation prevails near Balmuri Falls where youngsters indulge in fun and frolic.
In Induvaalu Grama Panchayat (GP), in survey number 26 of Kiragandur village, 17 guntas of gomala land has been converted into 12 sites illegally and a khata has been done in the name of one Vijay Kumar and transferred to another person within a month.
Two buildings in the GP, including Rajiv Gandhi Service Centre, were acquired to construct the National Highway and a compensation of Rs 1.30 crore was transferred to GP’s bank account. Of that amount, Panchayat Development Officer Yogesh KC has allegedly illegally transferred Rs 5 lakh to the account of one Indhumathi and another Rs 8 lakh to his own account. Out of Rs 57.65 lakh tax collected during 2024-25, there are no records for collecting Rs 28.52 lakh in cash and depositing it in the bank.
The report also stated that khatas have been made for 47 sites by the Mandya Urban Development Authority in Vivekananda Layout illegally, in spite of the CBI investigating and filing a chargesheet in the case.
The Upa Lokayukta has also registered suo motu cases against all the officials concerned pertaining to cases pending before the assistant commissioner, which included encroachment of lakes, issues over land survey, sanctioning of plans by the Town and Country Planning Department, illegal mining within the 20 km radius of KRS dam despite a ban, irregularities in the district hospital, women and child development department, Mandya Municipal Corporation and improper solid waste management.