Skilled Committee submits report back to State Authorities; KSPCB awaits for instructions to cease air pollution menace
Mysuru: The Cauvery, Kapila and Lakshmanatheertha rivers, which provide consuming water to cities like Bengaluru, Mysuru and 1000’s of villages, at the moment are severely polluted.
A complete report submitted to the State Authorities by a Technical Skilled Committee, constituted by the Karnataka State Air pollution Management Board (KSPCB) below directives from the Central Air pollution Management Board (CPCB), highlights the alarming state of those water our bodies.
The Technical Committee assessed the water high quality of rivers throughout India, together with these in Karnataka. In accordance with a 2022 CPCB report, 311 rivers nationwide, together with 17 in Karnataka, are labeled as polluted.
As per air pollution management pointers, the permissible Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) is 1 mg per litre of water. Nevertheless, the research revealed surprising ranges of BOD — 6 mg within the Cauvery, 6.6 mg in Lakshmanatheertha and three.8 mg in Kapila.
Among the many worst affected is the Pinakini River, originating from Nandi Hills close to Bengaluru, the place BOD ranges reached a staggering 111 mg per litre.
Different rivers displaying dangerously excessive BOD ranges embrace Aghanashini (3.3 mg), Arkavathi (39 mg), Bhadra (7 mg), Bheema (4 mg), Gangavali (3.4 mg), Kagina (3.1 mg), Krishna (4.7 mg), Nethravathi (6 mg), Sharavathi (3.3 mg), Shimsha (9.5 mg) and Tunga (6.2 mg).
Following KSPCB’s submission of a report back to the Inexperienced Tribunal on water air pollution, the CPCB directed the Board to conduct a radical research of all 17 rivers within the State.
Following experiences of polluted water being discharged into the Cauvery River, MLC Dinesh Gooligowda urged the State Authorities to take instant motion to stop additional contamination.
Skilled Committee composition
In response, the Karnataka State Air pollution Management Board (KSPCB), Mysuru Division, below directives from its Head Workplace, shaped an Skilled Committee.
The staff includes Chief Setting Officer Dr. P. Niranjan, retd. Setting Officer Dr. B.M. Prakash, an Govt Engineer from the Karnataka Water Provide and Sewerage Board (KWSSB), a Superintending Engineer from Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Restricted (CNNL), together with Professors from the College of Mysore and Sri Jayachamarajendra School of Engineering (SJCE).
Reviews point out that the Cauvery River, originating in Kodagu, turns into more and more polluted because it flows by means of Kushalnagar, Hunsur, Periyapatna, Ok.R. Nagar, Mysuru, Srirangapatna, T. Narasipur and Kollegal. Air pollution is most extreme within the Mysuru area, the place underground drainage (UGD) water contaminates the river.
As well as, the Kapila River, flowing from the Kabini Dam, is compromised by polluted water from the Nanjangud Industrial Space and UGD water from Nanjangud city, rendering it unfit for human and animal consumption.
Exhaustive research
The Lakshmanatheertha River faces comparable threats, with air pollution from Hunsur, Ok.R. Nagar and different cities additional exacerbating its situation. The Skilled Committee performed an exhaustive research over one-and-a-half months, figuring out air pollution hotspots, the extent of contamination and the sources accountable for polluting the three rivers.
Regardless of many residents unknowingly consuming polluted water every day, the State Authorities’s inaction — even 15 days after receiving this complete report — raises severe considerations. It’s vital for the Authorities to take swift measures to halt the air pollution of those important water sources earlier than it escalates into a significant public well being disaster.
Motion plan wanted
Talking to Star of Mysore, KSPCB Senior Environmental Engineer Savitha emphasised the pressing must formulate an motion plan to stop additional air pollution of the rivers.
“The Skilled Committee has submitted its report back to the State Authorities, detailing the alarming ranges of air pollution within the Cauvery, Kapila and Lakshmanatheertha rivers. The report additionally consists of suggestions for controlling this air pollution. The subsequent step is for the State Authorities, in session with consultants, to plan an motion plan to deal with the problem,” she stated.
She added, “As soon as the plan is in place, directives will probably be issued to Metropolis Firms, Native Our bodies and the industries division to take instant steps to curb water air pollution. We’re at the moment awaiting directions from the State Authorities, which will probably be carried out as soon as obtained.”