Alarming pollution levels found in Arkavati river: Study
Bengaluru: A recent report by Paani.Earth has revealed alarming levels of pollution in the Arkavati river and its tributary, the Vrishabhavati, including physicochemical pollutants, pesticides, heavy metals, and hazardous organic compounds that exceed Indian and international standards.
The study, titled 'Uncovering the Hidden Pollution in the Arkavathi: Emerging Contaminants Impacting Bengaluru and Beyond', tested 65 unique water and 20 sediment pollution parameters. Conducted in February and March 2024 in collaboration with the International Centre for Clean Water, pollution samples were collected from seven sites during the dry season.
The findings revealed extreme levels of harmful substances. Pesticides such as heptachlor and DDT were detected at concentrations up to 25,022 times higher than the guidelines of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Mercury in sediment samples was found to be 26 times above Canada’s Sediment Quality Guidelines, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were detected at levels up to 3,076 times the EPA guidelines. Excessive phosphorus levels were also observed, causing eutrophic conditions across all tested sites.
The report highlighted serious threats to human and aquatic health, including risks of cancer, hormone disruptions, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It criticised inadequate monitoring practices, particularly the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s reliance on simplified site rankings under the National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP), which fail to account for emerging contaminants.
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Population control policies, UCC require public cooperation: RSS chief
Mysuru (Karnataka) (PTI): RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Thursday said population control policies and the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code required public cooperation and long-term thinking, and asserted that caste-based politics would disappear only when society stopped identifying with caste divisions.
Addressing an interaction session after delivering a lecture on "Social Harmony as a Catalyst for National Development" at JSS Mahavidyapeetha here, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh chief also called for harmony among religions and communities. He urged people to practise equality in social life through conduct rather than slogans.
"Because society remembers caste, politicians take advantage of it. Their legitimate aim is to get votes. If they cannot get votes through work, they will get votes through caste," he said.
Replying to a question on the Population Control Bill and Uniform Civil Code (UCC), Bhagwat said the RSS was not the government but a social organisation and emphasised that laws could succeed only with public participation.
"People must first be educated. Policy is necessary, but policy can only succeed with public cooperation," he said.
Referring to population control measures during the Emergency period, Bhagwat said aggressive enforcement had led to public resentment and political backlash.
