Unfiltered water supply in Mangaluru: Inquiry committee to be formed, says MLC Ivan D’Souza
Mangaluru (Karnataka) Jan 7: Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council (MLC) Ivan D’Souza said that an inquiry committee comprising councillors and experts will be formed to address the issue of nearly half of Mangaluru receiving unfiltered water.
He stated that a fact-finding report would be prepared and submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah during his visit to the district on January 17.
Speaking at a joint press conference with opposition members of the MCC on Monday, D’Souza raised concerns about the continued supply of untreated sewage-mixed water, despite scientific reports identifying the Netravati as one of the 13 most polluted rivers in Karnataka.
"If residents experience health issues due to the supply of unfiltered water, the MCC administration will be directly responsible," D’Souza said.
He questioned why the issue had not been brought to the government’s attention earlier and mentioned that the Urban Development Minister had also been apprised of the matter.
A formal request for state intervention has been made, he added.
Currently, treated water is supplied to the old Mangaluru region from the Bendoorwell treatment plant, but areas such as Baikampady, Panambur, and Surathkal receive direct water supply from the Thumbay dam without purification.
"Even after reports confirmed that Netravati’s water is contaminated, no steps have been taken to ensure purification. We will launch an agitation, if necessary," said D’Souza.
D’Souza further pointed out that despite crores of rupees being spent on underground drainage systems, sewage treatment plants (STPs), and wet wells under the Smart City project, sewage flow into storm water drains has increased fifty-fold over the past decade.
He also alleged that lakes developed at great expense have now turned into sewage reservoirs.
Questioning the silence of two local MLAs on the issue, he demanded accountability from elected representatives.
Opposition leader Anil Kumar, and councillors Shashidhar Hegde, Praveenchandra Alva, Samsuddin, Keshav, and Bhaskar K, along with former Mayor Harinath, were present at the press conference.
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Annpurna Devi expresses anguish over girl's rape in TN, urges NCW to act
New Delhi (PTI): Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi on Tuesday expressed her anguish over the alleged gang rape of a girl in Tamil Nadu and urged the National Commission for Women to take immediate cognisance of the matter.
In a post on X, Devi said, "Deeply anguished by this horrific incident. I urge the NCW to take immediate cognisance and act swiftly in coordination with the concerned authorities to ensure the strictest action against all culprits."
Devi said, "Justice must be swift and unsparing — the accused must be brought to book without delay," adding, "the safety, dignity, and justice of every daughter of India remain our highest priority."
"We stand firmly with the survivor and her family in this difficult hour," she said.
Reacting to a post by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, who flagged concerns over the law and order situation in the state, Devi said such incidents "expose grave concerns" under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government.
Annamalai, in his post, alleged that a 15-year-old girl from Kanchipuram, who had come to participate in a temple festival near Seyyaru in Tiruvannamalai district, was gangraped.
He said the incident was "deeply shocking and enraging" to him and alleged that such crimes point to a "complete failure" of law and order in Tamil Nadu.
Annamalai demanded immediate arrest of all those involved and the "harshest punishments" for the accused.
He also called for full protection and mental health counselling for the survivor and her family.
