Woman dies after stepping on live electric wire laid to hunt wild boars
Three accused held for trying to cover-up incident
Karkala, September 18: Karkala rural police arrested three persons on charges of trying to cover-up the incident of death of a woman who was electrocuted after she came in contact with live electric wire put up for hunting wild boars, by disposing the body in the forest, here on Monday.
The woman is identified as Girija Poojarthi (50), wife of Kantappa Poojary of Sacheripete Posral in Mundkur village. The arrested are identified as John (57) of Kadandale, Sunil (30) of Sachcharipete and Padmanabha (42) of Mundkur.
Girija Poojarthi was working as a helper at Ram Restaurant at Mundkur. On September 8 at 7.30 pm, she has gone to her neighbor’s house and later, she has been to her brother’s house nearby. But on the way, she touched the live electric wire laid for hunting the wild boars and died. But the three accused dumped the body into a well near the house of John in order to destroy the evidences. Later, after two days, they lifted the body from the well and wrapped in plastic and dumped beside a road leading to the forest at Kandiga near Kanthavara and fled the scene.
As his wife did not come home, Kantappa Poojary has lodged a complaint on September 14 at rural police station. When a two-wheeler rider Sudhir smelt foul smell while going on the road, he checked it and found the body of Girija Poojarthi in a mutilated condition. Knowing the information, the police who rushed to the spot arrested the accused. It is said that the police have suspected that another two persons might have involved in the incident and the police were looking for them also. The police will produce the accused before the court on September 19, sources said.
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Nearly 700 km of Karnataka rivers polluted; cities, towns depend on contaminated water
Shivamogga: A total of 693.75 of river stretches across Karnataka are polluted, and water from several of these rivers is being supplied to towns and cities, the State government informed the Legislative Assembly.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express on Monday, replying to an unstarred question by Thirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra during the winter session in Belagavi, Forest, Environment and Biodiversity Minister Eshwar Khandre said rivers are classified into five categories, P1 to P5, based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, with P1 being the most polluted.
He reportedly said untreated domestic wastewater from urban and rural areas is the main reason for river pollution. Arkavati, Lakshana Teertha, Tungabhadra, Bhadra, Tunga, Cauvery, Kabini, Kagina, Krishna, Shimsha, Bheema and Netravati are the polluted rivers and so far, 112 polluted drainages along these rivers have been identified.
Khandre explained that rivers are classified into five pollution categories P1 to P5. The Arkavati River has been placed in the P1 category, while no rivers fall under P2 and P3. Tungabhadra, Bhadra and Shimsha are categorised under P4, and eight other rivers fall under P5.
Khandre allegedly said domestic wastewater from municipalities, towns and villages along riverbeds is being discharged into at least 17 rivers, identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is the primary cause of river pollution.
According to the report, the minister said drinking water is being supplied from polluted rivers in districts such as Mandya, Ramanagara, Vijayapura and Shivamogga. In parts of Uttara Kannada, Ballari, Vijayanagara and Bagalkot, local bodies are also drawing water from polluted river sources.
In 2022-23, CPCB identified South Pinakini, Aghanashini, Sharavathi and Gangavali rivers too as polluted. But wrote to CPCB, stating that these rivers are not polluted and sought their removal from the list. An action plan is being prepared for the South Pinakini River, he said.
On remedial measures, Khandre reportedly said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is setting up sewage treatment plants as per the directions of National Green Tribunal.
As per the report, under 12 river rejuvenation plans, the state generates 817.31 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. While 41 STPs with a capacity of 614.1 MLD are operational, 203.21 MLD of sewage remains untreated.
Work is underway to establish 19 STPs with a capacity of 248.91 MLD, while 39 more STPs with a combined capacity of 357.92 MLD are in the planning stage. Progress is being monitored and reported regularly to the NGT and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The minister reportedly said the state government gave its approval for underground drainage works worth Rs 535.56 crore in 2021 for 24 cities/towns besides Rs 523.80 crore for nine UGD projects.
