River Phalguni being polluted with industrial waste: Citizens’ Forum approaches KSPCB
Surathkal: Members of the Citizens’ Forum here have alleged that River Phalguni is being polluted with the waste from the Baikampady Industrial Area, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL) and the Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
“The industrial waste is being dumped into the stream in Thokuru, whose water has turned black due to the pollution and is already stinking. The water from the stream goes to River Phalguni, as a result of which, the river water too is being polluted,” the forum members have alleged.
The forum members met the zonal officer of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Thursday, to discuss the matter.
An investigation team led by the zonal officer Ramesh collected samples of the water from the stream in Thokuru. The officer and the members of the team admitted that the stream did seem to have been polluted by industrial waste.
“The matter should be investigated and strict action should be taken against the guilty. Only then can River Phalguni be saved,” members of the forum urged the KSPCB officer.
They also warned that a protest would be undertaken if the Board failed to do so.
Muneer Katipalla, convener of the forum, Farooq, president of Jokatte Gram Panchayat, and Aboobakar Bava, member of the Panchayat and leader of the forum were present.
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Mangaluru–Muscat direct flight to resume from March 1: MP Brijesh Chowta
Mangaluru: The long-pending demand of passengers from Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and neighbouring Kerala, as well as Non-Resident Indians, has finally been addressed, with direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat set to resume from March 1, said MP Brijesh Chowta.
In a statement, he said a large number of people from the coastal region travel to Muscat for employment and business purposes, and there had been strong demand to restart the direct service. He said he had written to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation requesting the resumption of the flight. Following this, Air India Express will operate the service.
As per the current schedule, the flight will operate twice a week, on Sundays and Tuesdays. The direct service is expected to reduce travel time and provide major relief to NRIs by enabling them to travel directly to their hometown.
The sudden suspension of the Mangaluru–Muscat direct flight had caused serious inconvenience to thousands of passengers from the coastal belt settled in Muscat. Those travelling to Mangaluru were forced to take connecting routes via Delhi, Mumbai or Kannur.
