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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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
