MCC Cracks Down on Illegal Sewage Dumping in Nethravathi River

Mangaluru: In a major crackdown on illegal sewage disposal, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has seized 2 tankers that were illegally dumping waste into the Nethravathi River and wet wells across the city. A special team of officials uncovered an illicit transport network bringing sewage from Kerala via Talapady and disposing of it in Mangaluru. Strict penalties were imposed on the offending tankers, and police cases were registered against the violators.

MCC Commissioner Ravichandra Naik emphasized that action against illegal sewage dumping will continue, as such activities pose a significant threat to water resources. MCC Assistant Executive Engineer M.N. Shivalingappa added that while 65% of Mangaluru households are connected to an underground drainage network, 35% still rely on domestic septic tanks, making proper disposal crucial.

The MCC, which has licensed 20 suction tankers for regulated sewage transport, uses GPS tracking and geofencing to prevent unauthorized dumping. Acting on complaints, officials raided a suspected tanker on February 7, catching it near Mannagudda while it was transferring sewage to another vehicle. Both vehicles were fined ₹10,000 each, and a case was filed at the Barke police station. Meanwhile, in a separate incident on February 10, Mangaluru South Police intercepted a vehicle near Jeppinamogaru attempting to dump fish waste into the Nethravathi River. The police registered a case, and MCC imposed a fine of ₹10,000, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding the city’s water bodies from pollution.