MLA Umanath Kotian Demands Immediate Action to Prevent Sewage Pollution in Nandini River Ahead of Khandevu Fishing Festival

Moodbidri MLA Umanath Kotian has urged the Dakshina Kannada district administration to take swift measures to halt the discharge of untreated sewage into the Nandini River near Chelairu. This pollution, stemming from a local medical college and a Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) sewage treatment plant, has severely contaminated the river, turning its waters black and emitting a foul odor. The degradation has disrupted the traditional Khandevu Jathre, a revered fishing festival held during the temple fair at Khandige in Chelairu village, where devotees gather to participate in communal fishing rituals.

In response to these concerns, Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan MP has directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to address the issue promptly. The KSPCB has been instructed to analyze water samples from three inlets flowing into the river and provide findings within seven days. Additionally, officials from MCC and KSPCB, together with gram panchayat members, are to conduct a joint inspection without delay. MLA Kotian emphasized the urgency of the situation, highlighting that untreated sewage from the medical college and the MCC's sewage treatment plant has been contaminating the river, adversely affecting the community's cultural practices and the river's ecosystem.