The High Court of Karnataka has ordered issue of notice to the State government on a PIL petition which has expressed apprehension that Kanva river in Channapatna may get polluted like the Vrishabhavati in Bengaluru owing to the failure of Channapatna City Municipality in providing underground drainage (UGD) facility.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the order in the petition filed by M.K. Chandrashekar and other residents of Channapatna hailing from different walks of life.
Channapatna, famous for toys and silk, was upgraded to the status of a city municipality 25 years ago, but no UGD facility has been provided and the sewage is being let out into waterbodies and rivers around the city, including the Kanva, the petitioners pointed out.
They have also expressed apprehension that the day is not too far when underground water will get contaminated with sewage in the absence of UGD facility and treatment plants while pointing out that the open sewer is posing serious health risks for residents in addition to the present pandemic.
It has also been pointed out in the petition that waste generated from a large number of silk twisting and reeling units situated in the city is let out into the open drain, which leads wastewater to lakes, water of which is being used for drinking, irrigation, etc., by the residents of surrounding villages.
Channapatna, though being situated very close to Bengaluru, was not provided with UGD facility despite having many schemes such as Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal ission, the petitioners have said while seeking direction for providing UGD network, covering open drains, stopping flow of sewage to lakes and river, and establishing sewage treatment plants.
