Much is being talked about environmental protection and peaceful campaign to save Dakshina Kannada. The 'Greens' in the undivided coastal district of DK and Udupi even succeeded in stalling a major project of Cogentrix coal-based power plant coming up in Padubidri. Yet one can find the problem of drinking water pollution on the rise.

This problem has not been taken up on a large scale while at the same time there are other projects coming up in the district which will only add to the river pollution.

River Netravati which has its origin in the Western ghats is the main source of drinking water in the district and even the City Corporation is drawing 18 MGD from Nethravati for supply in the City. This river is also the only source of drinking water in various taluka and panchayat areas along the 130 kilometres from its source in Charmadi of the Western Ghats to the Arabian Sea.

The river is considered sacred as it flows along Dharmastala Kshetra where thousands of pilgrims take a holy dip. The river is now getting polluted due to the flow of polluted wastes of towns and villages along the route into it.

That the Netravati has been polluted is evident when one looks down from the road bridge across the river on the National Highway 17. Wastes from the slaughter houses in the city are seen being transported by trucks and dumped into the river at this point near the bridge. Early morning and evenings, vultures crowd this spot to carry carcass and animal waste many times dropping the same into drinking water wells on either side of the river banks. Throwing away dead poultry had become a regular feature here.

Poultry, a flourishing trade that witnesses hundreds of dead fowls being dumped into this river. There has been a proposal over the years to clean the waters and improve drinking water facilities for the district. Even the Zilla Parishad and later the Zilla Panchayats have been raising this issue but the project for purifying the water for drinking purposes is yet to see the light of day.

People have already launched a strong protest against the pollution of Netravati. But the question remains whether the government will take action to save Netravati from pollution and ensure clean drinking water to the people, when the district reeling in acute water scarcity. There has been strong plea from MLAs and Panchayat members that water should be made available by constructing small bunds and mini dams.

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