Upalokayukta Pulls Up Officials for Inaction Over Pollution of Nandini River Near Mangaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 23, 2025: Strongly criticising officials of the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Revenue Department and MESCOM for failing to prevent pollution of the Nandini river on the outskirts of the city, Upalokayukta Justice B. Veerappa has issued strict directions to multiple authorities to act immediately.

In an order dated November 18, the Upalokayukta directed the Deputy Commissioner, Police Commissioner and the MCC Commissioner to take urgent measures to stop sewage flow from a private medical college and effluent discharge from MCC’s Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) into the river. All three officers have been asked to submit separate action-taken reports.

Justice Veerappa also instructed the Assistant Commissioner, Mangaluru, and the Assistant Commissioner of Police (North), to inspect the site and continuously monitor the actions of all respondent departments involved in the suo motu case registered on March 24. They have been told to file an independent report.

Warning of consequences for delay, the Upalokayukta said legal action would be taken against the responsible officials if no substantial progress is made before December 20, the next date of hearing.

He observed that despite a spot inspection conducted on March 7 and 8, and the case being registered later that month, no significant steps had been taken in eight months. “The respondent officials have failed to discharge their institutional duties,” he noted.

The order states that the private medical college has encroached upon the buffer zone of the waterbody and has been discharging sewage directly into the river. Additionally, effluent from the MCC’s STP has further polluted the waterbody, affecting the public, fish and other animals.

While MCC Town Planner Raghu admitted the medical college had violated buffer zone norms, the Upalokayukta noted that he “remained blissfully silent” on why no action was initiated. KSPCB Environment Officer H. Lakshmikanth reported that criminal proceedings initiated against the MCC Commissioner on October 16 were still pending.

The Assistant Director of Agriculture has also come under fire for failing to verify whether paddy cultivated using drainage water from the polluted river is safe for public consumption. Meanwhile, the Revenue Inspector and Panchayat Development Officer stated they had filed an FIR against the medical college, but no outcome has emerged so far.

Justice Veerappa’s order underscores the authorities’ prolonged inaction and stresses the need for immediate steps to restore and protect the Nandini river from further environmental damage.