Concerned environmentalists have drawn the attention of the district administration to the alarming destruction of mangroves along the Nethravati and Phalguni rivers, attributing it to the improper dumping of waste. Activists claim that individuals with vested interests are intentionally disposing of waste, including construction debris, along the riverbanks, potentially aiming to encroach on the land post-mangrove destruction.

In a formal communication addressed to the Tahsildar of Mangaluru taluk, H Shashidhar Shetty, the General Secretary of the National Environment Care Federation (NECF), urgently called for immediate action to prevent further mangrove damage and ensure the protection of the rivers. Shetty also insisted on the swift eviction of encroachments along the banks of Nethravati and Phalguni rivers.

The letter outlined the distressing trend of waste dumping, particularly from Mangaluru city, on the riverbanks, resulting in the destruction of vital mangrove ecosystems and ongoing encroachment. Shetty expressed the organization’s continued efforts over the past seven years to bring this environmental issue to the district administration’s attention.

Expressing disappointment over the lack of action to safeguard government land adjacent to the rivers, Shetty emphasized the urgency of the matter. A formal request has been submitted to the Tahsildar, who also serves as the taluk magistrate, seeking appropriate and immediate action to address the critical environmental concerns plaguing the Nethravati and Phalguni rivers.

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