Mangaluru: Water conservation has been a neglected topic in our society as people don’t seem to care much about things they get for free.

Even though water is an important commodity in our lives, so much so that it is labeled a necessity, no one – not the industrialists or the local residents – thinks twice before polluting the precious water bodies. The Bellandur lake in Bengaluru for example, is proof of the harm that pollution can cause.

Mangaluru being a smaller and less industrialised locality than Bengaluru, is safe from such mishaps… or so one think.

Symptoms of mankind’s growing negligence has now surfaced here in Kudla, as the river Phalguni in the Gurpur taluk has turned mucky with an oily layer floating atop the water owing to the alleged discharge of water from the underground drainage (UGD).

Drawing the media’s attention to the issue, which as of now is in its teething stage, the National Environment Care Foundation (NECF) Secretary Shashidhar Shetty said that the industries have been rampantly discharging untreated effluents into the river water, resulting in its contamination.

While pointing out to the plastic and various other wastes accumulated at the river side, he said that efforts directed to make the city “smart” would be futile so long as the district administration fails to put a check on such unhealthy practices.

“The contaminated water has not only affected the marine life but has also caused the deaths of eight bovines last summer,” he said, adding that though the locals had protested against the issue and filed a case in the Lokayukta Court demanding action against the offenders, the practice seems to have gone on unhindered.

Shashidhar Shetty stated that he has brought this issue to the notice of Deputy Commissioner Sansikanth Senthil, and has also assured of taking necessary measures to solve the problem.

Meanwhile, it is gathered that MCC Mayor Kavitha Sanil, who has been made aware of this issue through NCEF, would be visiting the area along with health officials to conduct a spot inspection on Monday, January 22. She has also assured that if the problem has arisen due to a leak in the drainage, immediate steps would be taken to ensure that the waste water is not discharged into the river.

Environmental activist Dinesh Holla was present during the press briefing.