Mysuru: According to a study conducted by Environment Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI), most of the water bodies in Mysuru and Nanjangud are contaminated due to various factors varying from pollutants to open defecation. According to EMPRI report ‘Evolving Sustainable Conservation Strategies for Water bodies of Mysuru-Nanjangud Local Planning Area’, which was released at Aranya Bhavan by forest minister Ramanath Rai here on Thursday, states that a majority of the water bodies are affected due to encroachment, unabated inflow of sewage and dumping of solid waste.

The EMPRI carried out Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis in Parasaiahana Kere in Chamundi Hill village, Lingambudi Lake, Kukkarahalli Lake, Kunteri Lake in Kalale village and Huskur Nanjana Lake at Devirammanahalli village in Nanjangud taluk. After thorough study, the experts came to know that water in these lakes was contaminated. The experts during their study also came across that the continuous discharge of sewage and dumping of solid waste were the two key factors that are contributing to the degradation of the water bodies. The experts also mentioned that Mysuru and Nanjangud have no scientific landfill and lack of proper management of solid waste which is posing threat to the environment.

The study also suggested plans to overcome those problems on a war-footing based on the scientific inputs from environmentalists and related experts.