Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi
Udupi, Jan 20: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Zone, Chennai, has directed Udupi deputy commissioner Swaroopa T K and the chairperson of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) to submit a detailed report on the measures taken and the timeline proposed to stop the discharge of sewage into the Souparnika river at Kollur.
The tribunal has posted the matter for further hearing on February 9.
The direction was issued by the judicial bench comprising justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Dr Prashanth Garg while hearing a petition filed by Kollur-based social activist Harish Tholar. The petition alleged that untreated sewage and wastewater from Sri Mookambika temple and nearby commercial establishments, including lodges and hotels, have been polluting the Souparnika river for several years.
Though an underground sewerage system (UGSS) project was taken up at Kollur in 2015 at a cost of Rs 19.97 crore and completed in 2020, pollution of the river has continued, the petitioner stated. The NGT observed that despite notices issued over the past two years and the submission of a report by the udupi district administration on November 25, 2025, the report lacked comprehensive details.
The tribunal noted that while the district administration has issued certain directions to KUWSDB and the PDO regarding the functioning of the sewage treatment plant (STP), the report failed to provide critical information. These include the quantity of sewage generated, the carrying capacity of the existing UGSS, the extent to which the capacity needs enhancement, the estimated cost involved and the time required for such upgrades.
Expressing dissatisfaction over the incomplete data, the NGT directed Udupi DC Swaroopa T K and the KUWSDB chairperson to appear before it through video conferencing. It also instructed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to submit a detailed report identifying violators and specifying the steps taken to prevent further violations.
According to the local activists the release of untreated sewage into the Souparnika river has severely polluted the water, causing hardship to devotees. They pointed out that despite the implementation of UGSS in Kollur, commercial establishments continue to discharge waste into the river, undermining the purpose of the project.