Pics: Ahammed Bava

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru (ANK)

Mangaluru, Mar 29: The locals near Maravoor Dam are worried after the water has turned black with inflow of chemical effluents.

The locals say that they are having a tough time due to the polluted water at the Maravoor Dam due to chemical effluents released by private companies. They also say the concerned elected representatives are least bothered about the suffering of locals due to contaminated water at the Maravoor dam.   

The locals allege that it has been difficult for them to sleep during the night due to the foul smell emanating from the place and the menace of mosquitoes.

"Even though we have brought this to the notice of the concerned officials and elected representatives they have failed to respond. They do not even bother about the poor, but when a rich person gives a complaint everyone responds. As elections are fast approaching the elected representatives will come to our doorsteps. The chemicals that are continuously released by private companies have turned worse this time around compared to previous years," the locals charged.

The concerned authorities, officials and elected representatives need to act swiftly to resolve the issue as the same water is being used for drinking to several villages nearby.

In 2017 too water in the Maravoor Dam had turned black and poisonous with several fish dying due to suspected discharge of effluents from the nearby industrial area. Soon after, the then district in-charge minister Ramanath Rai and MLA Abhayachandra Jain visited the spot.