Kundapur: Sowparnika river heavily polluted, Kemar Swamiji seeks action
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Feb 27: Kodachadri Parisara Samrakshana Trust on Wednesday February 26 arranged a tour for media to the banks of Sowparnika river near Kollur Shree Mookambika Temple to highlight the water pollution caused by the surrounding lodges.
The programme was led by honorary president of the Trust Sri Esha Vittaldasa Swamiji of Kemar Math and president K K Sab.
Kemar Swamiji said that as Kollur Temple had become a destination for tourists and VIPs, nearly 50 lodges had mushroomed in the surrounding areas. These lodges have been letting untreated waste water into the Sowparnika river, and thereby polluting it. Over the last four years, the pollution levels have increased to such an extent that the water has been rendered unfit for daily needs, he said.
He also said that due to the high level of pollution of the river in front of Kollur Temple, the ritual of taking a holy dip during the annual temple feast had to be shifted elsewhere last time.
Kodachadri Parisara Samrakshana Trust in its memorandum to the state chief minister highlighted the issue of environment pollution, stating that Kodachadri which is the source of Sowparnika is now frequented by alcoholics and those indulging in immoral activities, and that it has filthy with plastic being strewn around. Plastic and alcohol should be banned at the place and entry of vehicles and tourists in the evenings should also be banned, the Trust demanded in the memorandum.
"Such restrictions have been imposed at Talacauvery in Coorg district. Several lacs of devotees visit Kollur every year. They pray to the temple diety and get her blessings. There are several private and temple lodges, hotels and shops for their convenience. However, the sancity of Sowparnika river gets violated due to the waste water flowing into the river from the surroundings. It is necessary to erect sign boards in different south Indian languages and in English at the place of the river where the devotees go for bath to maintain cleanliness. A guard can also be appointed," the memorandum stated.
Kemar Swamiji suggested that the government should construct drainage facility, get the water cleaned and let it to Kollur and surrounding villages for use. As Sowparnika river flows in between Mookambika forests for a distance of 20 kilometers, it is a source of water for people and other creatures. So the drainage water should not be let into the river, he said.
Kemar Swamiji also made several other demands, including:
- As the vehicles plying via Kollur car street to Kundapur, Shimoga, Sagar, Davangere and Bangalore have increased, it is necessary to widen and renovate the car street. It is a common sight these days of devotees standing in long queues at the temple after walking in between vehicles in sunshine and rain.
- As the road from Car Street temple to Shankerashrama is a slope, it should be concreted and leveled. There should be a bridge for the lake near the temple to enable the devotees to stand in the queue.
- The government should appoint a guard to protect valuables of the temple. A bypass road should be constructed from Kolur bus stand in order to reduce traffic at Kollur market in order to facilitate religious activities at the Kollur temple.
- Dams should be built in order to store water and release it when the flow of water into the river decreases. The government should facilitate the holy dip ritual of devotees.
- Thought the government gets several crores of rupees by way of taxes from the temple, it is distressing to see the convenience of devotees being disregarded. The road from Kollur Mahasati Katte to Mayura lodge also needs widening. The government should start the work immediately.
Kemar Swamiji and K K Sab also warned that if the above demands were not met, a massive protest would be organized.
Naveenchandra Uppunda, Gowri Devadiga, Harish Tholar, Vigneshwara Shastri, Sri Samudgodananda Swamiji of Kollur Dharma Peetha were present.