Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jun 2: In their study, experts of the fisheries college here have found that Coliform bacteria is present in water samples collected from various sites in River Falguni. Coliform proliferate in places contaminated by human excreta and animal waste. As per the report, 1,500 MPN Coliform bacteria are found in 100 ml water. This bacteria is found not only in the water below the dam but also in the water standing in the dam, said head of the department of fisheries environment and ecology, Gangadhara Gowda.

The report seems to contradict the city corporation's stand that no effluents from the underground drainage system are reaching the river.

Gowda has advised that maximum care should be taken particularly during the summer months to see that underground drainage waste does not flow into the river as this water is being used for multi-village drinking water scheme. The college study also reveals that death of aquatic animals in large numbers in the river was caused by the lack of oxygen which was created due to animal waste contamination. The experts opine that long term addition of waste to the river which would have flown into the area between Malavoor vented dam and bridge during high tide from areas like Kudroli and Boloor too could have caused this phenomenon.

Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has taken up the work of adding oxygen into the river water through air compressors. The work of stirring waste that has accumulated at the bottom of the river has also been taken up with the hope that with increased rainfall, the waste will flow into the sea in course of time.