Mangalore, Aug 2 (DHNS): The Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP), an undertaking of the Fishmeal and Oil Manufactures Association (FOMA) was inaugurated by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Chairman A S Sadashiviah at Kotepura in Ullal on Saturday.

Speaking on the occasion, he commended the work of Fishmeal and Oil Manufacturers Association and said that Mangalore has a CETP apart from Bangalore and Doddaballapur. The Common Effluent treatment plant in Ullal is second largest in the State next Bangalore.

Stating that there was a need to improve the way solid waste is disposed in Mangalore, he said the present system of solid waste management was inadequate and there should be a scientific way of disposal of garbage.

The landfill is being objected from those who are residing in the region. Fishmeal industries create pollution on the sea shore, creating problems to the people who reside on the shore.  The pollution control board will provide all possible support in the future to set up such treatment plants.

The present plant can treat the water from 14 fish meal industries. The Kotepura plant will treat six lakh litres of effluent a day and this is designed to treat 30,000 litres per hour. The absence of common treatment plant had been a matter of concern in the region as people had to bear the stench from these fish meal industries.

He said “waste should be converted into wealth and used for producing energy like foreign countries. Singapore based company is working towards producing energy from the waste. He said that production of electricity from waste is successfully practiced in Salem and Pune. Similar initiatives should be taken up in Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore in the future.”

As coastal eco system is very sensitive , there is a need to take precautionary measures to prevent oil spills on the coast, he added.

The Association members pooled in Rs 2.5 crore to set up the plant. MLA U T Khader, Association President M Shawkath Showry were present.