The Hindu

Mangalore, Dec 8: A visit to Kana Kulai reveals that several households have stopped using the water from their wells. Water from a well in Kana Kulai on the outskirts of Mangalore has been declared unfit for human consumption by the National Institute of Technology Karnataka, Surathkal.

The well belongs to Remedia D’ Silva. He says: “There was a pungent smell from the well, the water was discoloured and tasted different. That is why I sent it for testing to NITK.”

Although the other people have not yet had tests conducted on water samples from their wells so far, the Nagarika Hitarakshana Samiti, an organisation representing people of this area, is claiming that most of the wells in the area are polluted.

BASF senior general manager P.P. Shetty has corroborated the NITK findings saying that National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, had conducted tests on groundwater in 1993. It was found that groundwater in the region had low pH levels even then.

“The water here is endemically low in pH,” Mr. Shetty said. The tests were conducted as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment conducted before the BASF was given permission to set up its plant.

Sources from NITK clarified that in areas with soil conditions such as Kana Kulai, the pollution of one well need not lead to the pollution of other wells. But the possibility could not be ruled out.

Water that has low pH levels turns highly acidic and if this water is drunk over an extended period it can corrode the internal organs of the body, said District Health and Family Welfare Officer H. Jagannatha. Parts of Kana Kulai are going to be utilised by the Mangalore Special Economic Zone for setting up the rehabilitation colony for families that are going to be displaced by the 3,000-acre SEZ.

The results of the test have sent alarm bells ringing amongst the allied groups that are fighting for the rights of people who are going to be displaced by the Mangalore Special Economic Zone project. Leaders of allied organisations like the Krishi Bhoomi Samrakshana Samiti, Citizens Forum for Mangalore Development, MSEZ Impact Assessment Committee – a sub-committee of the NGO Okkuta of Dakshina Kannada and Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha have indicated that they were going to use the issue to intensify their struggle against the proposed project. Will this affect the rehabilitation plans of MSEZL? Its Chief Operating Officer put to rest all fears saying the project displaced families would be provided with treated river water.