The Hindu     11.03.2011

Construction waste dumping goes on unabated in Ullal

A MOCKERY OF WARNING: Garbage being dumped right under the notice board put up by the Ullal Town Panchayat. — Photo: R. Eswarraj

Ullal Town Panchayat has displayed two sign boards on the road near the Ullal beach asking people not to dump waste on the 100-metre road stretch. While the words on the first board are almost blurred, the other board at the end of the road stretch is crumbling. Between these two boards, there are heaps of debris indicating that the boards have hardly served the purpose while the officials said they could not do much other than filing a complaint with the police.

The place where the waste was being dumped was within 500 metres from high tide line, said Chief Officer of the Ullal Town Municipal Council B.C. Sadananda. The Coastal Regulatory Zone bans dumping of construction waste within 500 meters. “The material is dumped at night and it's difficult to prevent it,” Mr. Sadananda said. Nagappa, an elderly fisherman, who lives near the site, said dumping of waste had continued unabated. “Dumping of construction waste has continued for several years. Nothing has changed despite representations to the panchayat,” he said.

Umavathi, a representative of the Meenugara Mahila Hitarakshana Samiti, said a majority of the construction waste that was dumped was from neighbouring areas. The dumping of waste had caused problems, including defacing the road. “The only relief is that kitchen waste from houses is not dumped here. If dumped, the municipality regularly clears it,” she said.

Mr. Sadananda said the construction waste came from neighbouring places such as Someshwara and Kotekar which did not have dumping yards. “We also do not have places where the dumped material can be moved,” he said. Mr. Sadananda said the Council had only filed complaints with the police. The Council was yet to decide on engaging personnel to watch the dumping activity and take action, he aid. Rohini, a fisherwoman, complained about the hazards faced because of the discharge of effluents from some of the fishmeal and fish oil industries located off the beach. “You cannot stand even for a minute at this spot. Those engaged in drying fish on the beach are more prone to infections,” she said.

The team from The Hindu visited the spot and found indications of effluent from two industrial units entering the sea.

Mr. Sadananada said work was on to construct three effluent treatment plants near the industries which would be functional in six months. “The industries then have to pass the effluents through the plants,” he said.