Mangaluru: Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil said that the district administration has written to CMFRI, to look into the reason for the increase in pollution in Phalguni river.

To a query from reporters, he said that a committee of experts and district officials have been formed.

According to the initial report, pollution had increased since the last one year, after the construction of Maravoor dam to supply drinking water to 14 villages.

The Maravoor dam has been built in a crucial area of CRZ, wherein the flow of freshwater is stopped due to the construction of the dam.

After the CMFRI report, the district administration will look into the possibility of a solution to the problem. The construction of the dam led to the change in the river system.

In fact, it has taught a lesson that dams across West flowing rivers should be constructed with the utmost caution, he said.It is true that sewage is let into stormwater drains at Thokooru and Bykampady.

Later, the stormwater drains join the river. A test at Bykampady has revealed that no chemical effluents are let into the stormwater drains. Representatives from the industries have promised to set up STPs to treat the sewage before letting it into stormwater drains.

On illegal sand mining, the DC said that about 70% of the boats engaged in sand extraction in CRZ areas have been fitted with GPS. This is an effort to check illegal sand mining in CRZ areas and to identify the boats engaged in sand mining. The district administration is also identifying a few places to park the seized lorries and boats engaged in illegal sand mining.

Stating that the water in the district will be used for promotion of tourism, Sasikanth Senthil said that the district administration will develop a corridor from Kuloor bridge to Thannirbavi for boathouses. Boat clubs, Kayaking activities will be taken up.

The DC said that the final electoral rolls will be published on February 22. A control room will be set up shortly. Along with the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used at all polling booths in the next assembly elections.