Fish merchants, truckers polluting Hemavathi river, allege Mudigere residents

CHIKKAMAGALUR: Fish merchants and drivers of goods vehicles are polluting the Hemavathi river by dumping fish waste and cleaning vehicles in it, residents of Mudigere taluk have complained.

The Hemavathi river originates in Javali village in Mudigere taluk and joins the Cauvery river near KRS dam in Mandya district after flowing through Gorur dam in Hassan district. The water is also supplied to Bengaluru.

Residents of Mudigere taluk have alleged that fish merchants dump the fish waste and clean the vehicles in the river, which is polluting the water. Lakhs of residents of the taluk are dependent on the river for drinking water and irrigation in the taluk and across the district, they pointed out.

Locals also said that dumping of fish waste in the river could pose a health hazard and demanded that the police and other authorities concerned take action against fish merchants and drivers of goods vehicles for polluting the river.