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The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has initiated enforcement measures against residential properties discharging sewage into Moilykere lake in Mahakalipadpu, Mangaluru, following persistent pollution concerns. Notices have been served to houses and apartment complexes identified as sources of untreated sewage inflow, with legal action proposed under provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act. The issue, raised in the state legislature, prompted a site inspection by the state's urban development authorities. The absence of an underground drainage (UGD) network in the area has been identified as the primary cause, affecting nearly 400 households across adjoining localities. Civic authorities are concurrently working to identify land for a wet well to enable long-pending UGD infrastructure aimed at addressing sewage management and restoring the lake.
The Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) has issued notices to residential buildings, including independent houses and apartment complexes, in the Mahakalipadpu area of Mangaluru in recent weeks after untreated sewage was found entering Moilykere lake, prompting the civic body to initiate enforcement action and consider legal proceedings under municipal law. Advertisement
The action follows concerns raised in the state legislature regarding pollution in the historic water body, also known as Shettibettu Kere, which was originally developed by the Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and later handed over to the MCC for maintenance. During a subsequent inspection by the state's urban development department, it was observed that sewage inflow from surrounding residential areas continued to contaminate the lake.
Officials indicated that the absence of an underground drainage (UGD) network in the locality has led households to rely on leach pits, while certain properties have reportedly been discharging sewage directly into stormwater drains connected to the lake. Notices were served in phases over the past weeks, warning of legal action under Sections 225 and 263(5) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act in cases of non-compliance.
The civic body's intervention comes amid sustained demands from residents and local representatives for a permanent sewage management solution. Approximately 400 households across Mahakalipadpu, Adarsh Nagar, Shettibettu, and Jeppupatna currently lack access to UGD connectivity, with residents having raised the issue with elected representatives and municipal authorities over several years.
Authorities have acknowledged that the lack of drainage infrastructure remains the principal factor behind continued pollution in the lake. As an interim step towards addressing the issue, the MCC has begun the process of identifying suitable land for the construction of a wet well, a critical component required to establish a functional underground drainage system in the area.
However, officials have indicated that the implementation of a UGD network has been delayed due to site constraints and challenges in securing land, particularly in identifying a low-lying location necessary for the system to function effectively. Local resistance linked to concerns over odour from such facilities has also been cited as a contributing factor in earlier delays.
Moilykere lake has remained vulnerable to contamination despite prior development efforts, with sewage inflow repeatedly cited as the primary cause of deterioration in water quality. Residents and environmental groups have maintained that establishing UGD connectivity is essential for preventing further degradation and ensuring long-term restoration of the water body.
The MCC's recent enforcement action, coupled with plans to advance drainage infrastructure, forms part of ongoing efforts to address urban wastewater management gaps affecting water bodies in Mangaluru.
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