Karnataka’s rivers in peril: an urgent call for statewide action

 The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has recently sounded a grave warning that water in 12 major rivers across the state is no longer fit for human consumption. This revelation strikes at the heart of public health and ecological sustainability in a state that relies heavily on these rivers for drinking water, agriculture, and industry.

According to the KSPCB’s annual water quality report, the contaminated rivers include the Cauvery, Krishna, Netravathi, Tungabhadra, Kali, Bhima, Shimsha, Kabini, Malaprabha, Ghataprabha, Hemavathi, and Sharavathi. These rivers collectively sustain over 7 crore people in Karnataka, flowing through regions that range from the fertile Cauvery basin to the densely populated coastal belt of Dakshina Kannada.

The Alarming Findings

The Board’s water testing revealed that several stretches of these rivers contained dangerously high levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), coliform bacteria, ammonia, and industrial effluents. These pollutants stem from untreated sewage, agricultural runoff, chemical discharges, and unregulated urban waste. The water in many stretches of the Netravathi, Tungabhadra, and Bhima rivers has been classified under Class D and E, meaning it is suitable neither for drinking nor for supporting aquatic life without significant treatment.

Health and Ecological Impact

The consequences of consuming or even using water from these rivers can be severe. High coliform levels indicate fecal contamination, which can cause diseases such as typhoid, cholera, dysentery, and hepatitis A and E. Long-term exposure to heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium from industrial waste can damage the nervous system, kidneys, and liver.

Beyond human health, the ecological damage is equally disturbing. Polluted rivers disrupt aquatic biodiversity, killing fish and microorganisms that sustain the natural balance. The eutrophication of river stretches, caused by excessive nutrient discharge, leads to oxygen depletion and fish mortality — a major concern for inland fisheries and river-based livelihoods.

Netravathi: The Lifeline at Risk

The Netravathi River, which provides drinking water to the entire Dakshina Kannada district — home to nearly 30 lakh people — is among the most severely affected. The KSPCB’s sampling from Bantwal and Ullal regions has shown alarming levels of contamination from untreated domestic sewage, poultry waste, and effluents from small-scale industries. Environmentalists have repeatedly warned that urbanization in Mangaluru and haphazard sand mining have further aggravated the problem by altering the river’s natural flow and reducing its self-purifying capacity.

Government and Board Response

In response to these findings, the KSPCB has directed local bodies and industries to immediately upgrade sewage treatment plants (STPs), enforce zero liquid discharge norms, and strengthen effluent monitoring mechanisms. However, compliance remains weak, especially in smaller towns where sewage is directly let into the rivers without treatment.

The state government has acknowledged the crisis and announced plans to improve waste management under the Amrit Jalabhivrudhi Yojane, with assistance from the National Mission for Clean Ganga and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It is also considering stricter penalties for local bodies that fail to establish functional treatment systems. Yet, experts note that enforcement remains slow and fragmented.

The Way Forward

Addressing Karnataka’s river pollution requires a coordinated and sustained approach. This includes:

  • Upgrading all sewage and effluent treatment infrastructure across urban and semi-urban areas.
  • Regular water quality monitoring and public disclosure of contamination data.
  • Community awareness drives to curb domestic waste dumping.
  • Restoration of riparian vegetation to enhance natural filtration.
  • Strict industrial regulation, including real-time online monitoring of effluent discharge.

The KSPCB’s warning should serve as a wake-up call for the state. Rivers are not mere water channels — they are the arteries of Karnataka’s ecological and economic life. Protecting them is not just a scientific or administrative task but a moral imperative. If urgent steps are not taken now, the state risks turning its lifelines into liquid liabilities.

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