<p>The residents took out a procession from Kalmadi Marigudi to DC’s office. The protestors said “Kalmadi hole was the source of livelihood for several families in the region. However, owing to the discharge of sewage water, the water body has been polluted. There is a possibility of spreading of contagious diseases in the region. It has made our life a living hell.”<br /><br />The rivulet, which flows from Kalsanka upstream, winds down through areas such as Bannanje, Nittur, Kodavoor, Kalmady and finally joins the sea. <br /><br />A salt water vented dam was built near the Bhagawati Marikamba Temple at Kalmady in 1999. “The stench in the area is unbearable. About few years ago, people used to cultivate three crops here. They used to bathe in this rivulet. But everything has changed in the last few years,” they said. Because of the smell, people had to keep their windows and doors shut all the time. All the wells in the area got contaminated, they alleged.<br /><br />The Kalmadi hole was irrigating the fields in Kodavoor, Kalmadi, Nittur, Kondakoor, Chennangadi, Moodabetty, Bottala, Pandubettu and surrounding areas. <br /><br />“The discharge of sewage was the only cause of pollution of the rivulet. The wet well and sewage water treatment plant of Udupi City Municipal Council were not functioning properly. The problem arose after the construction of Sewage water treatment plant at Nittur. The waste water from hotels, residential complexes, hospitals are not reaching Nittur, instead are reaching Kalmadi hole,” they alleged. <br /><br />Owing to the polluted water, the devotees who visit Marigudi, Bhagavathi Kshethra, Shirdi Sai Baba, Daivagala Kambala are not able to take bath in the rivulet. The protestors urged the Deputy Commissioner to inspect the spot at the earliest. <br /></p>
<p>The residents took out a procession from Kalmadi Marigudi to DC’s office. The protestors said “Kalmadi hole was the source of livelihood for several families in the region. However, owing to the discharge of sewage water, the water body has been polluted. There is a possibility of spreading of contagious diseases in the region. It has made our life a living hell.”<br /><br />The rivulet, which flows from Kalsanka upstream, winds down through areas such as Bannanje, Nittur, Kodavoor, Kalmady and finally joins the sea. <br /><br />A salt water vented dam was built near the Bhagawati Marikamba Temple at Kalmady in 1999. “The stench in the area is unbearable. About few years ago, people used to cultivate three crops here. They used to bathe in this rivulet. But everything has changed in the last few years,” they said. Because of the smell, people had to keep their windows and doors shut all the time. All the wells in the area got contaminated, they alleged.<br /><br />The Kalmadi hole was irrigating the fields in Kodavoor, Kalmadi, Nittur, Kondakoor, Chennangadi, Moodabetty, Bottala, Pandubettu and surrounding areas. <br /><br />“The discharge of sewage was the only cause of pollution of the rivulet. The wet well and sewage water treatment plant of Udupi City Municipal Council were not functioning properly. The problem arose after the construction of Sewage water treatment plant at Nittur. The waste water from hotels, residential complexes, hospitals are not reaching Nittur, instead are reaching Kalmadi hole,” they alleged. <br /><br />Owing to the polluted water, the devotees who visit Marigudi, Bhagavathi Kshethra, Shirdi Sai Baba, Daivagala Kambala are not able to take bath in the rivulet. The protestors urged the Deputy Commissioner to inspect the spot at the earliest. <br /></p>