Traces of bacteria found in renovated Gujjarakere pond

Mangaluru: The water from Gujjarakere pond has been deemed as unsafe for direct consumption after test results confirmed traces of bacteria in the pond water.

The pond, which is 1,800-years-old and has a religious background was rejuvenated recently and the silt that had been accumulated in the pond was removed through dredging. The local administration had also taken steps to ensure that sewage from nearby areas does not seep into the water.

However, despite all these efforts, water samples taken from the pond that were sent for testing to Fisheries college by Gujjarakere Thirtha Samrakshana Vedike revealed bacterial traces in the water.

This isn’t the first time the pond water had traces of bacteria. The cause of concern here is that the bacteria has survived even after the dredging operation.

Before sending the samples for testing, Gujjarakere Thirtha Samrakshana Vedike had sought a clarification from the City Corporation under the Right to Information Act (RTI), if the drainage water is getting leaked into the pond. The City corporation replied that undeground drainage work had been conducted in Gujjarakere and that there was no drainage content in the pond water. Following the reply, sample was sent for testing.

The general secretary of Gujjarakere Thirtha Samrakshana Vedike, Nemu Kottary said that they had expected the pond water to be clean after the dredging operation. He expressed his concern about the presence of dangerous bacteria and insisted that water must be made drinkable like the holy water by the upcoming holy bath of Godess Mangaladevi temple.