Mysuru: Notwithstanding the crackdown initiated by the urban local bodies and officials of the pollution control board against cloth dyeing units in cities such as Mysuru and Bengaluru over the past few months, these plants continue to flout norms pertaining to treatment of effluents , and the release of these pollutants has resulted in contamination levels at waterbodies reaching unsafe levels.One such waterbody that has suffered owing to the callous attitude of the dyeing units is the Periyapatna Lake . Fearing penalties, and the cost overheads that installation of treatment plants in urban areas entail, the owners of these units are conveniently moving to rural pockets where the monitoring agencies are not as vigilant. As a result, dyeing units operating in Periyapatna taluk have been flouting pollution control norms with sheer impunity, and releasing untreated effluents into the lake, which is spread across 45 acres. In fact, the brazen defiance of pollution norms by these plants has had a “visible” impact on the lake – the surface of the waterbody has turned a distressing shade of green, much to the alarm of the residents in the areas on its periphery. Thankfully, taluk panchayat officials, along with authorities of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Wednesday visited one dyeing unit, which was shut for violation of norms, and an FIR registered against its owner.Perturbed on seeing the water turn green after heavy rain lashed Periyapatna on Monday evening, residents immediately alerted the town municipal council. “it was on Tuesday that we saw that the lake’s surface had turned green in colour,” said a resident.The locals rued their failure to notice the release of effluents into the lake earlier. They said that the unit had been operating near the lake for the past few weeks, and was situated on land that belonged to a Periyapatna resident.Waterbody revived at cost of Rs 3 crore two years agoPeriyapatna residents believe that the lake has a history dating back many centuries. Ramanna Kori, a resident, pointed out that the waterbody had been revived at a cost of Rs 3 crore two years ago.Environmental engineer of the Periyapatna Town Municipal Council AT Prasanna told TOI, “The owner approached us seeking permission to start the unit. We had instructed him to get approval from the KSPCB, before applying for a licence. But the owner did not approach us after that.”Prasanna added that the effluent treatment plant used by the unit did not adhere to the norms prescribed by the pollution board.

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