HASSAN: Work on the sewage treatment plant (STP) at Bittagodanahalli on the outskirts of Hassan has been stalled again because of protests by villagers, led by Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS). The Hassan City Municipal Council (CMC), which stopped the work because of the protests in September 2004, tried to convince the protesters that the plant would not pose health hazard to the residents. The CMC had arranged visits to STPs in the neighbouring districts where plants had been built close to residential areas. But the villagers stuck to their stand.

Procession taken out

The CMC, which resumed work on the plant after 18 months, was forced to stop it as the villagers again started protesting. Residents of Hemavathinagar, Vidyanagar, Viveknagar, Jayanagar, Vidyuthnagar, Shanthinagar, Sangameshwara, Udayagiri, and Gowrikopplu extensions, who were facing problems, took out a procession on Monday, led by councillor Jayaram, from the Hemavathy statue to the office of the Deputy Commissioner to urge the district administration to intervene and solve their problems.

According to Mr. Jayaram, work on the plant, which began eight years ago, could not be completed because of the protest by some vested interests. With the monsoon approaching fast, there was a possibility of sewage getting mixed with drinking water. He cautioned that the residents would intensify their agitation in case the plant was not completed at the earliest.

Meeting held

CMC president G.T. Kumar convened a meeting of residents and the villagers on Monday. But the meeting failed to arrive at a consensus. Hassan MLC S.M. Anand took exception to the use of police force on the protesters. It has been decided to convene another meeting in the presence of the elected representatives on April 15.

Meanwhile, the villagers of Bittagodanahalli, Tattekere, Narihallakopplu and Marigudikopplu are staging a dharna near the plant, urging the authorities to shift the plant.

Wastewater problem

Mr. Kumar told The Hindu that the city is facing the problem of sewage treatment as the existing treatment plant was conceived to cater to the needs of only 40,000 people.

With the population rising to 1.50 lakh, the city needed a treatment plant with a bigger capacity.

The new plant was planned on 18 acres of land in 1997, when H.D. Deve Gowda was the Prime Minister.

The site was originally allocated for wastewater disposal in 1960

The plant was designed to meet the needs of five lakh people and the need to upgrade the present sewage treatment plant would not arise till 2040, sources said.

While the elected representatives of the Janata Dal (Secular) are dubbing the protest as politically motivated, the Congress leaders, especially Mr. Anand, support the argument of villagers.

Defending the implementation of the project, a Janata Dal (S) leader said that a modern treatment plant would be installed for recycling water and the plant would be ready soon. Every precaution had been taken against the environment pollution, and the plant would not affect the villagers in any way.

KRRS president Kodihalli Chandrashekar, who is leading the agitation, said the villagers would face problem if the treatment plant came near the village.

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