Villagers near Maniknagar in Humnabad taluk of Bidar district, Karnataka, have decided to hold a demonstration on August 11 against the release of industrial waste into the Guruganga-Viraja rivulet and ongoing contamination of local water supplies. The plan emerged from a gathering at Maniknagar on August 9 attended by Humnabad MLA Siddu Patil and MLC Chandrashekar Patil. Basvantrao Vibhuti, head of the Veerabhadreshwara temple committee, called on district officials to locate the pollution source, halt untreated discharges, test the rivulet and groundwater scientifically, evaluate health effects on residents, and create a lasting system to curb industrial pollution. Local resident Nisar Ahmed, who has cancer, described how the tainted water has harmed his health and warned of risks to future generations, including pregnant women, urging a formal health study. Farmers’ representative Siddanna Bhushetty along with Premila Tiwari and Manik Nimmane from Maniknagar claimed the effluents have made the Guruganga-Viraja dark, smelly and oily while polluting groundwater in Maniknagar, Gadwanti, Molkera, Dhummansur, Hudgi and nearby areas. Anandraj Manik Prabhu, president of Shri Manik Prabhu Samsthan, stressed that the campaign remains non-political and aims solely at protecting the river, which holds ecological, religious and cultural value. He said the effort will persist until pollution ends and appealed to RDPR Minister Eshwar Khandre to intervene directly, identify violators, conduct tests and enforce rules before Independence Day. Organizers warned that the August 11 protest could lead to wider action if no firm solution is provided.
