Mangaluru’s development model came under renewed environmental scrutiny at an event marking writer Kota Shivaram Karanth’s 123rd birth anniversary, where speakers warned that unchecked industrialisation and pollution could damage the city’s future and public health.
Writer Vaidehi, who received the Karanth Award at the programme organised by the Kalkur Pratishtana, recalled Karanth’s environmental concerns and urged policymakers to prevent destruction even when development projects were not being pursued. She said strict laws and firm implementation were necessary to protect the environment for future generations.
Remembering Karanth’s commitment to environmental protection, retired vice-chancellor B.A. Vivek Rai said green cover was being destroyed in the name of development while air and water pollution were increasing. He said Karanth’s lifelong environmental advocacy remained relevant as communities faced growing concerns about health and ecological damage.
Rai also referred to the establishment of the Kaiga nuclear power plant and other development activity, arguing that environmental pollution had continued in the name of progress. He questioned the direction of development when the region was seeking new investment even as hospitals were witnessing new illnesses and residents were facing repeated health-related concerns.
The remarks placed Mangaluru’s industrial and urban expansion within a wider question about how coastal cities balance economic activity with environmental safeguards. The speakers also raised concerns about the possible long-term consequences for the region, including warnings that Mangaluru could face serious water-related risks in the future. The report did not provide a specific scientific assessment, timeline or agency response supporting that warning.
Mangaluru University Vice-Chancellor P.L. Dharma said industrial growth had turned the city into an industrial hub while hospitals were witnessing new diseases. He warned that continued environmental destruction could threaten future generations. His remarks reinforced the event’s focus on the health and ecological costs that speakers associated with the city’s development path.
The programme was organised by the Kalkur Pratishtana in Mangaluru. Dharma presented the Karanth Award to Vaidehi. Legislative Council member Ivan D’Souza, Beary Sahitya Parishat president Umar U.H., trustee Harikrishna Punururu and other literary and institutional representatives attended the event. The speakers’ comments now add to the public conversation around pollution control, industrial planning and environmental protection in coastal Karnataka.
