Dear All,
The problem of Baitarani is a shade worse than Mahanadi. There are three 'Iron ore Slurry Transportation' industries, all taking water from upper baitarani basin. Another few are in the offing.
75% of slurry is water by weight. All that water will simply turn up at the destination at Paradip (Essar),or Kalinga Nagar (BRPL), or at Angul (Jindal). Additional water is also drawn for beneficiation (mainly washing), whose slime is planned for release to the river bed, aggravating the silting problem of Kanupur Irrigation Project,
Our repeated request to WR deptt to take us to confidence and explain the logic and arithmatics of allocation of water to all users including Industry. Anandpur barrage is planned to irrigate 53800 Ha of land in Bhadrak and balasore district, right up to Budhabalang basin. Kanupur is designed to give 48000 Ha of irrigation in Upper Baitarani basin.
The silence of the WR is ominous because either they just donot know or, have surrendered to pressure from higher ups. The Citizens fear of a desert land in Kendujhar is simply being acceleraed.
On Mahanadi, our view is, if 70% waer is surplus flowing into the sea, why are,nt they take it just before the flow in to the sea. Why take it from Zobra, and not from the mouth of the river.
Kiran Sankar Sahu
President, Kendujhar Citizens' Forum
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Pressure mounts on Naveen to stop water supply to industries from Mahanadi
Pressure mounts on Naveen to stop water supply to industries from Mahanadi
18 Jul 2010, 2318 hrs IST,Nageshwar Patnaik,ET Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: The Naveen Patnaik government has come under pressure to discontinue water supply to industries from Mahanadi River and form Water Commission to study water availability in the state's largest river.
Mahanadi Banchao Andolan, a newly formed forum comprising leaders of various political parties and social activists, on Sunday called upon the state government to discontinue water supply from Mahanadi to industrial houses failing which it would launch a vigorous protest campaign across the state.
"Mahanadi River is the lifeline of Orissa. The Hirakud dam, Naraj and Jobra barrages were constructed over it basically to cater to the irrigation and drinking water requirements. However, the present government is deliberately allowing the industrial houses from to draw water from these places at the cost of the farmers," said senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra.
Stating that water from Jobra barrage could not be supplied to farmers during the kharif season last year because of inadequate availability of the resource, Mr Mohapatra said the situation in coastal Orissa could somehow be saved after 3000 cusecs of water was released from Hirakud dam between September 30 and October 30.
Hirakud dam, which was constructed half a century ago, has lost its live storage capacity due to siltation and construction of nearly 30 dams and barrages in Chhattishgarh. Hydro-power generated from the dam has also come down from 240 mw to 90 mw due to inadequate water availability.
"When the water flow has gone down drastically to the dam, the government is committing water from it to heavy power and metal industries. Farmers are committing suicide due to lack of water. No sane and civilised government can act like this," Mr Mohapatra said.
The BJP leader called upon the state government to constitute a water commission on the lines of other state governments to study the water availability in the Mahanadi system. "Let the state government constitute a water commission. Until then water supply to all industries should be stopped forthwith," Mr Mohapatra said.
Congress leader Umesh Swain, who is also an active member of the forum, said a sitting high court justice should head the commission.
Samrudha Odisha leader Panchanan Kanungo, social workers Prabhat Mishra and Mahanadi Banchao Andolan convenor Hota, who were present in the press meet, said the forum would intensify its agitation against the state government if the later did not scrap all its water supply commitments to industrial houses.
The forum would meet on Thursday to decide its next course of action, convenor Mr Rout informed.
18 Jul 2010, 2318 hrs IST,Nageshwar Patnaik,ET Bureau
BHUBANESWAR: The Naveen Patnaik government has come under pressure to discontinue water supply to industries from Mahanadi River and form Water Commission to study water availability in the state's largest river.
Mahanadi Banchao Andolan, a newly formed forum comprising leaders of various political parties and social activists, on Sunday called upon the state government to discontinue water supply from Mahanadi to industrial houses failing which it would launch a vigorous protest campaign across the state.
"Mahanadi River is the lifeline of Orissa. The Hirakud dam, Naraj and Jobra barrages were constructed over it basically to cater to the irrigation and drinking water requirements. However, the present government is deliberately allowing the industrial houses from to draw water from these places at the cost of the farmers," said senior BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra.
Stating that water from Jobra barrage could not be supplied to farmers during the kharif season last year because of inadequate availability of the resource, Mr Mohapatra said the situation in coastal Orissa could somehow be saved after 3000 cusecs of water was released from Hirakud dam between September 30 and October 30.
Hirakud dam, which was constructed half a century ago, has lost its live storage capacity due to siltation and construction of nearly 30 dams and barrages in Chhattishgarh. Hydro-power generated from the dam has also come down from 240 mw to 90 mw due to inadequate water availability.
"When the water flow has gone down drastically to the dam, the government is committing water from it to heavy power and metal industries. Farmers are committing suicide due to lack of water. No sane and civilised government can act like this," Mr Mohapatra said.
The BJP leader called upon the state government to constitute a water commission on the lines of other state governments to study the water availability in the Mahanadi system. "Let the state government constitute a water commission. Until then water supply to all industries should be stopped forthwith," Mr Mohapatra said.
Congress leader Umesh Swain, who is also an active member of the forum, said a sitting high court justice should head the commission.
Samrudha Odisha leader Panchanan Kanungo, social workers Prabhat Mishra and Mahanadi Banchao Andolan convenor Hota, who were present in the press meet, said the forum would intensify its agitation against the state government if the later did not scrap all its water supply commitments to industrial houses.
The forum would meet on Thursday to decide its next course of action, convenor Mr Rout informed.
Halt diversion of Mahanadi water to industries: MBA to Orissa
Halt diversion of Mahanadi water to industries: MBA to Orissa
Sun, Jul 18 06:13 PM
Bhubaneswar, July 18 (PTI) Mahanadi Banchao Andolan (MBA) today appealed to the Orissa government to immediately halt diversion of the river water to industries and demanded setting up a committee to analyse water availability in the Mahanadi. The situation warrants constitution of Mahanadi Commission to technically analyse availability of water for irrigation and other purposes.
Till then, supply of its water to industries must be stopped, senior leaders and functionaries of the MBA told reporters here. Describing as "foolish" the BJD government''s claim that agriculture will not be affected due to industrial use of river water, BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra, who is associated with the MBA, said the decision to divert water to industries must be reconsidered.
He said similar commissions have been constituted in some other states like Karnataka for proper and judicious use of river water. Hitting out at the government for not having any water conservation policy or programme, he alleged no step had been taken for storage of water either upstream of Hirakud dam or downstream of Mahanadi river.
Supply of water to four industries already drawing from the Mahanadi has been considerably reduced but the government wants to provide water to more units claiming that there is plenty of water for both agriculture and industrial use, Mohapatra said. Convener of Mahanadi Banchao Andolan Gouranga Charan Hota said the agitation against supply of river water to industries would be intensified across the state.
MBA leaders also alleged that the Orissa government''s decision to divert water at the cost of irrigation was "irrational, anti-farmer and anti-poor." PTI SKN PR.
Sun, Jul 18 06:13 PM
Bhubaneswar, July 18 (PTI) Mahanadi Banchao Andolan (MBA) today appealed to the Orissa government to immediately halt diversion of the river water to industries and demanded setting up a committee to analyse water availability in the Mahanadi. The situation warrants constitution of Mahanadi Commission to technically analyse availability of water for irrigation and other purposes.
Till then, supply of its water to industries must be stopped, senior leaders and functionaries of the MBA told reporters here. Describing as "foolish" the BJD government''s claim that agriculture will not be affected due to industrial use of river water, BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra, who is associated with the MBA, said the decision to divert water to industries must be reconsidered.
He said similar commissions have been constituted in some other states like Karnataka for proper and judicious use of river water. Hitting out at the government for not having any water conservation policy or programme, he alleged no step had been taken for storage of water either upstream of Hirakud dam or downstream of Mahanadi river.
Supply of water to four industries already drawing from the Mahanadi has been considerably reduced but the government wants to provide water to more units claiming that there is plenty of water for both agriculture and industrial use, Mohapatra said. Convener of Mahanadi Banchao Andolan Gouranga Charan Hota said the agitation against supply of river water to industries would be intensified across the state.
MBA leaders also alleged that the Orissa government''s decision to divert water at the cost of irrigation was "irrational, anti-farmer and anti-poor." PTI SKN PR.
Halt diversion of Mahanadi water to industries: MBA to Orissa
Halt diversion of Mahanadi water to industries: MBA to Orissa
Sun, Jul 18 06:13 PM
Bhubaneswar, July 18 (PTI) Mahanadi Banchao Andolan (MBA) today appealed to the Orissa government to immediately halt diversion of the river water to industries and demanded setting up a committee to analyse water availability in the Mahanadi. The situation warrants constitution of Mahanadi Commission to technically analyse availability of water for irrigation and other purposes.
Till then, supply of its water to industries must be stopped, senior leaders and functionaries of the MBA told reporters here. Describing as "foolish" the BJD government''s claim that agriculture will not be affected due to industrial use of river water, BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra, who is associated with the MBA, said the decision to divert water to industries must be reconsidered.
He said similar commissions have been constituted in some other states like Karnataka for proper and judicious use of river water. Hitting out at the government for not having any water conservation policy or programme, he alleged no step had been taken for storage of water either upstream of Hirakud dam or downstream of Mahanadi river.
Supply of water to four industries already drawing from the Mahanadi has been considerably reduced but the government wants to provide water to more units claiming that there is plenty of water for both agriculture and industrial use, Mohapatra said. Convener of Mahanadi Banchao Andolan Gouranga Charan Hota said the agitation against supply of river water to industries would be intensified across the state.
MBA leaders also alleged that the Orissa government''s decision to divert water at the cost of irrigation was "irrational, anti-farmer and anti-poor." PTI SKN PR.
Sun, Jul 18 06:13 PM
Bhubaneswar, July 18 (PTI) Mahanadi Banchao Andolan (MBA) today appealed to the Orissa government to immediately halt diversion of the river water to industries and demanded setting up a committee to analyse water availability in the Mahanadi. The situation warrants constitution of Mahanadi Commission to technically analyse availability of water for irrigation and other purposes.
Till then, supply of its water to industries must be stopped, senior leaders and functionaries of the MBA told reporters here. Describing as "foolish" the BJD government''s claim that agriculture will not be affected due to industrial use of river water, BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra, who is associated with the MBA, said the decision to divert water to industries must be reconsidered.
He said similar commissions have been constituted in some other states like Karnataka for proper and judicious use of river water. Hitting out at the government for not having any water conservation policy or programme, he alleged no step had been taken for storage of water either upstream of Hirakud dam or downstream of Mahanadi river.
Supply of water to four industries already drawing from the Mahanadi has been considerably reduced but the government wants to provide water to more units claiming that there is plenty of water for both agriculture and industrial use, Mohapatra said. Convener of Mahanadi Banchao Andolan Gouranga Charan Hota said the agitation against supply of river water to industries would be intensified across the state.
MBA leaders also alleged that the Orissa government''s decision to divert water at the cost of irrigation was "irrational, anti-farmer and anti-poor." PTI SKN PR.
MBA demands separate commission on Mahandi river
MBA demands separate commission on Mahandi river
Bhubaneswar, Jul 18 : The Mahanadi Bachao Andolon (MBA) today demanded a separate commission be constituted on the pattern of Kaveri Commission in Tamilnadu to study the Mahanadi river system and decide the availability of water for irrigation and industrial houses.
MBA is a new outfit agitating against the industrial houses drawing water from Mahanadi river.
Until the Commission was constituted, no water should be allotted to the industrial units across the state from Mahanadi river, Hirakud reservoir and canal system, MBA Convenor G C Hota and and former Minister Bijaya Mohapatra said.
Addressing newspersons here, Mr Mohapatra criticised the Naveen Patnaik government for allowing several industrial houses to draw the water from Mahanadi completely ignoring the adverse impact it would have on the farmers community largely depended upon the river for agriculture.
He said the Mahanadi river is drying up and the water level at various points has decreased alarmingly as the 23,000 kms catchments areas of Hirakud reservoir has been intercepted by the Chhatisgarh governemnt which has by now already constructed nearly 30 check dams both minor and major to draw water.
The water capacity of the reservoir over the years had also decreased due to heavy siltation, Mr Mohapatra said, adding that over drawing of water by the industrial houses would further complicate the situation affecting the livelihood of lakhs of farmers.
Mr Mohapatra said the state government should find out alternative source of water while signing MoU with the industrial houses instead of allowing the companies to draw water from Mahanadi river.
He said as many as half of the districts in Orissa covered by the Mahanadi basin had already been affected due to shrinkage of water level of the river at various points.
The MBA leader said they would oppose the state government's move to provide water from Jobra barrage to POSCO, Indian Oil Company and SR Steels on the ground that it would have serious impact on the agriculture in Coastal Orissa.
He said the MBA has organised a massive rally at Jobra on Friday last to lodge its strong protest against the decision of the state government to provide water from the Jobra barrage to POSCO, Indian Oil Company and SR Steels and from Naraj barage to Tata Steel without any study on the availability of water from these two barrage of the Mahanadi river system.
Bhubaneswar, Jul 18 : The Mahanadi Bachao Andolon (MBA) today demanded a separate commission be constituted on the pattern of Kaveri Commission in Tamilnadu to study the Mahanadi river system and decide the availability of water for irrigation and industrial houses.
MBA is a new outfit agitating against the industrial houses drawing water from Mahanadi river.
Until the Commission was constituted, no water should be allotted to the industrial units across the state from Mahanadi river, Hirakud reservoir and canal system, MBA Convenor G C Hota and and former Minister Bijaya Mohapatra said.
Addressing newspersons here, Mr Mohapatra criticised the Naveen Patnaik government for allowing several industrial houses to draw the water from Mahanadi completely ignoring the adverse impact it would have on the farmers community largely depended upon the river for agriculture.
He said the Mahanadi river is drying up and the water level at various points has decreased alarmingly as the 23,000 kms catchments areas of Hirakud reservoir has been intercepted by the Chhatisgarh governemnt which has by now already constructed nearly 30 check dams both minor and major to draw water.
The water capacity of the reservoir over the years had also decreased due to heavy siltation, Mr Mohapatra said, adding that over drawing of water by the industrial houses would further complicate the situation affecting the livelihood of lakhs of farmers.
Mr Mohapatra said the state government should find out alternative source of water while signing MoU with the industrial houses instead of allowing the companies to draw water from Mahanadi river.
He said as many as half of the districts in Orissa covered by the Mahanadi basin had already been affected due to shrinkage of water level of the river at various points.
The MBA leader said they would oppose the state government's move to provide water from Jobra barrage to POSCO, Indian Oil Company and SR Steels on the ground that it would have serious impact on the agriculture in Coastal Orissa.
He said the MBA has organised a massive rally at Jobra on Friday last to lodge its strong protest against the decision of the state government to provide water from the Jobra barrage to POSCO, Indian Oil Company and SR Steels and from Naraj barage to Tata Steel without any study on the availability of water from these two barrage of the Mahanadi river system.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
People protest industries being given Mahanadi's water
People protest industries being given Mahanadi's water
2010-07-16 19:50:00
More then two thousands residents, and social and political activists Friday staged a protest in Orissa's Cuttack city against the use of water from Mahanadi river by industries.
Accusing the state government of providing water meant for drinking and irrigation to various industries, the demonstrators also threatened to launch a massive agitation if the government does not cancel its plan.
'The government cannot give water to industries when there is already a scarcity,' Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, who was among the protesters, told IANS.
'Adequate water is not available for drinking and irrigation purpose. Residents of Cuttack city depend on Mahanadi river water and they are already facing water problems. The government has not made any capacity enhancement of the river water resources,' he said.
More then 400 activists also carried out a motorcycle rally in the city, 26 km from Bhubaneswar, before gathering at city's Jobra area near the Mahanadi river bank where a protest meeting was held under the banner of 'Mahanadi Bancho Committee'.
Leaders of several other political parties, eminent citizens, women leaders and social activists also participated in the demonstration, Pradhan said.
The Mahanadi river flows through Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand.
2010-07-16 19:50:00
More then two thousands residents, and social and political activists Friday staged a protest in Orissa's Cuttack city against the use of water from Mahanadi river by industries.
Accusing the state government of providing water meant for drinking and irrigation to various industries, the demonstrators also threatened to launch a massive agitation if the government does not cancel its plan.
'The government cannot give water to industries when there is already a scarcity,' Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Dharmendra Pradhan, who was among the protesters, told IANS.
'Adequate water is not available for drinking and irrigation purpose. Residents of Cuttack city depend on Mahanadi river water and they are already facing water problems. The government has not made any capacity enhancement of the river water resources,' he said.
More then 400 activists also carried out a motorcycle rally in the city, 26 km from Bhubaneswar, before gathering at city's Jobra area near the Mahanadi river bank where a protest meeting was held under the banner of 'Mahanadi Bancho Committee'.
Leaders of several other political parties, eminent citizens, women leaders and social activists also participated in the demonstration, Pradhan said.
The Mahanadi river flows through Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand.
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