Dying Rivers

Farmers, fishermen lose livelihood

Amarnath Parida
First Published : 27 Aug 2010 08:41:14 AM IST
Last Updated :

PARADIP: Many rivers, considered the lifeline of Jagatsinghpur, have either dried up or are polluted with industrial waste and sewerage.

The Alaka river that was flowing through Biridi, Jagatsinghpur, Balikuda, Raghunathpur and Nuagaon blocks has completely dried up. The rivers like Chhatagunthi, Gaichara at Biridi, Kathjodi, Sukapaika, Asurkhajoer in Raghunathpur, Balia, Saharapentha, Machiyadiha in Kujang, Magura Mohan in Balikuda and Galani in Nuagaon have met with similar fate. These rivers provided irrigation water to around 776 hectares besides giving fishermen their livelihood.

A vegetable farmer Brundaban Sahoo of Biridi, who owns six acres of land on the banks of the Alaka, used to harvest 300 quintals of paddy and vegetables from his fields 15 years back. But after the river dried up, he has not been able to grow anything in his field. Similar is the fate of fishermen. It is the same story in all the villages that depend on these rivers.

While some rivers have completely dried up, some have narrowed down due to siltation and encroachment.

Recently, the Fishery Department conducted a micro-level survey and estimated Rs 1,139 crore towards renovation, de-weeding, construction of sluice gates on the rivers.

District Fishery Officer Pabitra Behera said the Department had decided to undertake the project to procure 15,000 MT fish by 2015 while last year’s production was 5,226 MT.

Besides, two primary fishermen cooperative societies and four SHGs have taken fiveyear lease to renovate the polluted and dried up rivers at a cost of Rs 2.50 lakh.