Industry cloud on river water

Industry cloud on river water


Bhubaneswar, July 14: The debate over industries polluting water bodies notwithstanding, yet another integrated steel plant (ISP) has been proposed in the over-polluted Jharsuguda-Sambalpur belt. The latest project is likely to take further toll on Mahanadi and its tributaries.

The mini ISP of Raipur Iron and Steel Company Private Limited at Kirarama in Lakhanpur block of Jharsuguda district would draw 4,500 cubic metres of water daily from Ib, a major tributary of Mahanadi, for the production of sponge iron, MS billets and TMT bars. The unit would also generate 33MW of power besides having a coal washery. With at least seven major industries, including two integrated steel plants and coal mines located within a 10km radius of the project site, civil society members apprehend not only a threat to the flow of rivers like Ib, Bheden and Mahanadi catering to the drinking water and irrigation needs of around five lakh people but also a significant rise in the pollution levels.

“The Sambalpur-Jharsuguda belt is already overloaded with industries with even the Central Pollution Control Board advising against the setting up of new units in the area without a proper carrying capacity study. One wonders as to why the government is in such a hurry to set up new industries in this region where pollution keeps growing and all rivers are under tremendous pressure,” said Ranjan Panda, the convener of Water Initiatives Orissa, a non-profit.

Pointing out that around 70 small and big industries operate in the area, Panda said the impact of rampant industrialisation has been felt by almost all the rivers, including Mahanadi, Ib and Beheden, with their flow drastically reduced. “The drop in their flow has been around 30 per cent which is quite significant considering they cater to the needs of a large population,” added the expert.

He said barring monsoon, the rivers were not even able to maintain their minimum ecological flow, having a bad impact on agriculture. Quite a few of these industries have also been tapping water from the riverbeds on the sly. While unauthorised drawl of water is a fact admitted even by officials, in the absence of a water audit, authentic data in this regard is hard to acquire.

Lashing out at the government for allowing more and more industries to come up in the area, convener of Paschim Orissa Krushak Sangathan Samanvaya Samiti Lingraj said a crisis seems approaching for the local fishing community.

“Lakhanpur block, where the new unit is coming up, has a sizeable fishing population that would face a threat with heavy drawal of water from Ib. Growing pressure on Hirakud reservoir has made things difficult for the community in its periphery areas. The government must review its industrial policy immediately in the larger interest of the people,” added Lingraj.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100715/jsp/orissa/story_12683942.jsp