IWRM Road Map, Orissa :Water Pricing

Orissa becoming a dry State?
Siba Mohanty First Published : 25 Oct 2010 07:39:41 AM ISTLast Updated : 25 Oct 2010 12:03:40 PM IST
BHUBANESWAR: In the midst of a raging controversy over water diversion for industry, Orissa’s woes are going to worsen. Its rivers will provide for less as the water stress grows in future. If that is not all, the rising pollution will add to its misery, the latest report on water management by Department of Water Resources and Asian Development Bank (ADB) says.
At least three rivers would experience water stress by 2050 even as the per capita availability is going to dwindle.
Calculating the water availability from 11 major river basins, it says that per capita availability will decline by 34 per cent by 2050.
The average surface and ground water potential of the State, currently at 141 billion cubic metre (BCM), would fall by at least 10 per cent to 129 BCM.
“Per capita water availability varies throughout the State according to the relationship between availability and population. As the State’s population is still expanding, per capita supply will decline sharply,” the report said.
With rising population and consequent increase in demand for food and water with growth in mining and industrial activities, the demand for water from various sectors could increase to 55 BCM by 2050, the report indicated.
The water availability decline too points at water stress condition of the rivers. Three rivers __ Baitarani, Rushikulya and Budhabalanga __ will become water stressed. The per capita water availability from Baitarani is going to decline from 1,976 cubic metre to 1,348 cubic metre whereas the drop for Rushikulya will be from 1,341 cubic metre to 1,021 cubic metre. In case of Budhabalanga, it is expected to decline from 1,616 cubic metre to 1412 cubic metre.
Although Orissa possesses 11 per cent of the country’s water resources as against a population of just 4 per cent, it’s challenge remains in the strong seasonality of supply.
Increased demand due to a growing population, economic development as well as rising consumption in upstream states will lead to a decreased inflow and falling availability. Besides, climate change will also be a big factor. “The overall scenario points to increased flood risk and hydrological uncertainty,” it explained.
Availability apart, water quality will pose a major a challenge as the industrialisation makes things worse. The report suggested a bleak situation for at least six major rivers whose water quality rarely meets drinking water standards, thanks to inadequate treatment of the municipal and industrial effluents.
The report paints a grim picture saying the entire stretch of Mahanadi is in a state of slight to moderate pollution. Of the dozen monitoring stations of Mahanadi, all except five show water quality is below acceptable levels.