Compensate Salandi-Nalia river project affected people – NHRC to Orissa
18.01.2011 | 20:52
Bhubaneswar
Samir Hota

A two day camp of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) started today in Bhubaneswar. NHRC Chairperson, Justice KG Balakrishnan along with members Justice BC Patel, Satyabrata Pal and PC Sharma initiated the process of hearing 105 pending cases relating to the state.

The commission today took up a case alleging violation of Land Acquisition Act and relief and rehabilitation policy pertaining to the Rs. 99.14 crore Salandi-Nalia river sanskar project in the state. A case was filed before the commission alleging that state had failed to observe provisions of the Land Acquisition Act.

Lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy who preferred the petition on behalf of about 10,000 affected by the project in Bhadrak district of the state argued for compensation of the victims as well as rehabilitation of the project affected persons.

The commission in view of the state’s failure to present its case deployed its special rapporteur who termed implementation of the project as blatantly illegal. It was also later found that compensation was not paid, rehabilitation process was not undertaken, socio-economic survey was yet to be started and that the design of the project was changed without any prior approval.

Giving its findings today the full commission directed the state government to take immediate action and rehabilitate the displaced people and provide them the actual amount of compensation immediately. The commission also observed that Land Acquisition Act may be suitable amended if necessary.

Speaking to Law et al. News Tripathy said that it is satisfactory that the commission in its full bench expressed anguish over functioning of government officials. Saying that today’s order comes as a pain killer for the victims he hoped that the larger issues will be soon resolved after today’s scathing remarks by the commission. However, he also expressed his apprehensions over implementation and execution of the commission’s order mentioning that the commission itself was alarmed by the delay in response by the administration.

NHRC to hear right violations by river projects in Orissa
Monday, January 17, 2011

Bhadrak: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) will hear the Salandi-Nalia, Reba-Kapali, Kansbans and other river Sanskar projects on which there are allegation of human rights violations.

The Commission has decided to hear the cases 439/18/18/09-10 along with 410 other petitions during its Odisha camp on January 18 and 19.

All these petitions have been filed before it pertaining to human rights violations in various river Sanskar projects. The issue was first brought to the notice of the Commission in May, 2008 by noted human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy.

NHRC had investigated twice Salandi Nalia River Sanskar Project and asked the state government to pay compensation and rehabilitate the victims.

Armed with RTI replies and success in protecting human rights of the victims in Salandi Nalia Sanskar project Tripathy again moved the NHRC.

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

Mineral conservation projects face water hurdle

A mainstream media interpretation

Mineral conservation projects face water hurdle
Bishnu Dash / Kolkata/ Bhubaneswar April 02, 2010, 0:29 IST

The non-availability of enough water and consequent delay in obtaining water drawal clearance from the government is causing delay in the approval of projects in the state. Along with the greenfield power projects, other mineral extraction and value addition projects have become a casualty of this situation.

Two iron ore pelletisation projects with a combined investment of Rs 315 crore have been pushed into uncertainty as the water clearance for these projects is yet to come. Under ideal conditions, the permission was expected within 15 days of the application.

Similarly, the water resources department is yet to take action on construction of reservoirs to provide water to industrial projects even though the High Level Clearance Authority (HLCA) chaired by the chief minister Naveen Patnaik has asked the department to initiate measures in this direction.

Official sources said, the proposal of Ardent Steels Ltd (ASL) to expand its present capacity of iron ore pelletisation from 0.6 million tonne per annum (mtpa) to 1.2 mtpa, along with setting up of a 1mtpa iron ore beneficiation plant, at Phuljhar in Keonjhar district couldn’t be approved by the State Level Single Window Clearance Authority (SLSWCA) due to this reason.

The proposal of Kashvi International Ltd (KIL) to set up 0.3 mtpa iron ore pellet plant at Champadihi (Barbil) in the district of Keonjhar at an investment of Rs 56.21 crore has also been hit.

Though the state nodal agency for promotion of industry, the Industrial Promotion and Investment Corporation of Orissa Ltd (Ipicol) had written to water resources department to send its views on availability of the required amount of water from river Baitarani, it is yet to receive the views of the department on the matter.

It may be noted, both the projects were to source water from river Baitarani. These projects are facing problems despite the fact that their water requirement is nominal and iron ore beneficiation and pelletisation projects are considered as mineral conservation projects.

On the other hand, Rs 850 crore investment proposal of Emami Paper Mills Ltd (EPML) to set up a wood based pulp and paper mill with a capacity of 1 lakh tonne per annum near Balgopalpur in Balasore has been pushed to the cold storage essentially due to non-availability of water.

Though the project requires 60,000 cubic metre per day from river Subernarekha, the formal clearance of water resources department is awaited. “The non-availability of water has become a major issue for clearing new projects. Unless concerted effort is made to address the problem, this would a major irritant for soliciting new investment”, a senior official associated with the process said.

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/mineral-conservation-projects-face-water-hurdle/390489/

Arcelor-Mittal to harvest rain water in Orissa
17 Nov, 2007, 0000 hrs IST, PTI

BHUBANESWAR: Global steel leader Arcelor-Mittal, which proposes to set up a 12 mtpa plant in Orissa, on Friday said it will harvest rain water and use technology that consumes least quantity of 'H2O' to reduce pressure on the natural resource. "We are consulting international experts in the field on how to meet the challenges ahead", member of Arcelor-Mittal's group management board Malay Mukherjee told reporters, admitting water was a major problem for industries in Orissa. .................... "We too do not want to take a farmer's share of water. Therefore, the company has planned to make its own arrangement in the plant premises", he said, adding that water harvesting was one of the key options the company would like to exercise. However, a permanent solution would be using technology that requires least water for steel making and research was on for recycling the water in order to minimise the requirement. Full Story

Rain plays relief rogue

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 26: The flood situation continued to be grim in the six northern districts of the state as relief and rescue operations were hampered in many areas today due to fresh downpour. S.C. Sahoo, the director of the Met office here, said a cyclonic circulation over northern Orissa triggered the downpour today. There is a possibility of rain or thundershower at many places in coastal Orissa and few places in interior Orissa in the next 24 hours. According to information from the state disaster management control room, heavy rain lashed coastal Orissa, triggering fresh flood fear on the banks of Subernarekha, Budhabalanga, Salandi and Baitarani. More than 15 lakh people were affected by the flood and heavy rain, said state disaster management minister Manmohan Samal, who visited the flood-hit Mayurbhanj district today. Samal had reviewed the situation in Bhadrak and Balasore district yesterday and had asked officials to ensure that relief material reached all those marooned. Bhadrak collector N.K. Burma told The Telegraph over phone that more than 1,000 marooned people were evacuated and assured that there was no threat to the life of residents of the town. Several parts of Bhadrak town were under the flooding waters of Salandi river, flowing above the danger-mark following release of water from Hadagarh reservoir. Some other parts of the district have also been inundated by water of Baitarani and its tributaries, said Burma, adding that over 4 lakh people had been affected by the flood. As relief material failed to reach many areas in Balasore, Bhadrak and Kendrapara districts due to inadequate deployment of boats, steps have been taken to airdrop food, medicines and clothes, sources said. In Jajpur district alone, crops on 19,284 hectares of land were damaged. Special relief commissioner N.K. Sundaray said the flood situation continued to be grim in Balasore and Bhadrak districts. A high-level official team, headed by the deputy relief commissioner, has been deputed to Balasore to oversee the relief operations. More than 27 power boats have been pressed into service for relief and rescue operations and Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force personnel had been mobilised for the purpose, said Sundaray. Chief minister Naveen Patnaik had undertaken an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts yesterday.

Mittal to start work on Orissa plant in 2008
Satyasundar Barik

To go through the process of land acquisition

---

Report on rehabilitation to be

submitted to State Government

Orissa and Jharkhand projects

will be commissioned by 2011

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BHUBANESWAR: Arcelor Mittal on Thursday said the construction for its proposed 12 million tonne steel plant in Orissa could begin in the first half of 2008.

“The detailed project report (DPR) would be completed by the middle of the next year. Physical acquisition of land can take place before that. We hope some kind of construction should start in the first half,” Arcelor Mittal India Chief Executive Officer Sank Mishra told reporters here on the sidelines of a conference.

The CEO said the company would submit its report on rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R), prepared by consultant EcoSmart, to the Orissa Government by the end of October.

Mr. Mishra, however, dismissed reports that the company had sought additional land in the Keonjhar district. The Orissa Government had promised to provide 7,000 acres in the district.

“We want the State Government should help us getting forest and environment clearance for steel and power projects as well as mines. Allocation of iron ore reserve is also required,” Mr. Mishra said. He said the progress of both steel projects in Jharkhand and Orissa was satisfactory.

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India floods Information Bulletin No.4

The Federation's mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. It is the world's largest humanitarian organization and its millions of volunteers are active in 185 countries.

In Brief

This Bulletin is being issued for information only, and reflects the situation and the information available at this time. The Federation is not seeking funding or other assistance from donors for this operation at this time.

The Situation

Following heavy monsoon rains that led to floods in different parts of India during the months of June-July 2007, the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal, Gujarat and Orissa were once again hit by very heavy rainfall over the weekend of 22-23 September 2007 (sources: United Nations Development Programme and All India Radio).

Orissa: One of the hardest hit areas was Orissa where, under the influence of the depression formed over the Bay of Bengal on 21st September, most of the coastal districts experienced heavy rain for three days. On 23rd September, the depression lay over Angur district in the interior of Orissa.

As on 23rd September, five people (three in Cuttack and two in Bhubaneshwar) were reported to have been killed in the state. Large areas in six blocks of Balasore district were waterlogged. Flash floods were reported in the Budhabalanga river. In Bhadrak district, the Baitarani river crossed the danger level on 23rd September, and a breach on the embankment of the river was closed down immediately. However, the river levels have now started receding. The district administration is keeping a close vigil on the situation and has initiated relief distribution in affected areas.

According to a report prepared on the basis of inter-agency coordination, some key details of the flood situation in Orissa are as follows:

- Continuous heavy rainfall due to low pressure in the southern and coastal parts of the state has resulted in a rise of water levels in all the major river systems, except the Mahanadi system. The heavy rain in the Chhattisgarh region may have an impact on the Mahanadi river system.

- Balasore district has been affected by floods for the third time this monsoon season. Approximately 500,000 people and 415 villages were affected. The road connection has been cut off between Baliapal and Basta. Eleven fishermen were rescued from Balaramgadi.

- Approximately 200,000 people having been severely affected in Mayurbhanj district.

- River Baitarani is expected to touch the danger level in Bhadrak and Jajpur districts. Large parts of Jajpur district have been affected due to floods in the Brahmani river.

- In southern Orissa, the water levels in the two major river systems, i.e. the Bansdhara and Rishikulya, are rising, with Bansdhara being expected to touch the danger level.

- In Cuttack district, 270 mm rainfall was recorded and seven breaches have occurred in the Sapua river. About 50 feet of road has been washed away between Cuttack and Narasinghpur.

- Tidal waves affected 611 families in Kendrapara district and washed away 50 metres of sea shore in Paradeep port.

- In Jagatsinghpur district, 1,000 thatched houses were damaged due to heavy rain and areas covered under 19 village administrative units were affected.

- In Nayagarh district, heavy rain over four days cut off 21 villages from the district headquarters.

- The Special Relief Commissioner for Orissa has deployed the Orissa Disaster Relief Action Force for search and rescue in Mayurbhanj district.

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Situation grim in Jajpur dist
Wednesday September 26 2007 14:00 IST

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

JAJPUR: Even as the water level in Baitarani began receding on Tuesday afternoon, flood situation in Bari, Jajpur, Korei and Dasarathpur blocks in Jajpur district continues to be grim for the third consecutive day.

Although the river Baitarini was flowing at 18.60 metres against the red mark of 17.83 metres on Tuesday evening, it showed a downward trend since afternoon.

The rivers Brahmani and Kharasrota were still flowing above the danger mark. Official sources said over 2.5 lakh people in 196 villages under 58 GPs have been affected.

EPIDEMIC: Over 100 persons of the flood-affected villages have been reportedly affected by diarrhoea.

Non-stop shower cripples life
Sunday September 23 2007 04:26 IST

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BHUBANESWAR: As the depression over the Bay of Bengal crossed Orissa coast near Puri on Saturday evening, an unrelenting spell of rain completely threw normal life out of gear in coastal and southern districts, claiming at least five lives.

While continuous rains threatened another round of floods, what caused havoc was severe waterlogging, bringing life to a complete stop. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack were the worst hit and all five deaths, caused by wall collapse, were reported from these two areas.

Relentless rains left almost all the rivers in spate. By evening, Mahanadi was rising at Khairamal and Naraj while Devi was swelling too. Baitarani and Brahmani too rose at some stations.

In northern Orissa, Budhabalanga was rising at all its gauge points, while Subarnarekha too was in spate. Bansandhara and Rushikulya in southern parts of the State continued to rise with rains showing little signs of abating during the next 48 hours.

Full Story

Situation grim, rivers in spate
Tuesday September 25 2007 02:22 IST

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

JAJPUR: The situation continued to be grim in Jajpur district on Monday as the rivers Baitarani, Brahmani and Kharasrota were flowing above the danger mark affecting over 1.5 lakh people in Jajpur, Bari, Korei, Rasulpur and Dasarathpur blocks.

As many as 83 villages under 35 gram panchayats in the four blocks of the district are still marooned for the last two days. A woman was reportedly swept away in Chandanpur of Bari block on Monday. With this, the toll in the present floods has gone up to two.

Meanwhile, Bari block headquarters has been cut off from the panchayat headquarters since Sunday as the flood water is flowing at a height of at least four-five feet on most of the roads. Traffic movement has been disrupted on the Jajpur-Bauruan, Singhpur- Rajkanika, Bari-Kuakhia, Jajpur- Panasa, Bari-Ratnagiri and Golkund- Indipur roads since Sunday.

While hundreds of thatched houses have collapsed, paddy crop in more than 40,000 hectares of land in the five blocks has been damaged.

According to sources in the district flood control room, the Brahmani river is flowing at 68 feet against the red mark of 67 feet at Jenapur. Similarly, Baitarani is flowing at 19.29 metres against the danger level of 17.83 metres at Akhuapada. Kharasrota is also flowing at 19.60 metre against its danger mark of 18.20 metres at Binjharpur. The water level in Baitarani is expected to rise.

Full Story

Heavy rain batters Anandapur

Statesman News Service
KEONJHAR Sept. 25: Incessant rains due to low-pressure has caused damage in the Anandapur sub-division badly, as the Baitarani, the Kusei, the Remal and all the tributaries have been flooded. For the fourth time in this rainy season, the water in the Baitarani river has crossed the danger level of 38.36 metres.
While 30 villages under the Hatadihi block have become submerged, 30,000 people of the Anandapur sub-division, Patna block, Ghasipura block, Joda and Barbil have been affected. Crops have also been badly damaged in the four-day long downpour.
Arjun Sahoo of Jalasuan in Ramchandrapur police station was washed away in the Kusei River, while Giri Gope of Nalda was drowned into a rivulet when he was crossing the culvert over it on the Balani-Barbil road.
Continue downpour has also rendered hundreds of people of Anandapur, Ghasipura, Patna, Joda and Barbil homeless. However, the Anandapur sub-collector and the BDOs are monitoring the situation.

Full Story

Flood situation grim

Statesman News Service
BHUBANESWAR, Sept. 25: The flood situation continued to be grim in Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts with lakhs of people being affected and vast stretch of agricultural land inundated. Road communication has been disrupted at various places.
The major rivers like Baitarani, Budhabalanga and Jalaka showed a receding trend today, while the Subarnarekha flowed above the danger level.
The chief minister Mr Naveen Patnaik today instructed the collectors of the flood-affected areas to provide relief materials, health service and undertake a massive operation to disinfect drinking water sources.
He made an aerial survey of the flood affected areas of Jajpur, Bhadrak and Balasore.
Heavy downpour due to depression over the Bay of Bengal over the last four days had caused flood and inundated vast areas in these districts.
The Baitarani has affected 3 lakh people in Dhamnagar, Bhandaripokhari, Tihidi and the Chandabali blocks. People of Bhadrak town too has experienced floods as the Salandi river crossed over the danger mark, following the discharge of water from the Hadgarh reservoir.
As many as 451 villages of 93 gram panchayats have become marooned since the past two days.. Communication to Akhandalamani Dham has been cut off, as the flood water is flowing at the height of there-four feet near Kothar Bazar.
The Bhadrak-Chandabali road was also under flood water at Nalugunada and Nanndapur. The revenue minister Mr Manmohan Samal reviewed the situation today.
He declared three days relief for the affected people and setting up of 11 free kitchens at Dhamnagar Block.
Water discharged from the Hadgarh reservoir submerged the low lying areas of Bhadrak town. According to the irrigation officials, the water level at the reservoir crossed maximum limit. The water at the reservoir had crossed its highest retention level of 82.50 mt and had to be released. Presently the reservoir is discharging 9,000 cusec of water.
People residing in the low lying areas of the Bhadrak town were asked to shift to safer places. More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from the low lying areas of the town, said Mr Sasadhar Nayak, municipality executive officer. These people were accommodated at the Women’s college and the Dhanatola school where free kitchen centres have been opened.
Although rivers like Jalaka and Kansabansha are receding, the flood situation continued to be grim in the district .
The Subarnarekha, the cause of worries for north Balasore was above the danger mark. However, sources at the district emergency office claimed that the river has been constant since 4 pm till 8 pm
Official sources said that nearly 7 lakh people of 129 GPs and 933 villages of Sadar, Remuna, Soro, Simulia, Bhanga, Nilgiri and Khair blocks have been affected.
Unconfirmed reports said that four people have died in the recent floods.
While there have been allegations of non-receipt of relief from various blocks, a protest was staged by the irate villagers in the demand of relief materials on NH-60.
Nearly 1.15 lakhs hectares of cultivated areas have been submerged due to water logging .
The official sources said that 16 country boats and six power boats have been pressed in for providing service and relief materials have been sent to the various affected villages .
In Jajpur, the worst affected areas are Bari, Jajpur, Korei and Dasarathapur blocks.
While the Baitarani river is receding, the Brahmani and the Kharasrota rivers are still flowing above their respective danger levels, said the official sources.
According to them nearly 1.5 lakh people in 83 villages under 36 gram panchayats have been marooned .

Full Story

Flood situation critical in Orissa districts	RSS

KalingaTimes Correspondent Bhubaneswar/Balasore, Sep 25: With Subarnarekha and Baitarani rivers continuing to flow above the danger mark, flood situation remained critical in hundreds of villages across Balasore, Bhadrak and Jajpur districts of Orissa on Tuesday. As lakhs of people continued to suffer in the marooned villages, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik made an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged areas during the day.

Patnaik has instructed the District Collectors of the affected districts to step up relief and rescue operations. The Chief Minister also asked the authorities concerned to disinfect the drinking water sources in the flood affected regions and activate the healthcare system to provide timely medical help to the people. By Tuesday evening, Budhabalanga, Jalaka and Kansabansha rivers in Balasore district had started receding slowly. But Subarnarekha, the main cause of worry for north Balasore, was above the danger mark at Jamsolaghat and Rajghat.

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Heavy rains trigger floods in Orissa

KalingaTimes Correspondent
Bhubaneswar, Sep 23: Heavy rains across Orissa during the past few days have triggered floods in several rivers affecting normal life in several districts of the State. Balasore district has been badly affected by the floods.

The rains had also caused flash floods in many areas resulting in the death of as many as seven persons by Sunday.

The rivers that were in spate by Sunday afternoon are Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Budhabalanga, Subarnarekha, Vansadhara and Rushikulya.

Heavy rainfall occurred at most places over the catchments of these rivers during since Saturday under the influence of the depression over northwest Bay.

The depression that had crossed the State's coast near Puri on Saturday evening lay centred near Angul during the day on Sunday. The system is likely to move in a northwesterly direction and weaken gradually.

However, heavy to very heavy rainfall was likely to occur at a few places over Subarnarekha, Baitarani, Lower Brahmani, Lower Mahanadi, Vansadhara and at isolated places over Upper Brahmani and Upper Mahanadi catchments during next 48 hours.

According to the flood bulletin issued by the Water Resources Department, Budhabalanga was already flowing above the danger level at Govindpur, while Baitarani was flowing above the danger mark at Akhuapada.

Meanwhile, normal life continued to remain paralysed in most parts of the State with heavy rains at frequent intervals. People living in the low lying areas of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack continued to have a difficult time.

Flood hits Bhadrak again

Statesman News Service
BHADRAK, Sept. 23: Continuous and heavy rainfall has submerged Bhadrak and thrown normal life out of gear. All the roads in the town have become water logged due to lack of the drainage system. Major residential areas like Santhia, Kuansa, Nilakantha Nagar, Nangamahala, Bonth Chhak, Sankarpur, Charampa, Bagurai and Asthal in the town have become submerged. “The people of the town are habituated with the problem as the municipality has done nothing after several demands,” said Mr Divyasingh Nayak, a senior advocate.
The town has experienced 270 mm of rainfall in the last two days.
“We have deployed staff and pump-sets to discharge water from the low lying areas of the town,” said Mr Sasadhar Nayak, executive officer, Bhadrak municipality.
According to the district emergency office sources, the situation has become worse as the dam authority of the Hadgada water reservoir on the river salandi has given signal to discharge excess water.
The chief construction engineer of the irrigation department Mr Prasant Barik toured Bhadrak to supervise the situation.
He had a talk with the collector Mr Nalinikanta Verma regarding the discharge of water from the Hadgarh reservoir.
Sources said that the highest water level of the Hadgarh reservoir is 82.30 mt. Now the level is at 81.15 mt. “As the Salandi flows through Bhadrak town, the people residing in the low lying areas may face a deluge,” said Mr Nayak.
Similarly the Baitarani river, near Akhuapada is flowing above the danger level.
The people of Dhamnagar and the Bhandaripokhari blocks are facing floods for the fifth time this year.
Flood water has entered into 22 gram panchayats of the concerned blocks. The tehesildar and the BDO have been alerted by the district administration.
“We have directed them to keep a close watch on the situation,” said Mr Nalinikanta Verma, the collector. “We are ready to combat the situation,” he added.

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Rains lash coast, 3 die

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 22: Three persons were killed and two injured as incessant rains lashed the state after a depression over the Bay of Bengal intensified further and moved closer to land. All the major rivers were rising following heavy rain in the upper catchment areas, posing a threat of fresh flood. Officials of the meteorology centre here said that yesterday’s depression, formed over west-central and adjoining north-west part of the Bay of Bengal, lay centred at about 100km south-west of Puri. The system intensified further and moved in a north-westerly direction towards the coast. Under its influence, heavy to very heavy rain occurred at several places across the state. Chandbali recorded the highest rainfall (19.1cm), followed by Balasore (12.1cm) and Paradip (11.3cm) during the past 24 hours. Bhubaneswar received 8.5cm rainfall over the same period. Full Story

Safety concern over water

OUR CORRESPONDENT

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 15: Water of at least six major rivers in Orissa are unsafe for drinking, the Orissa State Pollution Control Board has said in its report on river water quality status. The survey, done over a period of five years, tested the quality of water in stretches of the Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Rushikulya, Nagavali and Subernarekha near major towns and industrial areas. “The water is very polluted in areas like Cuttack, Paradip and Brajarajnagar. It’s unfit for drinking and can’t be purified by conventional methods,” said board chairman L.N. Patnaik. The board has divided water into five categories — A, B, C, D and E. While water in the A category can be used for drinking without conventional treatment but after disinfection, the B grade water may be used for outdoor bathing. The C grade water can be used with conventional treatment and disinfection while D is used for aqua-culture and fisheries purposes. E category is used for irrigation and industrial cooling purposes and has a pH level between 6 and 8.5. The board’s findings for towns located near this rivers found that the water quality in none of the rivers conformed to C standard. The board monitored the water quality on parameters such as colour, odour, visible effluent discharge, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, total coliform, faecal coliform, turbidity, presence of chloride/sulphate/phosphate/cadmium/copper/lead/zinc/mercury and pesticides like BHC, DDT, endosulfan, dieldrin, aldrin, carboryl 2-4-D, malathion, parathion and chloropyrophos. Board sources said that the presence of micropollutants were found to be high in places like Cuttack situated on the bank of Kathjodi, a subsidiary of Mahanadi, and Rourkela, situated on the bank of the Brahmani. Environmentalists said that the report indicated the government as well as the pollution control board have failed to check deterioration of water quality in major rivers of the state. “The board should be disbanded as it has become a toothless body of servile government officials. Since the board has closed its ears, the industries and municipal bodies are using the rivers as sinks,” said environmentalist Biswajit Mohanty. Patnaik said that the government should address to the pollution concerns of these rivers quickly. “We have to stop the pollution sources. The board can only suggest appropriate maintenance measures, but the government has to take action,” he said

Sukinda Valley of Orissa one of most polluted places	RSS

KalingaTimes Correspondent Bhubaneswar, Sep 14: Orissa has been in news time and again for wrong reasons. Here is one more. Sukinda Valley in Jajpur district of the state has figured among the Top Ten worst polluted places in the world. US-based Blacksmith Institute, an independent environmental group, in partnership with Green Cross Switzerland, issued their To

p Ten list of the world's most severely polluted places on Wednesday. According to the report of the Blacksmith Institute, Sukinda Valley contains 97 percent of India's chromite ore deposits and one of the largest open cast chromite ore mines in the world. “Twelve mines continue to operate without any environmental management plans and over 30 million tonnes of waste rock are spread over the surrounding areas and the Brahmani riverbanks. “Untreated water is discharged by the mines into the river. This area is also flood-prone, resulting in further contamination of the waterways. “Approximately 70 percent of the surface water and 60 percent of the drinking water contains hexavalent chromium at more than double national and international standards and levels of over 20 times the standard have been recorded. Full Story

Flood threat again, rivers in spate
Friday September 7 2007 08:07 IST

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

BHUBANESWAR: After heavy rains lashed the State on Wednesday, all the major rivers were in spate threatening another spell of flood in the coastal, northern as well as southern districts.

Mahanadi, Baitarani, Subarnarekha, Budhabalanga and Vansadhara were close to their warning marks and rising. With the monsoon trough passing through both West Bengal and Orissa, more showers are in the offing during next two or three days.

The Flood Control Room said, Mahanadi was closing in to the warning mark at all the three gauge sites- Khairmal, Tikarpara and Naraj- and still on the rise. At least 10 sluice gates of Hirakud reservoir were thrown open to give passage to excess water.

Baitarani was swelling too. The river was showing a rising trend at Champua, Sompatna, Anandpur and Akhuapada. At Akhuapada, the river had reached the warning mark of 17.83 metre.

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