Brahmani river dying ?
PTI | 04:10 PM,Oct 14,2010

Jajpur (Orissa), Oct 14 (PTI) Brahmani river, the life line of a large number of villages on its banks in Jajpur and Kendrapara districts of Orissa, has dried up due to massive siltation at its upper reaches. The river is the only source of water for over three lakh inhabitants of Bari, Rasulpur, Badachana, Dharmasala and Jajpur blocks in Jajpur district and Aul, Kendrapada, Pattamundai and Raj Nagar blocks in Kendrapada district. Units at the Kalinga Nagar industrial complex are using water from Brahmani and Kharasrota rivers illegally, alleged Biswajit Mohanty, a rain water harvesting activist. He is echoed by Gagan Behari Jena, a local and convenor of 'Save Brahmani River Committee', formed by the people. ''The situation has turned complex as this year the river has turned dry due to truant rains ... The people are not getting sufficient water to irrigate their lands due to shortage of water,'' he says. Discharge of pollutants from industrial units has degraded the river to the extent that it has become a large drain. Once a source of fish and fresh water, Brahmani has become so polluted that its water has acquired a tar-black colour in many places,'' says Loknath Das, another member of the campaign to save the river. The industries there should take it upon themselves environmental and social responsibilities without waiting for regulation. They should also harvest rainwater, which will save the rivers and reduce water costs for them. Besides, waste water should be recycled, reused and made to recharge the ground water, says Mohanty. When contacted, Subrat Das, Executive Engineer of Water Resouces of Jaraka Irrigation division in Jajpur district said the problem arose from the fact that the water of rainfed Brahmani river enters its branch Kharasrota, which has a lower bed. Moreover, there is massive siltation and huge sand deposits at its catchments area at Jenapur and Bedipur, which needs to be cleared. A survey of Brahmani river is being conducted on a priority basis as per the direction of the Water Resources department, he said.

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.