Orissa to move Supreme Court against Polavaram project
Posted by news on Aug 30th, 2010
Bhubaneswar, Aug 30 (IANS) Orissa Monday said it will move the Supreme Court against the clearance granted by the union environment and forests ministry to the multi-purpose Polavaram irrigation project on river Godavari in Andhra Pradesh.
“We will file a petition in the Supreme Court in a day or two seeking scrapping of the forest clearance granted to the project as it will submerge several villages in Orissa’s Malkangiri district,” state Water Resources Secretary S.C. Mohapatra told IANS.
The ministry granted approval last month saying that there would be no submergence of Orissa’s area as the Andhra Pradesh government will build a wall along the border with the state to prevent flooding in Orissa.
“They took the decision considering that only ten villages would be submerged. But that is not true. More villages will be affected in our state,” Mohapatra said.
“No assessment on its impact in Orissa was done yet. Similarly no public hearing was also done in the villages which would be affected by the project,” he said.
The Orissa government moved the Supreme Court after the ministry first granted interim approval to the project in 2008.
“When the case is still pending in the court, we are surprised how the ministry granted final approval,” he said.
The state government is also unhappy over the way the clearance was given without consulting the people in Orissa and Chhattisgarh who would be affected by the project, he said.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh early this month seeking withdrawal of the permission, Mohapatra said
He said he himself wrote to the environment and forests secretary.
The Andhra Pradesh government says the Rs.10,150-crore project will provide drinking water to 2.85 million people, produce 960 MW of power and give industry 23,500 million cubic feet of water.
The project first envisioned by the British rulers in 1941 has, however, been facing opposition since decades from local residents who fear displacement, as well as from Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Chhattisgarh and Orissa fear that after completion of the project, in case of floods, the back water of the Godavari will flow to its tributaries Saberi and Sileru in Orissa and Chhattisgarh and submerge dozens of villages.
Andhra Pradesh said it will put embankments on the river but Orissa officials said that it was not the solution.
The central ministry gave the final clearance for diversion of 3,731.07 hectares of forest land last month for the project on the condition that no submergence of forest land should take place in Orissa and Chhattisgarh.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Polavaram Politics
'Vedanta standards apply to Polavaram'
Sreelatha Menon / New Delhi August 30, 2010, 0:39 IST
N C Saxena, who led the committee which recommended against permitting mining of the Niyamgiri hills in Orissa, says the same approach should be adopted for Andhra Pradesh’s mammoth Polavaram hydro project, too.
If there is violation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) there, too, it should not be allowed, as that is the law of the land, Saxena told Business Standard.
The Polavaram dam being constructed on the Godavari river by the Andhra Pradesh government for irrigation and power generation got final clearance from the ministry of environment and forests a month earlier, despite detailed charges of violation of the FRA and despite a submergence area of 7,500 hectares of forest land involved.
About 330 tribal villages fall in the submergence area. The state government has been accused of not setting up forest rights committees at the gram sabha level in each of these villages to seek the consent of the people and to evaluate their right to the forests that are being removed.
The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre has been accused of double standards, for rejecting Vedanta on the one hand and allowing Polavaram on the other.
The Saxena committee’s interpretation of the FRA makes the say of the forest dwellers even superior to that of the ministry itself. But it has not been applied here.
N C Saxena says if the gram sabhas have not been heard in Polavaram, then it is illegal. Asked if he would take it up in the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council, where he is a member, he declined to commit himself. But said people and activists could use the Vedanta verdict and the committee report to get justice. They could appeal to both the courts and the Union environment ministry, he said, even if the final clearance had been officially given.
The National Environment Appellate Authority had accused the Andhra government of FRA violations, particularly not seeking the consent of gram sabhas of the 330 villages involved.
These are mostly in East and West Godavari districts, besides two districts of Orissa and in Chhattisgarh.
The state government has since redesigned the dam by including a wall along the state border to prevent flooding in neighbouring Orissa and Chhattisgarh. This would mean additional requirement of land.
The environment appraisal committee of the ministry itself had asked for a fresh application in view of this changed design. However, the clearance came in spite of this.
Orissa and Chhattisgarh have both opposed the project, as it is feared to cause floods in their villages once completed.
Sreelatha Menon / New Delhi August 30, 2010, 0:39 IST
N C Saxena, who led the committee which recommended against permitting mining of the Niyamgiri hills in Orissa, says the same approach should be adopted for Andhra Pradesh’s mammoth Polavaram hydro project, too.
If there is violation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA) there, too, it should not be allowed, as that is the law of the land, Saxena told Business Standard.
The Polavaram dam being constructed on the Godavari river by the Andhra Pradesh government for irrigation and power generation got final clearance from the ministry of environment and forests a month earlier, despite detailed charges of violation of the FRA and despite a submergence area of 7,500 hectares of forest land involved.
About 330 tribal villages fall in the submergence area. The state government has been accused of not setting up forest rights committees at the gram sabha level in each of these villages to seek the consent of the people and to evaluate their right to the forests that are being removed.
The Congress-led UPA government at the Centre has been accused of double standards, for rejecting Vedanta on the one hand and allowing Polavaram on the other.
The Saxena committee’s interpretation of the FRA makes the say of the forest dwellers even superior to that of the ministry itself. But it has not been applied here.
N C Saxena says if the gram sabhas have not been heard in Polavaram, then it is illegal. Asked if he would take it up in the Sonia Gandhi-led National Advisory Council, where he is a member, he declined to commit himself. But said people and activists could use the Vedanta verdict and the committee report to get justice. They could appeal to both the courts and the Union environment ministry, he said, even if the final clearance had been officially given.
The National Environment Appellate Authority had accused the Andhra government of FRA violations, particularly not seeking the consent of gram sabhas of the 330 villages involved.
These are mostly in East and West Godavari districts, besides two districts of Orissa and in Chhattisgarh.
The state government has since redesigned the dam by including a wall along the state border to prevent flooding in neighbouring Orissa and Chhattisgarh. This would mean additional requirement of land.
The environment appraisal committee of the ministry itself had asked for a fresh application in view of this changed design. However, the clearance came in spite of this.
Orissa and Chhattisgarh have both opposed the project, as it is feared to cause floods in their villages once completed.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Mounting River Pollution
Pollution in Bheden and Ib (OPCB unveils action plan for coal belt)
The CPCB which had carried out a survey across the polluted industrial clusters of the country had developed a Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI). Ib Valley-Jharsuguda was given a score above 70 making the region heavily polluted.
In its pollution abatement plan, the Board called for creation of a reservoir for storage of mine drainage water and runoff which can be used for industrial purpose. An aluminium smelter plant operating in the close proximity of the Bheden river discharges its water to Hirakud reservoir. Since the smelter plant handles substantial quantity of fluoride-bearing materials, there is an apprehension that it may find its way to the Bheden and contaminate the water.
Besides, during monsoon, run-offs from various stockpiles like coal, minerals, solid waste get discharged to the river Ib, the Bheden and Hirakud reservoir through its feeder streams
Since sewage from Jharsuguda and Brajarajnagar towns are discharged into the Ib river without any treatment causing contamination of river water, the plan suggested a treatment plant for both the towns. All the abatement measures suggested included a deadline to be met.
The CPCB which had carried out a survey across the polluted industrial clusters of the country had developed a Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI). Ib Valley-Jharsuguda was given a score above 70 making the region heavily polluted.
In its pollution abatement plan, the Board called for creation of a reservoir for storage of mine drainage water and runoff which can be used for industrial purpose. An aluminium smelter plant operating in the close proximity of the Bheden river discharges its water to Hirakud reservoir. Since the smelter plant handles substantial quantity of fluoride-bearing materials, there is an apprehension that it may find its way to the Bheden and contaminate the water.
Besides, during monsoon, run-offs from various stockpiles like coal, minerals, solid waste get discharged to the river Ib, the Bheden and Hirakud reservoir through its feeder streams
Since sewage from Jharsuguda and Brajarajnagar towns are discharged into the Ib river without any treatment causing contamination of river water, the plan suggested a treatment plant for both the towns. All the abatement measures suggested included a deadline to be met.
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.
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.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Vamshadhara-river erosion
Steps afoot to save villages from erosion
Staff Reporter
BERHAMPUR: Efforts have been initiated to save villages in Kasinagar block and Kasinagar town of Gajapati district from increasing erosive action of the Vansadhara river.
Villages of Khandaba, Budora and Kidigaon panchayats as well as the Kasinagar Notified Area Council (NAC) are facing floods and extreme erosion since past few years. As per the localites, the erosive action of the Vansadhara river in their area is more following construction of spurs and embankments on the Andhra Pradesh side of the river in this interstate border area.
Since past many years people have been demanding construction of guard walls to save the villages of three panchayats and Kasinagar town from the wrath of the Vansadhara river which is rapidly changing its course in this area during floods in monsoon.
Speaking to The Hindu, K. Narayana Rao, MLA of Paralakhemundi, says the State government has sanctioned Rs. 10 crores to save these areas from the erosive action of the river. Under this project, strong guard walls will be built near 14 villages identified to be facing erosion of the river. Guard wall will also be built near Kasinagar town to save it from the floods and erosion of the Vansadahara river. In total, more than five km of guard wall will be constructed in the area. It may be noted that 18 km stretch of the river is facing severe erosion in the area. But efforts are on to save the human habitats first. Tender process for this project is almost complete and the construction work will start after the rainy season, says Mr. Rao.
Staff Reporter
BERHAMPUR: Efforts have been initiated to save villages in Kasinagar block and Kasinagar town of Gajapati district from increasing erosive action of the Vansadhara river.
Villages of Khandaba, Budora and Kidigaon panchayats as well as the Kasinagar Notified Area Council (NAC) are facing floods and extreme erosion since past few years. As per the localites, the erosive action of the Vansadhara river in their area is more following construction of spurs and embankments on the Andhra Pradesh side of the river in this interstate border area.
Since past many years people have been demanding construction of guard walls to save the villages of three panchayats and Kasinagar town from the wrath of the Vansadhara river which is rapidly changing its course in this area during floods in monsoon.
Speaking to The Hindu, K. Narayana Rao, MLA of Paralakhemundi, says the State government has sanctioned Rs. 10 crores to save these areas from the erosive action of the river. Under this project, strong guard walls will be built near 14 villages identified to be facing erosion of the river. Guard wall will also be built near Kasinagar town to save it from the floods and erosion of the Vansadahara river. In total, more than five km of guard wall will be constructed in the area. It may be noted that 18 km stretch of the river is facing severe erosion in the area. But efforts are on to save the human habitats first. Tender process for this project is almost complete and the construction work will start after the rainy season, says Mr. Rao.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Urban Water Supply
Govt set to plug overflowing taps
- Awareness drive to pay fine and legalise water connections
SUBHASHISH MOHANTY
When several districts in the state is facing drought-like situation, citizens in Bhubaneswar show no concern to save water. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee
Bhubaneswar, Aug. 22: Believe it or not. Nearly 100 million litre of water gets wasted in the city everyday.
Bhubaneswar is one of the few cities in the country where the water supply capacity is almost double its requirement.
Though the city’s requires 160 million litres of water daily, the public health engineering department has the capacity to supply 260 million litres of water everyday.
“Nearly 100 million litres of water gets wasted everyday because of lack of awareness among the people on the use of water,” said M.R. Nanda, executive engineer of Bhubaneswar city. Officials said it could be stopped if the state government plans to introduce water metre.
The officials said that though the government had mooted the idea to introduce water metre, it has so far refrained from implementing the scheme fearing public backlash.
At present, Bhubaneswar gets water from Mahanadi, Daya and Kuakhai rivers. While 125 million litres of water is being taken everyday from Kuakhai, 20 million litres is drawn from Daya and 60 million litres from Mahanadi. The rest is sourced from underground water sources and small streams.
In a bid to crack down on illegal water connections, the public health engineering department has regularised 819 unauthorised connections during the last seven days in the city.
“We have collected Rs 15 lakh by converting unauthorised connections into regular ones. The money has been collected under the amnesty scheme that ended on Friday. Though the amnesty scheme has ended, there are several other schemes that the people can avail and take benefit from,” said Nanda.
He further added that all attempts had been made to regularise illegal water connections. Though it is very difficult to ascertain the exact number of illegal connections, Bhubaneswar has 61,000 regular connection points. Over the last two years, the number of regular water connections has jumped from 54,000 to 61,000.
One connection point can provide water to more than 400 households. “The entire campus of Utkal University is considered a single connection,” he said.
To reach out to the masses and create awareness among the people, the public health engineering department has started a water connection mela.
“We visit a particular area on public holidays so that people can take benefit of our awareness campaigns. At these camps, local residents can regularise their unauthorised connections by paying a fine of Rs 500,” he added.
Earlier, one had to wait for nearly 20-30 days to get a new connection. Now one can get a connection by paying Rs 3,060 even in instalments to get an authorised connection. “The monthly average collection of the waste cess is around Rs 1.20 core,” Nanda added.
- Awareness drive to pay fine and legalise water connections
SUBHASHISH MOHANTY
When several districts in the state is facing drought-like situation, citizens in Bhubaneswar show no concern to save water. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee
Bhubaneswar, Aug. 22: Believe it or not. Nearly 100 million litre of water gets wasted in the city everyday.
Bhubaneswar is one of the few cities in the country where the water supply capacity is almost double its requirement.
Though the city’s requires 160 million litres of water daily, the public health engineering department has the capacity to supply 260 million litres of water everyday.
“Nearly 100 million litres of water gets wasted everyday because of lack of awareness among the people on the use of water,” said M.R. Nanda, executive engineer of Bhubaneswar city. Officials said it could be stopped if the state government plans to introduce water metre.
The officials said that though the government had mooted the idea to introduce water metre, it has so far refrained from implementing the scheme fearing public backlash.
At present, Bhubaneswar gets water from Mahanadi, Daya and Kuakhai rivers. While 125 million litres of water is being taken everyday from Kuakhai, 20 million litres is drawn from Daya and 60 million litres from Mahanadi. The rest is sourced from underground water sources and small streams.
In a bid to crack down on illegal water connections, the public health engineering department has regularised 819 unauthorised connections during the last seven days in the city.
“We have collected Rs 15 lakh by converting unauthorised connections into regular ones. The money has been collected under the amnesty scheme that ended on Friday. Though the amnesty scheme has ended, there are several other schemes that the people can avail and take benefit from,” said Nanda.
He further added that all attempts had been made to regularise illegal water connections. Though it is very difficult to ascertain the exact number of illegal connections, Bhubaneswar has 61,000 regular connection points. Over the last two years, the number of regular water connections has jumped from 54,000 to 61,000.
One connection point can provide water to more than 400 households. “The entire campus of Utkal University is considered a single connection,” he said.
To reach out to the masses and create awareness among the people, the public health engineering department has started a water connection mela.
“We visit a particular area on public holidays so that people can take benefit of our awareness campaigns. At these camps, local residents can regularise their unauthorised connections by paying a fine of Rs 500,” he added.
Earlier, one had to wait for nearly 20-30 days to get a new connection. Now one can get a connection by paying Rs 3,060 even in instalments to get an authorised connection. “The monthly average collection of the waste cess is around Rs 1.20 core,” Nanda added.
Oil Spill in Brahmani!
Oil layer in Brahmani worries people on the bank
Express News Service
First Published : 23 Aug 2010 10:20:28 AM IST
Last Updated : 23 Aug 2010 11:51:39 AM IST
TALCHER: A Layer of oil and dust on the water of the river Brahmani has led to panic among the people living upstream of Samal barrage.
A blue coloured oil layer is clearly visible upstream of Samal barrage upto 10 km, informed villagers of Seepur and Durgapur, located on the banks of the river. Every bucket of water drawn from the river contains oil, they alleged.
The villagers, to their surprise, also find the water warm like in summer which is unusual during this time of the year. Some others complained of fly ash polluting the air.
But none points to any particular industry for the pollution. They apprehend that oil leakages from industries in the localities may be a factor.
The restive villagers said this poses serious health hazard to human and animal lives.
They have threatened to take to the streets if the administration and pollution control board fail to address the issue immediately.
District BJP president Asoke Mohanty has urged Orissa State Pollution Control Board authorities and district administration to take immediate action against errant industries and check such pollution.
Express News Service
First Published : 23 Aug 2010 10:20:28 AM IST
Last Updated : 23 Aug 2010 11:51:39 AM IST
TALCHER: A Layer of oil and dust on the water of the river Brahmani has led to panic among the people living upstream of Samal barrage.
A blue coloured oil layer is clearly visible upstream of Samal barrage upto 10 km, informed villagers of Seepur and Durgapur, located on the banks of the river. Every bucket of water drawn from the river contains oil, they alleged.
The villagers, to their surprise, also find the water warm like in summer which is unusual during this time of the year. Some others complained of fly ash polluting the air.
But none points to any particular industry for the pollution. They apprehend that oil leakages from industries in the localities may be a factor.
The restive villagers said this poses serious health hazard to human and animal lives.
They have threatened to take to the streets if the administration and pollution control board fail to address the issue immediately.
District BJP president Asoke Mohanty has urged Orissa State Pollution Control Board authorities and district administration to take immediate action against errant industries and check such pollution.
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