VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 JANUARY—MARCH, 2010 River Basin Transact - A Quarterly News Transact Across Odisha’s River Basins An attempt to put together River Basins’ news in Odisha published in local dailies— 5 Odia and 1 English News Paper, along with other information and analysis related to Odisha’s Rivers to enhance basin literacy, to catalyze basin concerns and crystallize opinions towards Inclusive and Democratic River Basin Governance News Papers Covered Looking through a River Basin Lens (all Bhubaneswar Editions) • The Samaj Inclusive and Democratic River Basin Governance is increasingly gaining importance as a mean to rationalize the usually con- A humble Initiative from Baitarani Initiative , • The Sambad tended and contested issues around water allocations and enti- tlements for ecosystems and livelihoods. As a holistic develop- Odisha State Center, FPWCI & • The Dharitri ment paradigm around the natural units of a river basin, it offers options to integrate concerns around livelihoods, environment Odisha Water Forum To Enhance • The Pragatibadi and development through appropriate and democratic natural resources governance. However, the concept being little new Basin Literacy and Raise • The Khabar and our units of administration being around political bounda- ries, comprehending and applying this tool in Indian context is Basin Concerns • The New Indian Express highly challenging. Moreover the diversity and complexities in our geo-political, socio-cultural and eco-physiographic land- scapes also make it imperative to be tailor-made and sensitive to be acceptable, viable and sustainable. All these make it im- perative to develop a basin perspectives among the stake- holders. Odisha’s quest for faster development, has turned out to be a trajectory of contestations between environment and develop- Inside this issue: News ment, equity versus growth, cultural identity against neo-liberal around Basins of prosperity and traditional hand-print-based livelihoods vis-à-vis high-ecological foot-prints-preferred lifestyle. In this pursuit, its Mahanadi 2 approach of managing Natural Resources requires to be debated We are also planning to and rationalized. Understanding and appreciating our natural add some other features endowments including our rivers and their interactions with our like know-your-basin, 2 Indravati lifestyles and our quest-for-change is of paramount importance basin-analysis and in this present context. ‘Healthy flowing rivers’ and ‘Resilient other articles related to Baitarani 3 river basins’ are critical to our survival and prosperity. With ad- River Basin from next ministrative boundaries dictating terms and trajectories of devel- issue. Please contact us opment and political decisions remaining accountable to such if you want to contrib- Brahmani 3 geo-political units, understanding and appreciating natural units ute! of river basins as units of development become vey difficult. Subarnarekha 3 Media, being the reflection of the society also align the news along these administrative boundaries. Through this initiative, Vamshadhara 3 we are trying to provide a different and refreshing way of look- Looking forward to your ing at our river basins—their present conditions, their ecological suggestions and opinions and livelihoods implications and their management patterns— to make it more effective, Baitarani Statistics 4 with realignment and compilation of such news around basin purposive and meaningful. boundaries. Page 2 RIVER BASIN TRANSACT The Mahanadi Blowhole Dolphin population has been rising in the mouth of The In- Mahanadi with about 150 dolphins noticed at the Mahanadi Faunal biodi- dian Ex- river mouth in Paradip recently. While it can be attributed to versity press / enhanced conservation efforts, a scientific survey is yet to be 25.03.10 conducted to ascertain it in the absence of facilities. Every year, the flood in the Luna and the Chitrotpala rivers, The Sam- apart from affecting a major portion of the Marsaghai block, is bad / Bank Erosion also engulfing village lands on the river banks through bank 29.03.10 Catchment Area : erosion. The people of this area have no alternative place to 1,41,134 Sq km move on, but the government is yet to even acknowledge the Orissa: 65,628, problem Jharkhand:132 Chhatisgarh:75136 Increasing allocation of Mahanadi water for industries, has Maharashtra:238 started putting stress on availability of the same for agriculture and for meeting other livelihood needs of the riparian commu- The Sam- Water nity. High quantum of river water intake by large and small bad / Allocation industries of Odisha makes drinking water unavailable for the 04.03.10 poor people. No action being taken by the government for regulating and monitoring water allocation in the field, though the state water policy is quite clear about this. The Bridge / Com- Bridge on the Daya river, which was built by Bharatstone Co Length: Samaja / munication Ltd. in the year 1949, is in a dangerous state now, in absence Orissa:494 km, 04.03.10 of repair and maintenance. It may break down at any moment. Chhatisgarh:357 km Population (2001): Flood in the Luna and the Chitrotapala rivers, has been affect- The 34,21,612 Flood & Em- ing the villagers of the Nemala block a lot, with breaches in the Samaja/ bankment embankments at Tilakana on the Luna and at Nahalpur in the Forest: 2302 Thousand 22.03.10 Chitrotapala. No steps being taken by Government towards the Ha eradication of the problem. Discharge of Municipal sewage, industrial effluents and bio- medical wastes into the Mahanadi has raised concerns about environmental sustainability and also posed a serious threat to The the health of people living on the banks. Most the industries Pragati- and urban bodies are discharging their waste water either di- badi rectly to the river Mahanadi. One of the villagers of Cherua- pada named Suchitra Meher died up in cholera for consuming that polluted water. Pollution Bheden River is heavily polluted due to the industrial effluents. The Bhusan Company has been disposing fly ash in undesig- nated site releasing effluent to Bheden River. The company also is discharging waste water from its smelter without any The Sam- treatment. This waste water eventually finds its way into the bad Hirakud reservoir via Bheden River. Waste water from the plant 23.03.10, is directly discharged into the Kharkari drain. Fluoride contami- nation has also been noticed in the drain where the waste wa- ter is discharged. The Illegal mining of sands from the river bed of the Daya is con- Sand mining Samaja / tinuing. But there is no step being taken by govt. to control it. 09.01.10 The embankments of Naraj barrage is in a dangerous condition Dams, Pro- in absence of repairs and maintenance. In absence of any The jects and Bar- steps being taken up by the state for its repair, it is poised to Samaja / rages play havoc in the coming monsoon. 06.02.10 Catchment Area (Total): 20,427 Sqkm The Indravati Orissa:10,300, Andhra Pradesh:10,127 There was inter- state river dispute regarding the water shar- Population Density: 161 / ing of Indravati river between Odisha and Chhatisgarh. It was The Sqkm Annual Rainfall: Inter-state decided to set up a project at Odisha’s Sutapadar village, not Dharitri / Max:4427.6 mm, Min:562.3 dispute only stop Indravati water from flowing into the Jora Nala but 24.03.201 mm also give a lease of life to the river considered the life line of 0 tribal dominated Bastar region. VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 Page 3 The Baitarani The Karagola and the Laichhanapur village of Keonjhar district The are in danger due to the flood of the Baitarani river. Flooding Samaja / is a regular phenomenon in the Baitarani basin. Its inhabitants 02.03.10 live in constant fear of loss to life and property. The embankment on the Salandi river has yet not been com- The Flood & Em- pleted and is everely damaged at many places. This is affect- Samaja/ bankments Catchment Area: 14,218 Sq ing communication to local villagers is severely affected 07.01.10 km Due to the flood of Reba, Kapali and Kandia river of the Baita- The Orissa:13482, rani basin the livelihood of the villagers like Kasimpur, Asurali, Khabara / Jharkhand:736 Fatepur, Bodaka Dhusuri of Bhadrak district affected a lot. 01.03.10 Population Density: 269 / Sqkm Rainfall: Max3094 mm-, Min 642 mm The Brahmani The diversion of Rengali canal water to industries will affect The Water alloca- the irrigation substantially. On the other hand, the state Sambad / tion govt. is trying to dispose of prime agricultural lands – those 04.03.10 being double and triple cropped to industries. The water quality of various locations suffers very high levels of contamination. Due to the heavy discharge of industrial The Pollution wastes into the river, the water getting polluted day by day. Sambad Water treatment facilities around the Brahmani river are ex- tremely limited. Catchment Area : 39,116 The Japan International Coopration Agency (JICA) signed an Sqkm Dams, Pro- agreement with the Indian government providing loans worth The Orissa:22516, Jharkhand: jects & bar- Rs. 10,535 crore for six infrastructure projects. Rs. 150 crore Samaj/ 15700, Chhtisgarh:900 rages loans were also sanctioned for the Rengali Irrigation Project of 30.03.10 Population Density: 236 / Sqkm Odisha. JICA also provides technical and financial co-operation Annual Rainfall: Max:2654 mm, Min:380.4 mm The Subarnarekha Rampant mining, mushrooming of brick kilns and discharge of effluent by the industries have taken heavy toll on the river. Domestic, industrial and radio active pollution along with un- The Pollution controlled dumping of over burden and mining are increasing Sambad / suspended solid and heavy metal load in the water silting the 11.03.10 dams and reservoirs. Radio active wastes enter into the river through seepage from tailing ponds of the Uranium Corpora- tion of India at Jaduguda Catchment Area (Total): The state flood control board has approved the projects 19,277 Sqkm Orissa:2983, Jharhand:13222 , worth Rs.