Community Voice on Inter State River Water & All rights are reserved. The document may be freely reviewed, quoted, reproduced or translated, in part or in full, provided the source is acknowledged. The analysis and policy recommendations of this report do not necessarily represent the views of Action Aid India.

Copyright © Action Aid 2018 Report published in 2018

Published by Natural Resource Knowledge Activist Hub A Knowledge Initiative of Action Aid India & Bhubaneswar Regional Oce, Odisha 331/A, Shahid Nagar, Bhubaneshwar -751007 Phone 06742548224/2548503

Design & Printing by Baba Printer Bhubaneswar Acknowledgement

We are highly thankful to all those who have contributed to complete this study. The members of the people's organisations deserve special thanks individually and collectively for their time, energy and input they have given throughout the study. These organisations are Adim Adhibasi Ekata Manch, Madhapur, Adim Adhibasi Mukti Manch, Gania, Nayagarh Boudh Lokamukti Sangathan, Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Chasi Surakshya Abhiyan, Odisha, Chasi Surakshya Manch, Athamallick-Kishannagar, Angul, Chetanashil Nagarik Manch, Jharsuguda, Gramin Shramajibi Chetana Sangathan, Gania, Mahanadi Seva Sangathan, Subarnapur, Mahanadi Surakshya Samiti, Nayagarh, Mukti, Narsinghpur, Cuttack, Nadi Adhikar Abhiyan, Odisha Ganatantrik Samukhya (OGS), Patang, Sambalpur , Rashtriya Yuva Sangathan, Odisha and Utkal Gandhi Smaraki Nidhi, Cuttack.

Our sincere thanks goes to Binapani Mishra, Secretary, SWAD, Sudarshan Chhotoray, Director, Focus Odisha, Anant, Jharsuguda, Ganesh Kachhwah & Basudev Sharma (Chhatisgarh) for unconditional support and contribution to this study. We appreciate their commitment and involvement to this issue.

We acknowledge our thanks to Priyabrata Satapathy, B N Durga and Biren Nayak for their immense contribution to this study from beginning to end.

Our special thanks to Bimal Prasad Pandia for his intellectual input and contribution to this study and report preparation.

We are thankful to Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director, Actionaid for his guidance, support and encouragement to take up this study and link it with other similar river issues in the country.

Debabrata Patra Bratindi Jena Regional Manager Head of Natural Resource Hub Bhubaneswar Regional Oce Actionaid Association Actionaid Association Contents

Pages

Acknowledgement i

Chapter 1 1 - 6 Introduction

Chapter 2 7-12 Mahanadi River Basin

Chapter 3 13-16 Methodology

Chapter 4 17-30 Study Findings & Interpretation

Chapter 5 31-33 Conclusion & Way Forward

References 34 CHAPTER - I Introduction Rivers play an important role in the lives of by melting snow and rainfall, creating huge Indian people. The river systems provide plains. Peninsular rivers like Narmada, Krishna, irrigation, potable water, easy transportation, and Mahanadi ow through shallow electricity, as well as livelihoods support to a valleys. Large numbers of them are rain fed and large number of people all over the country. seasonal. 2 Hence, all major cities of India are located on River is a gift of nature, not just owing water. the banks of river. Rivers also play crucial role in Hence there are number of views on, free ow, cultural and spiritual life of people apart from environmental ow, ecological and economic material gains. ow of river. River has many other functions, Rivers are parts of integrated systems that not only owing water, carrying huge stones, include ood plains and riparian corridors. sand formation, land creation - char, increasing Collectively these systems provide a large fertility of land, irrigation to cultivable land, option of benets. Dr. K alyan Rudra maintain river bed water sources chuan, emphasised that the river systems along with maintains soil moisture, nurtures and issues of ecology, culture, livelihood, resource contributes in the form of tributaries. sharing, river bank erosion and oods have to Civilizations tended to grow up in river valleys be taken into consideration. All these issues for a number of reasons. The most obvious is should be seamlessly woven or inter-linked. access to a usually reliable source of water for Any study about a river would be incomplete 1 agriculture and human needs. Plentiful water otherwise. and enrichment of the soil due to annual Eight major Rivers, Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra, oods, made it possible to grow excess crops Narmada, Tapi, Godavari, Krishna and beyond what was needed to sustain an Mahanadi along with their numerous agricultural village. This allowed for some tributaries form the river system in India. Rivers members of the community to engage in non- ow either in Eastern or Western direction, agricultural activities such as construction of meeting the Arabian Sea or Bay of Bengal. Parts buildings and cities (the root of the word of Ladakh, northern parts of the Aravalli range "civilization"), metal working, trade, and social and the arid parts of the Thar Desert have organization.3 4 Boats on the river provided an inland drainage. All major rivers of India easy and ecient way to transport people and originate from one of the three main goods, allowing for the development of trade watersheds - The Himalaya and the Karakoram and facilitating central control of outlying ranges, Vindhya and Satpura ranges and areas. 5 Chotanagpur plateau and Sahyadri or Western Human demands on the World's available Ghats, broadly categorised as Himalayan and freshwater supplies continue to grow as the Peninsular rivers. Himalayan rivers like Ganga, global population increases. In the endeavour Indus and Brahmaputra have large basins fed

1Ecosystems for Life, IUCN, January 2014, http://mcrg.ac.in/IUCN/IUCN_Report_Kolkata.pdf 2http://nihroorkee.gov.in/rbis/India_Information/rivers.htm 3https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_valley_civilisations#cite_note-3 4Mountjoy, Shane (2005)Rivers in World History: The . Chelsea House Publishers.p.15. 5Indus River Valley Civilization". The River Valley Civilization Guide. Retrieved 27 September 2017

01 to manage water to meet human needs, the m a j o r h u m a n m a d e d i s a s t e r s - r s t needs of freshwater species and ecosystems construction of dams, barrages to store water have largely been neglected, and the and curtail free ow of river and secondly dump ecological consequences have been tragic. all kinds of pollutants, waste in the river Healthy freshwater ecosystems provide a assuming that it will ow in due course of time. wealth of goods and services for society, but There is history of dams and their role in appropriation of freshwater ows must be establishing industrial supremacy of societies. better managed if hope to sustain these In this process the powerful state and benets and freshwater biodiversity. A corporate lobby makes a futile eort of framework for developing an ecologically rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced sustainable water management program, in communities due to dams. The modern which human needs for water are met by developmental model, based on the vision of storing and diverting water in a manner that human progress through control of nature, is can sustain or restore the ecological integrity of f u n d a m e n t a l l y awe d. D a m s d r i ve n aected river ecosystems, is being researched. displacement of communities especially of Sixstep process in this direction may include: tribal people are evident in many parts of the (1) developing initial numerical estimates of country. Apart dams cause unprecedented key aspects of river ow necessary to sustain oods while controlling inow of excess water native species and natural ecosystem in the river. That leaves large areas inundated functions; (2) accounting for human uses of and causes massive disasters resulting loss of water, both current and future, through life and property. While during lean season river development of a technical hydrologic dries up in large patches, in many river post simulation model that facilitates examination rains within a month or so river ceases to ow of humaninduced alterations to river ow with adequate water. regimes; (3) assessing incompatibilities between human and ecosystem needs with Both industrialisation and urbanisation has particular attention to their spatial and contributed to creation of pollutants of all temporal character; (4) collaboratively types, solid, liquid and some of these are s e a r c h i n g f o r s o l u t i o n s t o r e s o l v e extremely dangerous to all forms of living incompatibilities; (5) conducting water being. Often people nd it easy to use river as management experiments to resolve critical untreated garbage dump. This is causing uncertainties that frustrate eorts to integrate ailments not only to human beings and human and ecosystem needs; and (6) livestock but also killing large number of designing and implementing an adaptive aquatics. m a n a g e m e n t p r o g r a m t o f a c i l i t a t e Rivers are dying in most parts of country. ecologically sustainable water management Pollution and barraging of rivers have been the for the long term. Drawing from case studies major issue. Incessant ow that kept the river around the World to illustrate it is suggested clean while facilitating all other functions river t h at e co l o gi c a l l y s u s t a i n a b l e wate r front blocking water are now blocked through management is attainable in the vast majority barrages and dams. This has led to severe of the World's river basins. However, this quest pollution of rivers as large numbers of will become far less feasible if one waits until 6 pollutants are dumped in the river. Major River water supplies are further overappropriated. like Ganga, , Brahmaputra, Kosi, However, rivers by and large suer from two Jhelum, Bagmati, Mahanadi are dammed. Both

6 Brian D. Richter, Ruth Mathews, David L. Harrison , Robert Wigington, ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT: MANAGING RIVER FLOWS FOR ECOLOGICAL INTEGRITY, First published: 01 February 2003

02 pollution and restrained ow of river are killing legal status into existing legislation and the river. Many rivers assumed to be living are provides funding and ongoing central also in death bed in many parts. Though rivers government support for implementing and do not exist in parts rather is cutting across operationalising the new legal rights. The new dierent state boundaries. 7 law now honoured and reected Mori worldview and could set a precedent for others This way right of river to ow free and to be free in New Zealand to follow in Whanganui's from pollution is violated. Also right to river of footsteps. 9 all living beings is denied. This is alarming not only for the present society but also for the On March 20, 2017, Uttarakhand High Court future generation. In many part of the country gave recognition to the legal status as a living river dependent communities are already person/legal entity to Rivers Ganga and feeling the burden of such development Yamuna". The Court held that Ganga and all her process. tributaries, streams, every natural water o w i n g w i t h o w c o n t i n u o u s l y o r Rivers in India has been revered from time intermittently of these rivers, are declared as immemorial as Goddesses and living beings. In juristic/legal persons/living entities having the dierent parts of the country they are status of a legal person with all corresponding worshiped on dierent occasions and become rights, duties and liabilities of a living person in the centre of pilgrimage for lakhs of people order to preserve and conserve the rivers of both from India and abroad. Now after Ganga basin. Supreme Court has stayed the rampant human intervention with rivers and judgment of the High Court on July 7, 2017. The their ow, again the debate of restoring status order came upon hearing the Special Leave of living being to rivers have emerged. Petition of State of Uttarakhand against the In 2017, World community witnessed, four verdict. The one sentence order reads: In the rivers getting legal status. The Whanganui meantime, the operation of the impugned River in New Zealand, the Ganga and Yamuna order shall remain stayed. 10 The Bench of 44th Rivers in India and the Rio Atrato, in Colombia. Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar and These developments have fundamentally Justice D Y Chandrachud heard the petitioner's altered the legal status of rivers questioning counsel in the absence of the counsel for the about whether such approach can be respondents mentioned as 'caveator-in- transferred and generalised to other rivers person'. across the World, including rivers in Australia. River knows no boundaries. However, human Giving nature legal rights means the law can created boundaries of states divide rivers see nature as a legal person, thus creating between states in many parts from the origin rights that can then be enforced. Legal rights till reaching the sea or other major river. This focus on the idea of legal standing which also has led to exercise claim over that part of enables nature to go to court to protect its the river as state property and control water rights. Legal personhood also includes the sharing, downstream. This is not only right to enter and enforce contracts, and the 8 happening with Transboundary Rivers sharing ability to hold property. international border but also between states in After 140 years of negotiation, Mori tribe wins India. Age old Cauvery river water dispute recognition for Whanganui (nui) river, as a between Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala is living entity through the Te Awa Tupua well known. Now more rivers are entering in to (Whanganui River Claims Settlement) Act such interstate river water sharing dispute and 2017. The new legislation integrates the river's Mahanadi is one such that ows between

7 Iyer, R. (2015) Living Rivers, Dying rivers, Oxford University Press 8 Dr. Erin O'Donnell, (2017) New legal rights for rivers, University of Melbourne, Australia 9 Roy, Eleanor Ainge (2017), New Zealand river granted same legal rights as human being, The Guardian 10 (2017), Order of Supreme Court, Special Leave Petition No. 16879/2017, 7 July

03 Chhattisgarh and Odisha. river basins of India, it has informed that the total basin area of Mahanadi is 1,39,659 Km2. Mahanadi River One of the largest basins Some other government sources have given of India dierent gure of Mahanadi's total basin area. The geographical extent of the basin lies The Reassessment of water availability, volume between 80028' and 86043' east longitudes 1 repor t published by Central Water and 19008' and 23032' north latitudes. It is Commission (CWC) in 2017 informs that the bounded by the Central India hills on the north, total basin area is 1,44,905 Km2 (CWC, 2017). by the Eastern Ghats on the south and east and The Depar tment of Water Resources, by Maikala range on the west. The Mahanadi Government of Odisha in its web page on river basin extends over states of Chhattisgarh and basins informs that the total catchment area of Odisha draining an area of 1,41,589 Km2 (India- Mahanadi river basin is 1,41,134 Km2. WRIS, 2018). In area, Mahanadi is the sixth largest There is some confusion on exact area of river basin in India and the third largest river Mahanadi basin as dierent sources have given basin in the peninsular India. Its basin area is varying gures of the basin area. While in its nearly 4.3 percent of the total geographical section on Mahanadi, Water Resource area of the Country (India-WRIS, 2018). Table Information System of India (WRIS) informs 1.1 below shows area of major river basins of that the basin area is 1,41,589 Km2, at another India. place where it has given information on major

Table 1.1: Area of major basins in India

Sl River Basin Area(Km2) Sl River Basin Area(Km2) No No 1. Ganga 8,08,334.44 8. Cauvery 85,624.44 2. Indus 4,53,931.87 9. Tapi 63,922.91 3. Godavari 3,02,063.93 10. Pennar 54,243.43 4. Krishna 2,54,743.31 11. Brahmani& Baitarani 51,893.70 5. Brahmaputra 1,86,421.60 12. Mahi 38,336.80 6. Mahanadi 1,39,659.15 13. Sabarmati 30,678.59 7. Narmada 92,670.51 14. Subarnarekha 25,792.16 Source: Compiled from India-WRIS, 2011

Water resources and runo basin at the third position with 33.77 BCM and Krishna basin at fourth position with 26.74 While Mahanadi river basin is the third largest BCM (CWC, 2012). However, earlier studies by among peninsular river basins in area, this CWC and a compilation by IIT, Roorkie informs basin has the second largest water potential. that in terms of water potential, Mahanadi is The Integrated Hydrological Data Book the sixth largest river basin of India and among published by CWC in 2012 informs, 'the peninsular rivers it is the third largest water average annual potential/average annual potential (CWC, 2012). Table 1.2 lists the earlier runo in non-classied river basins is highest at estimation of major river basins of India and 131 BCM in basin followed by their average annual water potential. 61.95 BCM in Mahanadi'. It pegs the Narmada

04 Table 1.2: Major river basins of India and their average annual water potential Sl Water Potential Sl Water Potential River Basin 3 River Basin 3 No (Km ) No (Km )

Source: Compiled from IIT, Roorkie (2002) A study report by P. Govind Rao informs that the of 74 Million Acre Feet (MAF)', or about 91.3 Km3 mean annual river ow of Mahanadi river is 66 (Unied Basin-wide Plan, Mahanadi Valley 640 million m3, which is 66.64 BCM (Rao, 1993). Development Report, 1947). It gives a clear and While many earlier compilations made by startling indication that the water potential of Central Water Commission (CWC) had pegged Mahanadi river basin has dropped a whopping the average annual water potential of 16.3 percent of what had been estimated at the Mahanadi river basin at 66.88 BCM or 66.88 Hirakud project design stages in the 1940s. 3 Km , the Integrated Hydrological Data Book Large uctuations in monsoon & non- published by CWC in 2012 had estimated that monsoon ow the 'average annual potential/average annual runo' in Mahanadi river basin is 61.95 BCM. All non-Himalayan rivers are mostly fed by This means that the water resource potential of monsoon rainfall and hence they have large the Mahandi river basin has dropped seasonal variations in ow. Mahanadi gets substantially from the earlier estimations made most of its water in the South-East monsoon by CWC and is substantially lower than the period within very short period of about 90 water resource potential estimated during days. Table 1.3 shows share of monsoon and formulation of the Hirakud project report. The non-monsoon runo in major peninsular Mahanadi valley development plan had said rivers. Mahanadi gets about 88.3 percent of its that, Mahanadi river 'has a mean annual runo total runo in Monsoon months. Table 1.3: Monsoon and non-monsoon ow of major non-Himalayan rivers (In MCM)

River Monsoon (%) Non-monsoon (%) Mahanadi 5574 (88.28) 740 (11.72 ) Godavari 7593 (94.83 ) 414 (5.17 ) Krishna 4033 (94.32 ) 243 (5.68 ) Kaveri 963 (70.09) 411 (29.91) Narmada 6140 (78.6) 1 672 (21.4)

Source: Compiled from Integrated Hydrological Data Book, CWC, 2012 N.B.: Figures in bracket indicate percentage to total water potential.

05 Table indicates the large dierence in water portions of Raipur city. After being joined by potential of the rivers in monsoon and non- the Seonath, the river ows in an easterly monsoon period. Mahanadi gets about 88.3 direction through the remaining part of its percent of its total water potential in the journey. It is joined by the Jonk and Hasdeo monsoon season and a lowly 11.7 percent in rivers before entering into Odisha, after the non-monsoon season. covering about half of its total length near Raigarh and Janjgir Champa Districts of Chhattisgarh. Out of its total length of 851 km, River Basins in Odisha it covers 494 km in Odisha state. It entered into The total geographical area of Odisha (1,55,707 Odisha at Sukhasoda of . square km) is divided into eleven river basins Near the city of Sambalpur, it is dammed by the covering a geographical area of 1,50,460 largest earthen dam in the world, the Hirakud square km and minor river basins of 5247 Dam. Tel is biggest tributary of Mahanadi at square km which drains directly into the Bay of Sonepur, from where again the river ows Bengal. Out of eleven river basins, seven basins eastwards to join the Bay of Bengal. It then like Mahanadi, Brahmani, Subarnarekha, skirts the boundaries of the Baudh district. The N a g a v a l i , V a n s a d h a r a , K o l a b a n d River then rolls towards the Eastern Ghats, Budhabalanga are interstate either due to their forcing its way through them via the 22 origin or fall-out in the sea of the adjoining kilometres long Satkosia Gorge. The Satakosia state. All the rivers owing in the state are either Gorge ends at Badamul of Nayagarh. originating from Central Plateau of India or The river enters the Odisha plains at Naraj, Eastern Ghat region and ow along the about 11 kilometres from Cuttack, where it direction of lower contour to join the main pours down between two hills that are a mile stream, which ultimately ow in eastward apart. A barrage has been constructed here to direction to join Bay of Bengal. regulate the river's ow into Cuttack. The river River Mahanadi traverses in an east-west direction. Just before entering Cuttack, it gives The Mahanadi is one of the major rivers of India, o large distributaries called the Kathjori. The owing east and draining into the Bay of Kathjori then throws o many streams like the Bengal. The Mahanadi River rises from Kuakhai, Devi and Surua which fall into the Bay Chhattisgarh and after throwing o numerous of Bengal after entering . The branches, the Mahanadi falls into the Bay of Kathjori itself falls into the sea as the Jatadhar. Bengal. Odisha is drained by 11 major rivers Traversing through the districts of Cuttack and and their tributaries. Mahanadi touches part of Puri from west to east through a large number Sundargarh, Jharsuguda Sambalpur, Baragarh, of distributaries, it has developed an extensive Sonepur, Balangir, Nuapara, Cuttack, delta. Other distributaries of Mahanadi include Jagatsinghpur, Khurda and Puri districts. the Daya, Bhargavi, Kushabhadra, Birupa, For the rst 80 kilometres of its course, Chitroptala, Rajua, Makara, Malaguni, Genguti Mahanadi ows in a northerly direction and and Luna. Daya and Bhargavi ows into Lake runs through and touch eastern Chilika.

06 CHAPTER - II Mahanadi - An overview

Origin and broad topography The Mahanadi River originates, at an elevation There are 14 major tributaries of which 12 are of 442 metre, from Sihawa hill range about six joining Mahanadi River in the upstream of kilometers east of Farsiya village in Dhamtari Hirakud reservoir and two downstream of it. district of Chhattisgarh state (India-WRIS, On the Left Bank six tributaries, namely, the 2018). The origin is quite close to the Seonath, the Hasdeo, the Mand, the Ib, the Kelo administrative border of Odisha-Chhattisgarh and Borai drain into main river channel states. Tributaries of Tel River - which is the upstream of Hirakud reservoir. The drainage second largest tributary of the Mahanadi River, system in upstream of Hirakud reservoir is originate from the other side of the same hill more extensive on the left bank of Mahanadi as range. The nearest urban centre closest to the compared to that on the Right Bank. On the origin is Nagari, a Nagar Panchayat in Dhamtari Right Bank, six tributaries namely the Pairi, the district. The Nagari town is located about 64 Jonk, the Sukha, Kanji, the Lilar and the Lanth kilometres south-east of district headquarter join upstream of Hirakud reservoir and two town Dhamtari and about 129 kilometres tributaries namely Tel and Ong join south of Chhattisgarh state capital city Raipur. downstream of it. From Odisha side, the origin of Mahanadi is Seonath, Tel, Ib and Hasdeo are four of the most located at a distance of about 100 kilometres important tributaries of Mahandi river. from Dharmagarh in Kalahandi district and Catchment areas of Seonath and Tel river Sinapali in Nuapada district. basins alone constitute about 38 percent of the The basin consists of the Northern Plateau, the Mahanadi's total drainage area. Four major Eastern Ghats, the Coastal Plain and the tributaries, namely the Seonath, Hasdeo and erodible plains of Central Table Land. The rst the Ib rivers on the Left Bank and the Tel river on two are hilly regions. The Coastal plain is the the Right bank together constitute more than fertile delta area. The elevation values ranges half, nearly 53 percent, of the total catchment from a minimum of 0 m to a maximum of 1,321 area of the river Mahanadi (CWC, 2012). m. The average elevation is about 321 m in the Seonath has the largest share in the catchment basin (CWC, 2017). while Tel has the second largest catchment Major tributaries of Mahanadi River among major tributaries of the river. The total length of the river from its origin to Share of states in Mahanadi river's drainage conuence at the Bay of Bengal is about 851 area kilometres, of which 357 kilometres is in If we consider total basin area of Mahanadi Chhattisgarh and the balance 494 km in Odisha River as 141,600 Km2, out of this about 74,970 (CWC, 2012). This means that Odisha has the Km2 lies in Chhattisgarh state and about 65,600 larger share in length of Mahanadi River's main Km2 lies in Odisha. Maharastra, and course.

07 have insignicant catchment maintained by the ministry of Water Resources, area of the river. About 53% of Mahanadi's informs that the total water resource potential catchment area lies in Chhattisgarh and 46% in of the Mahanadi river basin is 66,880 MCM of Odisha. which about 50,000 MCM of surface water Both Chhattisgarh and Odisha have high stakes resource is utilisable. It mentions that 12,799 on Mahanadi as basin area of the river forms a MCM of live storage capacity has already been signicantly large part of both the states. The created, which is 25.6 percent of the estimated Mahandi River is considered as mother in both utilisable water resource potential. WRIS states as Mahanadi basin area forms 56.1% of further informs that 1,465 MCM of live storage Chhattisgarh's total geographic area and potential is under creation (WRIS, 2018). 42.15% of Odisha's total area. Together it will be 28.5 percent of total utilisable potential. This is the created live Large variation in annual ow storage only. It is obvious that the utilisation of The basin receives an average annual rainfall of water is much more than the live storage 1,291 mm, of which about 90 percent is capacity. For example, total water withdrawal received from the south-west monsoon, i.e. from Hirakud reservoir is about 14,195 MCM from June to October (The Forum for Policy which is 2.4 times more than its live storage Dialogue on Water Conicts in India, 2017). capacity. Annual rainfall of the basin varies from 923 mm The Forum had made an attempt to compile to 1,905 mm and mean rainfall of these 30 years large and major irrigation projects in the is found to be 1,317 mm (CWC, 2017). Mahanadi basin. It informed that of the At 75 percent dependability, annual ows in completed storages, 52 percent is in Odisha the Mahanadi river is 53.78 BCM (Ministry of while the rest is in Chhattisgarh. Altogether, the Water Resources, 1999). The average annual CWC lists 253 dams and 24 barrages / weirs/ ow of river Mahandi is quite deceptive as anicuts in the Mahanadi river basin. Of these variation in annual runo is quite large. The structures, 74 are either major or medium Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conicts in irrigation projects (Forum, 2017). India (henceforth Forum) found that the inter- Land use and agriculture status in Mahanadi annual ow in the river is highly variable, being basin as low as 20 Billion Cubic Meter (BCM) to as high as 70 BCM (Forum, 2017). The Central Water Commission has mapped Land Use Land Cover (LULC) status of Mahanadi Studying the 30 year period from 1985-86 to basin by using space inputs. The map indicates 2014-15, the Central Water Commission found land use land cover status of the basin in the that the maximum annual water resource was year 2004-05. The map indicates that 142.61 BCM during 1994-95 in 30 years and the Double/Triple crop (25.99 percent), current minimum annual water resource was 31.77 fallow (25 percent) and Scrub/Deg Forest BCM during 2000-01. The mean available basin (11.80) are the major classes in Mahanadi basin water resource is 73.00 BCM (CWC, 2017) (CWC, 2017). Forest area is 29,74,000 and Major projects in Mahanadi river basin and 24,00,000 in Chhattisgarh and Odisha water usages respectively (Forum, 2017). Many projects have come up in and across The Forum in 2017 made attempts to assess the Mahanadi river and its tributaries. The WRIS, status of agriculture in the Mahanadi basin. It

08 had found that the basin is predominantly impossible. agricultural with a mix of commercial and Referring to the CWC's list of 253 dams and 24 subsistence farming systems dominated by rice barrages/weirs/anicuts in the Mahanadi river cultivation. While Chhattisgarh is mainly Kharif basin of which 74 are either major or medium dominated, the study witnessed even three irrigation projects, the Forum had concluded seasons of paddy cultivation in the irrigated that the dams and barrages etc potentially belt of Odisha. Agriculture in the Mahanadi provide irrigation cover to a gross irrigable area basin in Chhattisgarh is concentrated in the of 32.8 Lakh Ha - 15.4 Lakh Ha in Odisha and western uplands (Kawardha, Rajnandgaon, 17.4 Lakh Ha in Chhattisgarh. The forum had Bilaspur) and central plains (Durg, Dhamtari, estimated that the irrigable area is 40 per cent Raipur, Mahasamund, Janjgir-Champa). In of the 82.3 Lakh Ha Gross Cropped Area in the Odisha, agriculture is extensive in the western river basin (Forum, 2017). These varying gures districts (Balangir, Bargarh, Nuapada and s h o w t h a t t h e r e a r e s e r i o u s d a t a Subarnapur) and the coastal parts (Cuttack, inconsistencies with regard to irrigation Jagatsinghpur and Puri) of the state. In these potentials created in the Mahanadi river basin. regions, agriculture is supported by large-scale irrigation infrastructure, through major and Irrigation development is growing more medium projects. The northern and southern rapidly in Chhattisgarh than in Odisha. extremes of Chhattisgarh, as also the central However, total irrigated areas continue to be regions of Odisha in the Mahanadi basin are higher, though moderately, in Odisha. more heavily forested and have smaller-scale Industrialisation in the Mahanadi basin area rain-fed farming systems (Forum, 2017) The Forum did undertake an exercise to nd There are lot of confusion regarding irrigation out status of industrial water allocation to the potential created in Mahanadi river basin. The industries by referring to the environmental CWC in the 'Reassessment of water availability' clearances by the Ministry of Forest and report informs that the irrigation command Environment, Government of India. It revealed area in the Mahanadi river basin was 30, 67,600 that the total amount of water in the Mahanadi Ha in 2014-14. It was 13, 82,500 Ha in 2004-05 basin allocated to large industries is about 1130 (CWC, 2017). The CWC had made this MCM in Chhattisgarh and 944 MCM in Odisha. estimation based on completed dam and This amounts to a total of 2074 MCM or about irrigation projects. It indicates that irrigation 1.7 MAF of water for industrial use which is command area grew by 121.9 percent in a about four percent of the total utilisable decade. This gure of irrigation command area surface water in the Mahanadi Basin. About does not tally with gures of net sown area in 1661 MCM (80 per cent) of water is allocated to the basin estimated by dierent reports. As per thermal power generation alone, a steep Integrated hydrological data book prepared by increase from 364 MCM in 2007 (Forum, 2017). CWC in 2012, the net sown area in Mahanadi Flood and Mahanadi basin was 23, 14,713 Ha in 2006-07 (CWC, 2012). NIIT-Roorkie has reported that net sown area in Mahanadi is one of the most ood prone basins the Mahanadi basin was 48, 34,526 Ha (IIT- of India. Flood is not a big problem in Roorkie, 2018). These gures do not tally as the Chhattisgarh, but ood furies in Odisha is command area reported by CWC in 2017 is almost a regular feature. The Odisha state water higher than the net sown area, which is plan (2004) has a full chapter on ood in

09 Mahanadi basin. The upstream catchment of argued that Hirakud has augmented ood fury Mahanadi is mountainous and has a steep in the downstream in some years, especially in slope. The catchment lies directly on the south middle or late monsoon period. Climate west monsoon track and as such receives heavy change aecting rainfall pattern and large rainfall during monsoon. Besides, the numbers of dams in the upstream of Hirakud catchment area close to the sea is prone to reser voir have fur ther strained and heavy rain brought about by the cyclones complicated Hirakud's ood mitigating generated in the Bay in September to capacity. A ood forecasting and inundation November period. Thus, the catchment has the mapping study has found that while the potential of producing very high ood. The original design ood for was delta area is plain and has a at slope. In 42,500 m3/s. More recent calculations indicate addition, at topography of the delta area that the maximum probable ood is 69,500 hinders ood water discharge and causes huge m3/s, or about 63 percent greater than original ooding (Odisha State Water Plan, 2004). On calculation. average, the basin receives 1,088 mm While the delta of the basin is historically highly (millimetres) of rainfall during the southwest ood vulnerable, the upper catchment area in monsoon (mid-June to mid-October); as a both Odisha and Chhattisgarh are also facing result, the delta is subject to annual oods, oods, more in recent decades. This has made which are aggravated by high tides and heavy ood character of Mahanadi more complex. rainfall directly on the delta (Sengupta et al, 2018). The deltaic drainage, which also burdens Trans boundary River Conicts drainage of , is only 9,034 Km2 Presently two major basin states, Odisha and spread. This small delta area against a huge Chhattisgarh, are warring share over the catchment area of the basin is a major cause of Mahanadi water. A river dispute tribunal has ood in the Mahanadi system. already been set up to hear and adjudicate. The Odisha Flood Committee Report (1928) However, the basin has many other kinds of had said, 'It has been calculated that the conicts as well. Mahanadi discharges, in maximum ood, Interstate conict between Odisha and about one and a half million cubic feet of water Chhattisgarh a second where it emerges from the hills above The recent conict over Mahanadi river water Cuttack, while, if a circle of 25 miles radius be arouse, in mid-2016, when Odisha objected to drawn with its centre at that place, the construction of six barrages across Mahanadi branches of the Mahanadi, where they cross river in the upstream of the Hirakud reservoir. that circle, are capable of carrying only half that Odisha complained that not only Chhattisgarh volume'. This causes high ood in the deltaic had kept Odisha in dark about the barrages; it regions. has also committed fraud by submitting wrong Hirakud dam and reservoir was primarily facts to various bodies in the central designed to protect the lower Mahanadi, more government. Odisha is alleging that particularly the Mahanadi delta, from ood. Chhattisgarh presented those barrages as However, many researchers have found that minor irrigation projects whereas they are Hirakud reservoir has failed to moderate oods primarily intended to supply large water to because of loss of storages and other priorities industries. Chhattisgarh has on the other hand of the reservoir. Some researchers have also argued that it is entitled to use water of

10 Mahanadi river. states to put on hold the project construction O disha has alleged that because of works for one week. impounding and obstruction by the barrages, The central government claimed that following non-monsoon inow into Hirakud reservoir has decisions were taken in the meeting: signicantly reduced. The Department of Water a. A special committee will be formed which Resources, Government of Odisha, has issued will list out the water resources projects in press statements and also in a reply sought Odisha and Chhattisgarh those have under RTI, has claimed that 'non-monsoon b e e n c o n s t r u c t e d o r a r e u n d e r inow in 2016-17 was recorded to be 41.1%, construction without the approval of the 32.9%, 30.9%, 39.2%, 27.6%, 73% and 77.8% Technical Advisory Committee of MoWR, less in November 2016, December 2016, RD and GR. The committee will submit a January 2017, February 2017, March 2017, April report within a week's time. 2017 and May 2017 respectively in comparison to average ow received during previous 10 b. The gauge and discharge sites will be years'. This alleged drop was huge. Odisha fears opened at interstate border of Odisha and that the runo will drop further as Chhattisgarh Chhattisgarh at a location for eective is planning to tap Mahanadi water through measurement of ows from Chhattisgarh many more projects. The issue has snowballed catchment into Hirakud dam. into major issue, fuelled further by the fact that c. A detailed study of water availability of two opposing political parties rule the warring Mahanadi may be carried out by National states. Institute of Hydrology, Roorkie. The central government facilitated a tripartite d. Formation of an Expert committee, as meeting on September 17th, 2016. Chief suggested by Odisha, will be formed. Ministers of Odisha and Chhattisgarh and However, government of Odisha objected to Union Minister for Water Resources with their Chhattisgarh's refusal to stop construction of ocials and other important departments barrages and decided to not cooperate with s u c h a s C e n t r a l Wa t e r C o m m i s s i o n any committee. Later Odisha government representatives met to nd solution to the asked the central government to constitute to conict. Chief Minister of Odisha demanded Mahanadi River Dispute Tribunal under Inter- that work on all ongoing projects in Mahanadi states River Water Dispute Act, 1965. basin in Chhattisgarh state should be stopped Complaining that Central government is siding for three months and an 'Expert Committee' with the state of Chhattisgarh and delaying may be formed to study the impact of projects redress, Odisha government approached the in Mahanadi basin and give its report within Supreme Court to seek a direction to the three months. Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Central government to constitute a Tribunal. said that 57% of Mahanadi water is owing to The Supreme Court, on January 24, 2018, sea without any use in the basin. The Mahanadi ordered the Central government to constitute River has sucient water to meet the Mahanadi River Dispute Tribunal within one requirements of both the states. He suggested month. Central government failed to forming a 'joint control board' as mentioned in constitute the Tribunal within the stipulated 1983 agreement between Odisha and time and the cabinet took a decision in this erstwhile Madhya Pradesh states. Chhattisgarh regard only on February 20, 2018. On March 12, government said that since the projects are in 2018, the Central government issued advanced stages of completion, they will not notication regarding constitution of the stop construction. Union Minister asked the Mahanadi River Water Dispute Tribunal.

11 Prior to Odisha government's approach observation of the runo at Hirakud clearly to the Supreme Court of India, a civil society reveals that while mean annual runo has body 'Mahanadi Bachao Andolan' had sought decreased substantially, the site has also intervention of National Green Tribunal (NGT) registered higher runo than the previously against construction of barrages and other observed maximum runo and lower runo projects in Chhattisgarh. That matter is than previously observed minimum runo. In pending in the NGT. the year 1961 total annual runo at Hirakud Run-o at Hirakud was 73.63 MAF, signicantly higher than the previously observed 'maximum runo' of 69.9 The Hirakud dam project report had estimated MAF. Similarly, in the 59 years since 1958, the that the 'Mean Annual Runo' at the dam site total annual runo at Hirakud has been less was 50 Million Acre Feet (MAF) from1926 to than the previous observed 'minimum runo' 1946. It had, further, estimated that the in as many as 21 years. That means while the 'Maximum Runo ' was 69.9 MAF and annual run-o is on a decreasing trend, it has 'Minimum Runo' was 20.61 MAF. A close become more extreme.

12 CHAPTER- III Research Methodology Focus of the Study i) Study the life and livelihood dependency poor and pro-riparian policies that benet of River basin communities of Mahanadi them as well as the rivers' ecosystems. River both as upper and lower riparian. Specic Objective ii) Understand impact of inconsistent water 1. To study the life and livelihood inow and pollution in River Mahanadi on dependency of people on River Mahanadi riverine communities and river eco- those are living in Mahanadi basin like s y s t e m a n d c o m m u n i t y w a t e r f a r m e r s , s h e r m e n a n d a r t i s a n governance. communities. iii) Socio-cultural, economic & religious 2. To analyze secondary Data on River ow, impact on communities especially on decline groundwater and other water women of diminishing water quality and resources, pollution, human made quantity in River Mahanadi obstructions on River and impact of Objective of the study Climate Change etc. General Objective 3. To understand people's perspective on To understand river water governance of River issues related to Mahanadi. Mahanadi through studying the people's 4. To share the river basin people's issues perspective on River and water governance in and concerns with dierent stakeholder both Odisha and Chhattisgarh to arrive at pro- including government. Table 3.1 Save Mahanadi, save livelihood Study Journey / Timeline Sl. No Time Events 1. 1st Week of The concept to do a study on river Mahanadi and life and livelihood December 2017 of Basin Communities was discussed Padyatra (Mahanadi Banchaa jibika banchaa) from Lara (Chhattisgarh) 2. 19th 23rd Dec. 2017 to Cuttack along Mahanadi river started from Lara

3. 22nd Dec. 2017 Padyatra ends with meeting at Cuttack

4. February to July 2018 Data collection from dierent identied begins 5. June - July 2018 Data collection and analysis of data completed

6. 30th June 2018 Sharing of Peoples perspective with Government of Odisha

The study was undertaken in 10 Districts of Odisha & Chhatisgarh. 36 villages in 8 districts (Jharsuguda, Sambalpur, Subarnapur, Boudh, Angul, Nayagarh, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Khorda and Puri) of Odisha. 4 villages from 2 districts ( Raigarh & Janjagir Champa) of Chhattisgarh were covered under this study.

13 Study Universe Table 3.2 List of sample states, districts, blocks, gram panchayats and villages covered State District Block Panchayat Village Chhasgarh Raigarh Sarangarh Kalma Saradih Raigarh Basantpur Chhasgarh Janjgir Champa Dabhra Debara Basantpur JaiJaiPur Jayantpur Kikirda Odisha Jharsuguda Rengali Khinda Nuakhinda

Kandheikela Mahulpalli

Sukhasoda

Kandheikela Odisha Sambalpur Maneswar Bateimura Khun Bhoipali Bhoipali Sambalpur Badabazar Badabazar Hirakud NAC Mahmadpur Mahmadpur Dhankauda Talab Sonukra Odisha Subarnapur Binika Mahadebapali Gariapali Jharapada Birmaharajpur Bagbar Buroghat Uphula Khambeswaripalli Mahada Bhudobar Odisha Boudh Harbhanga Radhanagar Krushnamohanpur

Dhalapur Khandi Dhalapur

Kankala Kankala

Odisha Angul Athmallik Jamudoli Jamudoli Luhasinga Luhasinga Aida Bahali Odisha Nayagarh Gania Rasanga Osa Chhamundia Chhamundia Badmul Khandapada Kanlo Kanlo Odisha Cuack Narsinghpur Jayamangal Ghoradia Dhanipur Baidyeswar Golaganda Sampur Dal Anuary Anuary Odisha Jagatsinghpur Biridi Manguli Sankhari Sahi Biridi Kulakaijangh

Ukulara Allipada

Paradip Lock Biswali Biswali

Odisha Puri Kanasa Andarsingha Andarsingha Gada Balabhadrapur Gada Balabhadrapur Chupurungi Pahilundi Odisha Khordha Tangi Balipatapur Saraswa Nagar 2 States 12 Districts 21 Blocks 34 Panchayats 40 Villages

14 Sample design of the study Tools and techniques used for data collection The study adopted stratied random sampling Both qualitative and quantitative data for choosing dierent villages according to the collection methods are used for collection of requirement of the study. It has covered two primary and secondary data. For primary village States such as Chhattisgarh and Odisha from level data collection a questionnaire was Mahanadi River Basin. From both the States 40 developed. To get response on demographic, villages were identied according the following socio-economic status, use of river water, criteria (i) villages near to the river Mahanadi changes perceived impact on livelihood, challenges faced by them, knowledge on issue (within 2 kilometers) (ii) Villages where the life between Chhattisgarh and Odisha, pollution in and livelihood of communities depend River and commitment on water governance prominently on River Mahanadi (iii) Artisans questions were formulated. Focused Group and specic communities those depend upon Discussion with groups like farmers, sherman, Mahanadi for their traditional livelihood. artisans, women and youth were conducted to know their prospective.

Table 3.3 Gender distribution in study villages

Distribuon of gender in study villages according to gender

Total Populaon Female Male Raigarh 870 425 445

Janjgir Champa 5873 2937 2936

Jharsuguda 7309 3573 3736

Sambalpur 4977 2438 2539 Subarnapur 2371 1148 1223 Boudh 1183 570 613 Nayagarh 10719 5211 5508 Angul 2551 1234 1317 Cuack 1323 622 701

Jagatsinghpur 9340 4530 4810

Puri 3877 1912 1965

Khordha 308 149 159

Total 50701 24749 25952

15

Table 3.4 Social group distribution of study households

Distribuon of household according to different social group category

Total Total SC % ST % OBC % Gen % HH Popula on Raigarh 197 870 42 21 80 41 39 20 36 18 Janjgir Champa 1327 5873 131 10 75 6 641 48 480 36

Jharsuguda 1466 7309 425 30 301 20 623 42 117 8 Sambalpur 1009 4977 187 19 406 40 333 33 83 8 Subarnapur 566 2371 218 39 2 0.35 151 27 195 34 Boudh 241 1183 174 72 37 15 30 13 0 0 Na yagarh 2493 10719 819 33 2 0.08 1195 48 477 19 Angul 644 2551 173 26 3 0.46 463 72 5 0.78

Cuack 355 1323 161 46 23 6 17 5 154 43 Jaga tsinghpur 1575 9340 342 22 0 0 918 58 315 20 Puri 842 3877 201 24 0 0 415 49 226 27 Khordha 77 308 70 91 0 0 5 7 2 2 Total 10792 50701 2943 27 929 9 4830 45 2090 19

Data analysis Study Limitations The data collected from primary source are 1. The small representation from villages processed through MS Excell and analyzed to may not give a clear statistics of the know about demographic details of the area, problem as a whole but only focus light traditional use of river water and recent on issues. changes on those uses. What the people think 2. The small representation of artisans about such changes and the causes behind it? (brass artisans in Nayagarh) and specic How they get benet or lose for those changes. communities (Jhara Communities of What measures they have taken to deal with Boudh and Subarnapur) may not give a problems and how the livelihood of people clear picture of their suerings or aected. Whether they are aware about the deviation from their traditional r e c e n t p o l i t i c a l d i s c o u r s e b e t w e e n occupation. Chhattisgarh and Odisha? Whether such issue formed part of political agenda in their 3. The transboundary aspect of the issue is respective area? What recommendation they not covered systematically due to suggest to the government to deal with the p a u c i t y o f t i m e , w i t h p r o p e r issue. The secondary information was collected representation from Chhattisgarh. from reports and records of the central as well as state govt. statistics, book and policy documents.

16 Chapter – IV Study Findings

The village level information on responses to of people in all those villages are completely issues relating to reduced water inow in River dependent on River. Out of 40 villages studied, Mahanadi and its impact on life and livelihood 19 villages are situated close to river bank of River basin communities was collected from within 200 meters from river. 11 villages are twelve districts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. within 200 to 500 meters and 10 villages are Some major questions raised were - within 500 meters to 1 kilo meters from River. dependency on the river; changes in river This indicates that around 50 % of villages morphology; impact due to these changes; close to river bank have been studied. This is to increasing diculties; factors furthering vulnerability of riverine communities; local community's perception of issue between Odisha and Chhattisgarh, awareness and participation in decision making process, specic impact on women and impact due to pollution. Sample Village Prole The villages were identied on dierent criteria from dierent districts of Chhattisgarh and Odisha at conuence of River Mahanadi. The study dierent dimensions to people's relation investigators conducted focused group to river in terms of distance. discussion in the villages. An overall prole of the communities from forty villages, twelve Religious Group districts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh was The study found 100 % households in all created. These proles provide studied village sample villages belongs to Hindu religion. details on account of settlement, population, Historically this belt is Hindu dominated and sex ratio, caste, religion, coverage under they have close relation with river in terms of government safety net and status of land their socio, religious and cultural identity. The holding. The analysis gives a clear picture of study could not nd any other religious groups villages in relation to Mahanadi River. at any villages covered under this study. L o c a t i o n o f v i l l a g e s s h o w s t h e i r Temples and other Hindu religious palaces are dependency on River found almost in all villages which indicate the relation between river and religion. People, There are number of settlements on bank of especially women perform dierent rituals in Mahanadi River both in the state of dierent times throughout the year on river Chhatisgarh and Odisha. The life and livelihood bank.

17 Table 4.1 Distribution of houses as per their religion

Distribution of houses as per their religion Total Total District Hindu Percentage HH Popula tion Raigarh 197 870 870 100 Janjgir Champa 1327 5873 5873 100 Jharsuguda 1466 7309 7309 100 Sambalpur 1009 4977 4977 100 Subarnapur 566 2371 2371 100 Boudh 241 1183 1183 100 Nayagarh 2493 10719 10719 100 Anugul 644 2551 2551 100 Cuttack 355 1323 1323 100 Jagatsinghpur 1575 9340 9340 100 Puri 842 3877 3877 100 Khorda 77 308 308 100 Total 10792 50701 50701 100

Government Safety Net implementation and reaching benet in time Mahanadi is a vital source of economy for river to the people. This nding also reveals bank communities. It provides opportunities increasing level of awareness among people on for the people to earn their livelihood. But Government schemes. p e o p l e ' s d e p e n d e n c y o n r i v e r a n d Land Holding Status opportunities reduced over the years. As a result people have started depending on Land prole of the sample villages indicates alternative sources provided by Government. that all villages have some amount of irrigated In order to study people's dependency on land, non-irrigated cultivable land and dierent Government schemes and coverage, common land. Major land holding is information was collected from all household homestead land followed by un-irrigated land. on major government safety nets like As most of the villages are very near to River, MGNREGAS, Annapurna, Antodaya, Housing, they are able to irrigate land. However, now the ICDS and pension. It was found that all trend is continuously changing because most households are linked to one or other schemes of the villages are unable to irrigate their land run by Government in their villages. This is an for non-availability of water in River Mahanadi. indication of increasing people's dependency Defunct lift irrigation system is another reason on Government schemes rather than for lack of coverage of large patch or land depending on river for their day to day available for cultivation purpose. However, lift livelihood. People in covered villages irrigation system is available to irrigate land in observed that all these schemes are highly some patches. Village commons are basically helpful to them but there are irregularities in pasture land available for grazing of livestock.

18 Table 4.2 Land Holding Status

Total land Homestead Culvable Un- Common Districts (Land in Land irrigated irrigated land Hectors) Raigarh 196 120 8 57 11 JanjgirChampa 1563 632 120 737 74 Jharsuguda 1357 754 53 445 105

Sambalpur 757 217 410 45 85

Subarnapur 362 135 190 0 37

Boudh 311 167 9 115 20

Nayagarh 2403 1479 126 735 63 Angul 983 549 22 375 37 Cuack 563 321 27 137 78

Jagatsinghpur 477 200 225 0 52 Puri 615 212 335 20 48 Khordha 95 45 30 10 10

Total 9682 4831 1555 2676 620

Ground Realities View on Issue between Odisha and Awareness about the issue between Odisha Chhattisgarh and Chhattisgarh As regards to people's opinion about People in the study area are aware that there Mahanadi River issues, people are aware about are conicts between Odisha and Chhattisgarh conict between Odisha and Chhattisgarh on River Mahanadi. 38 percent people stated that Knowledge on issue between Chhattisgarh has constructed many barrages Odisha and Chhattisgarh and obstructed the ow of Mahanadi and thus

No 33% Yes 67%

on the issue of construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh at upper stream of Mahanadi which cause less water ow in Odisha. Majority of them told that they are aware about this the inow to Mahanadi in Odisha is drastically issue as all news agencies are now discussing reduced. However, 39 percent people have a this issue. 67 percent people stated that they dierent view and they stated that the issue is are aware about the issue. However, most of the hyped by political parties and they are not people stated that the real issues and problems concerned about the problems faced by of river basin communities are never discussed people whose life and livelihood is depending and both the governments are not serious upon River Mahanadi. Both State Governments about it. Only 33 % respondent expressed that of Odisha and Chhattisgarh are mostly they are not completely aware of conict concerned about the water demand by between two states. industries and intend to establish more

19 industries and provide them water. They are purpose as most communities are depending least concerned about water demand by upon shing as their primary livelihood option. farmers, shermen, artisans or in maintaining 77 percent villages used it for irrigation minimum environmental ow in the river. Only purpose. 37 percent people use river water for 23 percent people stated that water inow in drinking purpose. 32 percent are using it for River Mahanadi is reduced, but it is not that navigation and 57 percent for cultural use. Chhattisgarh is obstructing all water, but there Communities from Chhattisgarh are using only is less rainfall in last few years and thus it for irrigation and shing which is now again not aected the inows towards Odisha. possible as they have less access to water after Dierent uses of River water construction of barrages. Due to severe pollution many places in Odisha people no Minimum environment ow plays an more use water for drinking purpose. However, important role in maintaining the eco systems in Puri and Khordha people are forced to use and natural life habitats. They form part of the River water for drinking purpose despite food chain from vegetative products to aquatic pollution because the alternative sources are creatures like sh, crab, shrimp and many more either not available or those are also species. As indicated in the data, communities contaminated. Villages in Nayagarh and Boudh settled on various river banks use river water for districts are residing in protected areas of varied purposes and their perception of river Satakosia and thus they are not using river for water use too varies widely. There are multiple irrigation or drinking purpose. Due to less uses of river water by communities like water availability and construction of dierent drinking, shing, irrigation, navigation and water harvesting structures most of the people number of cultural and religious activities. 87 are now not using river as means of percent people used Mahanadi River for shing transportation. Table 4.3 Distribution of households as per water use pattern

Districts Irrigaon Drinking Cultural Fishing Navigaon

Raigarh 2 0 0 2 0

Janjgir Champa 2 0 0 2 0

Jharsuguda 4 4 4 4 2 Sambalpur 5 2 1 5 1 Subarnapur 3 2 3 3 2 Boudh 0 1 2 3 1 Nayagarh 0 0 4 4 0 Angul 3 0 1 2 0 Cuack 4 2 3 2 1 Jagatsinghpur 4 0 1 4 2 Puri 3 3 3 3 3 Khordha 1 1 1 1 1 Total 31 (77%) 15 (37%) 23 (57%) 35 (87%) 13 (32%)

Recent changes observed on use of River few years, pollution level increased and much water less water is available to perform rituals. 82 Over last four to ve years, communities have percent people stated that there is less water experienced a shift in the pattern of river water available for irrigation. 85 percent people use. The overall scenario depicts that there is stated that there is no ood in last few years less water for irrigation purpose, no water to and it is a loss for them as the top soil deposit catch sh throughout the year, no ood for last with ood makes the land more fertile. Now

20 they use more fertilizer which increase the cost at upstream by neighbouring State to less of cultivation and also pollute river water. River rainfall, improper water governance system basin communities are aected as they lost and failure of community water management their livelihood 93 percent people stated that system. they will not be able to catch sh from River Almost 90 percent people observed that throughout the year which is their primary construction of barrages as the main threat for livelihood option. Now they are only able to their suering, while 67 percent villagers catch sh in rainy season and forced to alter observed that there is less rainfall in last few their livelihood and most people migrate to years and thus the inow in river is decreasing. other places in search of livelihood. Many 37 percent villages observed that most of the villages are depending upon River for drinking water allocated to industries and such water purpose. 70 percent stated that due to diversion is the main cause for less water in the less inow in River and urban and merger of River. 50 percent people mostly those are industrial auent in River, the water is getting depending upon shing for their primary polluted and they are forced to drink polluted livelihood option observed that use of water. In most of the areas in bank of Mahanadi explosive and pesticide to catch sh, pollute like Boudh, Nayagarh, Angul and Cuttack are water and sh availability is decreasing suering from kidney and other waterborne drastically. They are using it to get immediate diseases. Many people observed depletion of benet as they cannot get sh throughout the ground water and complained about drying year. Improper governance of water by state up of other water sources due to less water has been perceived as another reason by 52 availability in River. 75 percent people percent people. There is enough water in the observed such changes. 32 percent people river basins to provide livelihoods to its observed less water for transportation. residents for a long time provided water is Reasons for Change managed eciently, equitably and that Community members feel that major reason additional water is made available not just for change has been obstruction of river ow through storage. followed by declining rainfall in last few years. People Aected by the Change Community participation in water governance Water scarcity and inadequate ow has system is another reason for such change as impacted communities adversely on many fronts. People shared that, major concerns have been drying up of alternative water sources like village pond and open wells

they were never consulted before any activities by government on river basin activities. In people's lives, the main changes are attributed to causes varying from obstruction of river ow

21 around 75 percentages. Both have dried as a not try to control the river but gathered around result of water scarcity in river during the lean them; good sh catch and agricultural season. Both the factors combined has products. Now 35 percent women are not resulted in declining crop production 87 getting proper livelihood options from the percentage, people migration in search of river. It has been observed that women from alternative livelihoods 87 percent and 82 Jhara communities in Boudh and Subarnapur percent sher folk are forced to change their district who were used to collect gold from occupation. River Mahanadi as their traditional practice. The current interventions by the upstream Now due to less water in River they spend more State by constructing barrages only harm the time in river and get little amount of gold. 42 agro-ecological and economic wellbeing of percent people stated that they were using people residing alongside the river. The locals river water for drinking purpose and now that are familiar with the ood which is productive is not available. Around 37 percent people for them and their land become fertile and use observed that consistently ow of water is of chemical fertilizers was very negligible. diminishing and to get water for irrigation However, now without any ood for last few through lift irrigation, farmers spend more years 70 percent people expressed increased money. The local opinion is that construction use of fertilizer. People alongside the river of barrages and big dams destroyed the ow of basin knew how to live with oods. They did the river and devastated people living on its sides. Table 4.4 People aected by changes.

How people affected Number of villag e Percent % responded

Without flood, soil ferlity is decreased and ferlizer use 28 70

is increased

Extra costs involve to get water for irrigaon 15 37 Less crop yield 35 87 Problem to get safe drinking water 17 42 Not able to follow rituals properly 17 42 Fishermen forced to change occupaon 33 82 People migrate in search of livelihood 35 87 Women loss their livelihood 14 35 Alternave water source dried up 30 75

Impact on women the same thing has happened. Responsibility of collecting water for household consumption In any adverse condition, women get aected is the major responsibility of women; hence rst. In the case of Mahanadi water crisis also 100% women feel the burden of water collection for household chores. Apart, their economic activities like collection of gold by Jhara community, collec tion of sh, preparation of mat by collecting grass and vegetable farming on river ood plain has suered badly and 88% women feel loss of livelihoods. Grass collected from ood plain area was used for preparing small baskets and

22 other utility items. Often those were sold in the becoming increasingly vulnerable because of nearby market for livelihood purpose. Faulty the less water inow in River Mahanadi. Crop river water management system and its l o s s i s n o w a r e g u l a r p h e n o m e n o n impacts such as bio-diversity degradation and due to no water for irrigation and 98 percent food insecurity have aected women in the study locations adversely. Women get less Impact on Livelihood information as their participation in decision 100 100 82 making is negligible. Increased workloads 80 52 prevent them from participating in the formal 25 decision making process. The impact of river 19 degradation and devastation is experienced by women in three specic areas: direct impact of available economic activities, increase in hardship and decline in reproductive health. Women also mentioned about increase in workload in managing food for their families people stated that agriculture is drastically due to reduced income and loss of assets. Due aected and farmers are now either forced to to less water availability in River and dried up in migrate or worked as wage labour. 100 percent patches, people are not able to keep livestock villages stated that they have lost their wages and maintain kitchen gardens. This has and other livelihood options. In some place ultimately impacted their nutritional food artisans are depending upon Mahanadi river intake leading to malnutrition. Reduced water for crafting. For instance brass artisans in income from traditional sources has forced Kantilo area of Nayagarh districts came from women to be dependent on other livelihood Southern parts of Odisha and got settled on option like daily wage labour. Women are bank of Mahanadi as charcoal and water were responsible for collecting drinking water from available n plenty. However, now with less distant; this becomes an extremely arduous water inow in River Mahanadi they are not and dicult and time consuming task. Apart able to continue with their traditional from this, the overall health of women gets livelihood option. Now most of them shifted to aected because of deterioration of nutrition. other livelihood options. 25 percent villages The women from Jhara community are stated that the artisans have been aected. spending more time standing in water, Fishermen community is aected signicantly aecting their health adversely. Due to less as now they don't' have sucient water to water in River, women are not able to perform catch sh throughout the year. 82 percent cultural and religious activities. This has villages stated that shermen are aected and resulted in cultural, social isolation and extinct they have mostly changed their livelihood or of traditional practices in many pockets of the migrated to Kerala or working as labour to study area. People fear that the next generation catch sh from sea. Livestock population has may never get to know and learn about their substantially declined due to the non rich cultural heritage- that has been a part of availability of sucient grazing land and 52 river valley civilisation. percent people stated that they are not able to continue with livestock rearing. Jhara Impact on dierent livelihood communities in Boudh and Subarnapur district Agriculture, shing, livestock rearing, crafting are mainly depending upon collection of gold are the major source of livelihood. These are from sand of Mahanadi and traditional way of

23 shing. Previously one person was able to and Cuttack, stated that they are spending 60 collect 10 grams of gold in a week and get thousand to 1 lakh rupees in a year to dredge benet and keep it as their primary livelihood the river to take water from its ow to lift option. However, now as the inow in irrigation point to get water for irrigation. 100 Mahanadi is disrupted they are not able to percent people stated that people are collect gold and only women from their family migrating to other states in search of other are going to collect and get very little amount livelihood option. Many artisans changed their gold and only able to get 200 rupees in a week. traditional livelihood option and now working 19 percent villages where the Jhara community as labour and 100 percent people stated that is residing are completely aected due to non- shermen and other traditional artisans have availability of water in Mahanadi. Landless changed their primary livelihood option. people mostly dependent upon ood plain Collective measures to deal with issues areas to cultivate vegetables to earn and now with less water in River 80 percent villages Though the problem around life and livelihood stated that they are not able to earn from this of river basin people is severe and need proper source. attention, but collective measures by the communities is very negligible. As most of the Steps taken by communities to deal with area are depending upon lift irrigation system livelihood issues the user farmers' collective i.e. Pani Panchayat As the river basin communities are getting is existing in some area and in case of aected due to less water inow in River diculties they tried to intervene. In 80 percent Mahanadi and forced to change their principal villages it exists but not eectively involved in solution of the problem. In 77 percent villages the shermen cooperative are existed but they never tried to look into the livelihood options of shermen communities. Women self help group and people's organisation are mostly not present and eectively working. Only 20 and 12 percent villages have such collectives but not able to deal with the river water issue. Table 4.5 Collective measures to deal with issues.

Instuons Number of village responded Percentage % Pani Panchayats 32 80 Fishermen Cooperaves 31 77 livelihood option, they also have taken some Farmer’s Organisaon 10 25 measures to deal with the issue. Now 100 Women’s self help group 8 20 percent people stated that they are not able to People’s Organisaon 5 12 irrigate their land and they are depending Impact of Pollution on water upon rain for their kharrif crop. In most cases While discussing the impact of pollution on they are only getting single crop. In some water majority 90 percent felt that water was villages farmers spent additional amount to get polluted while only 10 percent felt that there water for lift irrigation point. 64 percent people was no pollution. This indicates that water in Subarnapur, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Angul pollution level has gone to an alarming stage

24 for being visible to larger community. Community views on what needs to be done Mahanadi water is no more clear and safe, like The study tried to capture community views it used to be before two to three decades. and suggestions for steps to be taken in dealing Community members in the study villages with interstate river water issues. People have shared their view on water pollution. Now the water is polluted by dierent pollutants, suggested many practical actions during the highest being use of fertiliser 27 percent, discussion. The study team could record the followed by urban sewerage 25 percent, following recommendations. industrial auent 23 percent, and pesticide Across all districts, communities felt that used for shing purpose 18 percent. There is a need to control these three major pollutants to government should give priority to the keep river water safe for consumption. communities whose life and livelihood completely depend on River Mahanadi in case View on what need to do of water allocation or any river related decision.

38 38 villages i.e. 95 percent people stated that right to river and rights of river should be prioritized and rst stake on river has to be 35 35 ensured to the river basin Communities. Community consultations before taking any

Flow of River without much Life and livelihood River keepers (Riverine decisions was given importance and 87 obstrucon and no barrage dependant stakeholders communies) should be should priorized consulted percent people stated that the riverine communities who are the real protector and Affected by Polluon conserver of river should be consulted before the governments took any decision on river. No 10% People further suggested that community participation must be ensured before taking any decision on river water sharing. Communities from 35 villages stated that there Yes 90% is no need to construct barrages on river and the ow of river should be maintained without any obstruction. A further point of contention

Causes of Polluon is that only bilateral relations with co-riparians are not sucient but needs a total basin Industrial Affluent approach for proper management of river

26% 25% Ferliser use water. Community water management, especially by women needs to be prioritised. Pescide use to catch fish Water allocation needs to be balanced 7% Medical affluent 24% between industrial, agricultural and household 18% Urban sewerage use and community needs to be involved in

25 decision making process. over water and related challenges they face on Whether Mahanadi issue is a political issue ground. 60 percent people felt political parities As the water problem bothers people on are politicising this issue, while rest 40 percent ground, they feel it has now become more of a said no to their role. political agenda rather than people's concerns Because Mahanadi water is now a political issue as the MLA, MP, Sarpanch are coming to their area to discuss this, now there are several campaigns by political leaders to save Mahanadi and to take the mileage. While the s a m e p e o p l e re m a i n e d s i l e nt w h e n Chattishgarh built barrage up stream. 40 % villages stated that the political leaders never discussed on the issue of Mahanadi and their plight.

26 People's Voices

Decreasing Water, Depleting Fish and Birdi block of . The village Diverting Livelihood is on the river bank of Devi which connects to Basudev Behera aged about 46 years is a river Kathajodi at Cuttack. Kathajodi is the right sherman from Sankhari Sahi, Baish Mauza of branch of Mahanadi. He has a family of 6 Biridi block of Jagatsinghpur district. The village members and the entire family depends upon is on the bank of river Devi which is connected agriculture. The total agriculture land is around to river Kathajodi at Cuttack. Kathajodi is the 5 acres and he grows paddy, pulses and oil right branch of Mahanadi. seeds in that land. His cultivation depends on Mahanadi water ow. Due to reduced water ow in Mahanadi, livelihood of sherman communit y Water ow of Mahanadi has acutely decreased depending upon river have been badly over a period of time. As a result the connecting aected. I am a sherman; our entire family's rivers of the locality are aected, in most cases needs were met through shing from the river it has dried up. We have not seen ood in and selling in nearby market. We have not seen Mahanadi for the last four years. Earlier there any oods in the river for the last ve years and was ood in Mahanadi and this was quite water availability has come down and it has benecial for all of us, despite of very small become more polluted and infectious to amount of damage to agricultural crops. We human body. The income from shing has been were growing ood resilient crops in close reduced to almost 50%. Because of this crisis, proximity of the river basis and this crop was many families have migrated outside Odisha in not badly aected due to ood. But ood left search of alternative livelihood options says behind fertile top soil rich in minerals, new Basudev. Thus, the traditional livelihood system sand and new shes. Soil got lighter and there that is ingrained in Mahanadi has been aected is increased productivity of paddy cultivation compelling large number of families to be wage done in the winter season says, Shyam Sundar. labourers. Agriculture Aected People said, variety of shes were available in Premsila Kumura, is 75 years old lady, a adequate quantities, but now a days it has resident of Khunti village, Bateimura reduced drastically. Thus, income of the shing panchayat, of Maneswar block, Sambalpur. She community from shing has been reduced is a farmer living with her family including Bijay around 30% to 50%. Dierent types of sh were Kumura (husband) and Kailash (Son) Sabita available at dierent levels of water. But now (Daughter in law) and grand-daughters hardly remains in the river. Post rains, all water Haripriya and Jharana. She belongs to Gond ows down the river leaving no water space for community (Adivasi). sh to ourish. Mahanadi River is no more At the age of 14 she got married and came to considered as a source of livelihood and source this village. Before construction of Hirakud of sh for lakhs of people like Basudev in dam she lived here and was engaged in Odisha. farming along with her husband. She narrates No Water No Crop We practiced traditional farming and used Shyam Sundar Patra is a small farmer aged moss of canal for agriculture''. She was also about 58 years from Kulakaijangha village in cultivating sugar cane with her husband. Gradually these practices disappeared. Earlier

27 she used counterpoise lifting for farming. Due other to collect water from tank instead of to decrease of water level these days they are going to river Every day many disputes arise in forced to use water pump. The imbalance of her area during collection of water from water water ow in the river destroyed the moss in the tank. canal. Before 9-10 years there were no such Before 10 years there was no water scarcity in problems. But gradually it is visible and has bad Mahanadi River, but now volume of water impact on their livelihood. Last year the upper along with its ow has gradually reduced since side agriculture eld faced drought. Earlier 2005-2007. people were doing multiple crops in a year but presently people prefer single crop farming, In her neighbourhood seven families were because of insucient water. engaged in shing but these days they left shing activities and struggling for livelihood. She was cultivating many vegetables near the The water ow is decreasing and also shes are canal area along with her husband such as vanishing from the river. She said that due to cucumbers, beans and other vegetables but utilization of water by industry (Bhusan Steel due to industrial ash and chemical, they could Plant) the water issues are increasing day by not get sucient harvest. She thinks that day. Each time they meet government ocials construction of barrages in the upper side to apprise them about their problems they do disturbed the natural water ow and resulted in not get any positive responses. People like the decrease of water level. Pramila says people Saraswati who had plenty of water available in were using canal water for drinking and catch front of them few years before, are now ghting shes, as well as for domestic purposes but now with others for a bucket around water tank a days it all seems like a dream. The sugarcane every day. farming is also not happening in the village due to water scarcity in summer season, people are She feels that if water scarcity is happening going to nearby villages/Sambalpur in search of now a days what would happen when barrage work as daily wage labour. She is afraid of the will be constructed in upper side of the river by water scarcity in future as more barrages are Chhattisgarh then huge problem will arise. and will be constructed on the upper side of Government should think about us and also river in Chattigarh. should not give permission to any industry to use Mahanadi water. Water Tanker is the alternative to river water for River bank villages Life long Struggle for livelihood with Mahanadi water Saraswati Juguria is about 45 years old, living in Ginrapada, Badbazar,Sambalpur since Raghumani Dansana is a 72 years old man, 1972. She is a homemaker and has her husband resident of Sonutikra, near Hirakud Dam, Talab Yuvraj Juguria and one son Sushanta Juguria. Panchayat of Dhankauda block, Sambalpur. He The village Ginrapada is close to the river bank, was a sher man. He is living with his wife just 200 meters away from river Mahanadi, D a a l i m b a D a n s a n a , o n e s o n n a m e d Laxminarayan Dansana, and Padmini Dansana She used to fetch water from Mahanadi for all his daughter in law. her daily chores like washing, bathing and cleaning. But now the situation has changed. There are 150 households in his village and all She desperately waits for water tank (by are involved in shing since 1956 after the municipality) to collect water. There is no xed Hirakud dam submerged their agriculture land time for arrival of the tank, if by any chance she and village forest which was the source to get misses the tank then there is no possibility of various uncultivated forest produces like Char, getting any water for the day. People jostle each Mahua, Tendu, Honey and other forest

28 products. They received only 4-5 decimals of they did not receive positive responses and land for housing only along with small amount were ignored by industries. Since 2000-2003 he of money (Rupees 1500-2000) from observed that sh collection and water ow government. Raghumani's family is one of decreased. Before that he personally measured those who are not only displaced but also lost the water level near dam area and found that their primary sources of incomes and had to water level was 147 t in the year of 2000 but switch to shing. But the struggle doesn't end these days it decreased to 75 ft. He says here; according to Raghumani the water ow decreasing water ow leads sh dying and also and amount of water has reduced in the last soil is lled in the river. If this type of situation 10-15 years which has decrease the amount prevails then one day river will die. Before 2000- and varieties of shes and he and his family 2002, he had seen 40 types of sh but these was forced to quit shing too. Now his son has days only 10 types of sh are visible. Earlier a small grocery shop and the whole family is about 15 years back, each household were dependent on it. Like Raghumani the situation getting 60 to 70 Kg. of sh per month and now of every household of the village is same it has reduced drastically. During the month of Fishing is no longer feasible and they are April to September of the year a large varieties switching to other petty jobs and businesses or of sh like rui, bhakur, mirkila, kajuri, singhali, daily wage. kau, bainra, tengni, khapsi, saul were found When he came to the new place called available but over the period this diversity of Sonutikra, that time his family was staying in sh in the river Mahanadi has come down temporary home constructed by government. insignicantly. At that time they were unable to access He suggested that, if we do not give permission education and health facilities. His family faced to use water of Mahanadi river by industries many diculties to cope in the new place and then all these issues that communities are situation. During displacement they were facing will reduce. forced to leave their primary occupation of sale Hope for getting rights pued rice and also denied to accessing forest produces. Raghumani shared that we came to Sukanti Pande is a 54 years old female, know that Chhattisgarh Govt. is constructing residing at Mohammadpur village, Hirakud dam and barrages at upper side. We fear that as NAC, Sambalpur. She is a homemaker and we are already displaced and struggling for engaged in sh catching. She lives with her livelihood, this will again push us to diculties husband Hariar Pande. They have two sons of life. It will lead to water scarcity for farming, named Manoj Pande and Rajesh Pande. They shing and domestic use. belong to adivasi, the Gond community. The Tihura village (from where the people Her family was displaced during Hirakud dam displaced) was full of natural resources. Since construction and she came to know from her 1956 his father started shing and that time parents that they faced lots of diculties shing was major livelihood sources. In 1963 during resettlement in new place. They Raghumani started his occupation in shing. received only small compensation from After some years people elected him as government at that time. All facilities were president of Mohammadpur Fisheries Society. easily accessible in previous village but after The industries released chemical & acid to displacement they did not get any support or Mahanadi River and therefore lot of sh died. facilities. She got married when she was 15-16 He took lead and complaint to Thermal Power year old and stayed at her in-laws house. As Plant, Jharsuguda not to release industrial they had lacked livelihood opportunity in her waste water to Mahanadi River. Unfortunately in-laws village, they shifted to Mohammadpur

29 village for shing which is their traditional NAC, Sambalpur. She is a homemaker. She is livelihood. Their struggle does not end here but living with her two sons Chaturbhuja Padhan gradually their situation became more and Kailash Padhan. vulnerable. They took membership in She was displaced during Hirakud Dam Mohammadpur MashyaJibi Society and construction and shifted to Jhankarpali village started their livelihood. Every year they were (Maneswar block). As they could not cope up nancially exploited by the Secretary, with new place, stayed there only for 6-7 years Mohammadpur MashyaJibi Society. and shifted to her uncle's home at Taalab Gradually sh collection decreased, especially village (Dhankauda block). There after she got during 2001-2003 and due to polluted water married and lived in Tabadabahal village with many shes died. Last year the shery her husband. Her in-laws also were displaced department banned sh collection from the from Hirakud Dam and struggled for livelihood. month of June to August and the department As they have no agricultural lands and lack of said the same action will be taken for the livelihood sources, they decided to live near coming years as well. During this period they Hirakud Dam and manage their livelihood. In struggled for livelihood and got themselves 1970-72 many land were available near engaged in daily wage works. According to Hirakud Dam and water sources were available Sukanti, industries release chemical into the as per the requirement. As many people river water resulting in death of shes. During displaced and could not cope with the new sh collection she observed that shes were places, they decided to move to nearby villages already found dead and those are caught of Hirakud Dam and lived there. The found peculiarly soft. The water level also surrounding place always reminded them decreased as compared to 5-7 year ago. Canal about their original village where she had water is also ceased to ow during the months enjoyed her life with dignity and had access to of May, June & July which ultimately increase water from her village, also they were their diculties. There is no separate bathing harvesting lots of paddy. After displacement space for females in canal and people from she felt her childhood life as a beautiful dream. dierent villages share the same bathing place. They received only paltry amount from the The industries are getting regular water for government as resettlement. their industrial work, but the villagers around These days water is decreasing from the river as the villages of these industries are deprived compared to 6-7 years ago. Industries are from it. The villagers especially suer a lot increasing and use of Mahanadi water and also during summer days due to lack of government they are releasing their polluted water to the facilities and were forced to use water with iron river. Therefore water is getting polluted contents from tube wells. rapidly and harming the farming. Many times She said that people should be given ashes are released in air by the industries and rights/access to water & river and at the same directly impact the agricultural land. Due to time government should take necessary action problem of drinking water, quarrels happen to reduce water pollution caused by these among people most of the days. From May to industries & priority should be given towards July month people feel the water scarcity and the life of people & not to industries. government is also not providing any Years Passed- Still waiting for peaceful and alternative facilities for drinking water. She healthy life heard about the construction of barrages by Chhattisgarh government. She says that Urkula Padhan is a 70 years old lady, existing situation is so vulnerable that when residing at Mohammadpur village, Hirakud

30 the barrages will be constructed by week without any information. Starting from Chhatishgarh government on upper side of May till mid- June there is no supply of water river then it would impact our life drastically. from Hirakud Dam. Odisha government distributes water to During the rainy season, the industrial ash industries and we are facing 3 months water ows into the canal and makes water scarcity every year. Consequently people will unhygienic and polluted. Parsuram says die ghting for water in near future. She thinks before 6 years people from Arnapurna paani the struggle for a drop of water will never end panchayat (Local collective) made campaign in her life. She suggested that the government and went to Hirakud dam for protesting against should think for the betterment of common industries. They raised voices on not supplying people and if barrages will be constructed then Mahanadi water to any industries. During that it should not be for industries but for farmers. time many people were beaten by police Natural water ow should not be broken ocers but did not receive any positive o t h e r w i s e t h e e nv i ro n m e n t w i l l b e responses. imbalanced. He assumes that due to increase of barrages, More Water less available industrialization and privatisation of water (use Parsuram Munda aged 84 years, resident of water by industry) there is low water ow of Bhoipali village of Maneswar block, from upstream. These days not only the water Sambalpur Municipality, Odisha. He is a farmer ow in canal have reduced but chemical water and lives with his daughter Sabita Munda and from industries are making water more son in law Bhagwana Munda. Sabita has three hazardous for health. Many times surrounding sons named Sikandar, Mukandar and Jitendar. land around the canal are damaged due to ash They are a family of 6 members. He is getting a from industries. During his younger days, he pension of Rs. 300 every month under old-age was collecting shes in rainy season but pension. Due to incorrect age in voter ID, he is gradually it reduced and many shes are dying getting 300 instead of 500 rupees. due to release of industrial ash to the canal. While he was 14 years old, during that time the During summer season canal water is stopped canal was constructed for water supply from and with few functioning tube wells, people Hirakud dam. The canal is a branch of Sason face lots of diculties. With passing time the canal. He narrates the water ow was level of ground water has decreased adequate for farming and hygienic for drinking signicantly. water. Around 10 years ago the water ow was He suggested that no industrial ash should be continuous and normal but these days canal released to the river and permission should not water has stopped randomly likes 2-3 days in be given to construct barrages on upstream of the Mahanadi.

31 CHAPTER - V Conclusion and Recommendaon

The Mahanadi River is witnessing several severe impact on water resources and changes during the last two decades especially livelihoods. There should be more systematic after the formation of the new state of release from barrages to maintain ecological Chhattisgarh. The Mahanadi River is ow to help the water resource/ow as well as considered the lifeline of Chhattisgarh and the livelihood promotion. However, the overall riparian state Odisha with equal importance on impact on the ow and especially the need for its waters for its own development. The river monsoon ow for aquatic habitat and itself is undergoing changes in the livelihoods is being compromised in the process precipitation in its catchment and the water of alteration. resources and their utilization resulting from The river below Hirakud Dam does not ow at human interventions and climatic changes. all. The biggest impact it has created is on the The recent developments in surface water migration of sh due to which sh population in resources are a point of contention among the the river is decreasing, thus impacting the two riparian states. There are a number of livelihoods of the shermen. It has also interventions coming up in the sub-basins in impacted the river bed cultivation which was Chhattisgarh. These include several barrages practiced by landless and marginal farmers (Samoda, Sheorinarayan, Basantpur, Mironi, since long. Fishermen in and around Mahanadi, Saradih, Kalma, Kudari and Chichpol), minor narrate stories of low yield, poor quality of sh as dams/anicuts/ diversion projects (Amamuda, well as the long hours spent in catching sh after Salka, Lachhanpur, Khongsara on Arpa and commencement of barrages. According to them Kudurmal on Hasdeo), two major projects Kelo they used to sh in the river to catch 25- 30 kg of and Arpa-Bhaisajhar, besides the Pairy- sh every day which now even in a good season Mahanadi Intra State Link Project and the has fallen to only 1 to 2 kg of sh now. Besides Tandula Reservoir Augmentation Scheme on low ow aecting the sh population, industries Mahanadi River Project. They are mainly to are releasing their euents without treatment provide water for industries. and use of pesticide and explosion to catch sh It has been observed that the average annual further aecting their habitat. runo over last few years has been decreased. The sediment ows and frequency of the oods Community apprehended that this is have also reduced in the Mahanadi River. This happening due to the increased usage and has impacted the livelihoods of farmers who diversion of water on the upstream and less used to do farming on riverbed and ood plains. rainfall in past year's. Post construction of Such farming is an important source of income barrages has seen decrease in the monsoon for the landless people. They use fertile land on ows. People reveal that over the period of 10 the banks and the beds when ood water of the years there has been a drastic reduction in the river recede after each monsoon. Cultivation is runo and corresponding discharge rate. It has carried out from October to January. Crops

32 grown are mostly vegetables like cabbage, The decisions regarding river basins and river cauliower, onion, tomato, cucumber, gourd, water sharing should take people of the basin bitter gourd, brinjal and ladies nger. The area on board through inclusive processes. farmers said that during the monsoon, the Farmers, shermen, boatmen and other users banks and ood plains would remain of water like the urban local bodies, industries, submerged for some days which help in government departments etc. sediment deposition. The low ows have A river basin is an ecological entity that reduced the cultivable area while increasing naturally connects the inter-dependent natural the application of groundwater and fertilizers and human resources in its geography. This which they otherwise never used. calls for the basin's governance and Mining, increasing industrialisation and management as one unit for ensuring growing urban population is changing the sustainable development. River basin land and water scenario of the basin and organisations with intended spirits of real adding to the problems of pollution as stakeholder inclusion could take decisions observed in most part of Odisha. Apart from regarding the rivers. discharging euents into the river, the massive It is time to allow River Mahanadi to continue to use of fertilizer and urban discharge is causing ow. Exploitation of the river beyond its pollution in River. Fishermen experienced the carrying capacity might lead to ecological impact of pollution where the sh they catch devastation and destruction of the basin as an immediately died and began to rot. People extreme case. Dams and barrages should be observed that the euents released by the last resort, after due diligence to industries used to turn the water completely Environmental and social impact assessment black making it unt for consumption, shing and a time bound impact mitigation eorts. and even other daily activities like bathing, washing clothes and bathing cattle. The River is Need to utilize minimum water of the river and increasingly becoming polluted at many spots allow the river to use maximum for its depending upon the concentration of mines, ecological function. In other way it needs to industries and habitations. If preventive protect the right of river and rights to river measures are not put in place, the river will be simultaneously. A comprehensive water policy under stress in the near future. to ensure river right and people's rights over water needs to be formulated. There is a need to The conicting situation between Mahanadi provide drinking water for all, avail water for Basin States like Odisha and Chhattisgarh may Irrigation, making water available for domestic result in irreparable damage to community and wildlife, village Industries. economy, life, property and social fabric in the basin in both states. Culturally, historically and A details conservation plan for all water sources ecologically both basin states are inseparable. and ows in river, rivulets, springs need to be The river Mahanadi has been the common p r e p a r e d a n d a l s o n e e d t o s t o p natural, social, cultural and economic heritage commercialization and commoditization of that the people of both the states share. All water. possible options for a peaceful resolution of The myth of 'water going to the sea is a waste' - the conict required to be promoted through should be strongly countered with. The excess an inclusive process. water going to the sea is a natural process and

33 through this it performs very important There is also an urgent need to bring a halt on ecological functions like building up the coast industrial activities especially polluting and with sand and silt, controlling salinity- environmental disastrous thermal power ingression, recharging the ground water in the plants and other industries that require more ood plain, maintaining the bio-diversity and water. Government of both the states should growth of mangroves, sustaining coastal declare moratorium on river polluting livelihoods and culture. industries. Not only the quantity, but also the quality of the Allocation of water to dierent sectors should river water should be focussed on. It should be be done as per the priorities based on life and ensured that water in all the stretches of the livelihood requirement. river is potable. The urban bodies and the An inclusive process should be initiated to industries should treat their waste water before work on a river policy for the state of Odisha releasing to the river. There should be citizen's with informed stake holders' dialogues. monitoring of water quality and waste water Integrated and inclusive river basin treatment by urban bodies and industries. management is the current requirement.

34 Reference Central Pollution Control Board (2014-15), River stretches for restoration of water quality Central Water Commission (2009), Integrated hydrological data book Central Water Commission (2012), Integrated hydrological data book CWC (2012), Reassessment of water resource availability in India using space inputs, CWC, 2017 Devananda Beura (2015). Floods in Mahanadi River, Odisha, India: Its Causes and Management Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conict (2017), Mahanadi river basin A situation analysis (Referred to here as 'Forum, 2017') Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conict (2017), Water allocations and use in the Mahanadi river basin - A Study of the Agricultural and Industrial Sectors (Referred to here as 'Forum, 2017') Government of Odisha (1947), The Mahanadi Valley Development Hirakud Dam Project Report, Volume 1 Hingane, L.S.Et al (1985), Long-term Trends of Surface Air Temperature in India," Journal oJClimatolog}: Vol. 5, 1985, pp. 521-528 India-WRIS (2018), Ministry of Water Resources, Government of India (Accessed at: http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/wrpinfo/index.php?title=Mahanadi on June 18, 2018) Kar Et al (2010), Development of ood forecasting system using statistical and ANN techniques in the downstream catchment of Mahanadi basin, India; Journal of water resource protection, Volume 2, No. 10 Lilhare and Mishra (2014), Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources in Mahanadi River basin (India), American Geophysical Union P Govind Rao (1993), Climatic changes and trends over a major river basin in India, Climate research Vol. 2: 215-223, 1993 P Govind Rao (2009), Eect of Climate Change on Stream ows in the Mahanadi River Basin, India Sengupta Et al (2018), Flood Forecasting and Inundation Mapping in the Mahanadi River Basin: A Collaborative Eort between India and the United States.

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