Kendrapara: Lack of adequate rainfall despite the arrival of southwest monsoon in the state has resulted in acute water scarcity in this district, sources said Monday. Even the Brahmani, Baitarani, and Mahanadi river systems flowing through the Bhitarkanika National Park in this district have dried up considerably. To compound problems, the release of polluted materials into the rivers will harm the Bhitarkanika wetlands that are known for their rich bio-diversity, sources pointed out. Environmentalist Khitish Kumar Singh said that even the Orissa High Court has expressed concern over the ingress of polluted water in Bhitarkanika.
Amicus Curiae in the case, Mohit Agarwal, has also expressed serious concerns about the development. Khitish pointed out that Brahmani river water is the major lifeline for the Bhitarkanika wetlands. He pointed out that various industrial units, including a well-known aluminum plant regularly discharge pollutants in the Brahmani river.
Among the three river systems, the Brahmani is the most polluted, said Khitish. Harmful and toxic chemicals like fluoride, nitrogen, cyanide, chromium, fly ash, and other chemicals along with coal and various effluents are released into the Brahmani. Further polluting of the river water takes place due to mushrooming of illegal prawn gheries, rampant movement of fishing boats, and denudation of forest cover by illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, Khitish said. “The Bhitarkanika wetlands have survived because till now the supply of fresh water has not been severely hampered. The wetlands get their share of fresh water from seven rivers including the Brahmani, Baitarani, and Mahanadi.
However, polluted material in the Brahmani can hinder the flow of fresh water. If it happens, then it will be doomsday for Bhitarkanika,” Khitish said. Environmentalist Hemant Kumar Rout said that lack of fresh water will result in the destruction of mangrove forests in Bhitarkanika. The forests act as a shield in protecting human habitats from natural calamities like cyclones. Rout pointed out that the principal rivers like Mahanadi, Brahmani, and Baitarani as well as its distributary Kharasrota are slowly losing their freshwater due to pollution. The construction of Kalma and other barrages by the Chhattisgarh government has affected the flow of freshwater into the Mahanadi. Without a proper supply of fresh water, the growth of plants and foliage in Bhitarkanika will be seriously hampered, Rout added.
Educationist Bhuban Mohan Jena pointed out that the construction of a mega reservoir on Mahanadi for the supply of drinking water at Santara under Kujang block in neighbouring Jagatsinghpur district will also affect the flow of freshwater into Bhitarkanika wetlands that are on the downstream of the river. The reservoir will also supply drinking water to around 200 villages in Mahakalpara and Marshaghai blocks in the Kendrapara district.
Moreover, the construction of a reservoir on Baitarani near Jajpur town and the development of two mega drinking water projects and two irrigation facilities on its distributary Kharasrota in Kendrapara district will also hinder the flow of freshwater into Bhitarkanika wetlands, opined Jena