Bhubaneswar: Efforts should be made for protection of the natural flow of Mahanadi River, its rights as well as the state people’s rights to the river is the gist of the study undertaken by some members of civil society on Mahanadi water dispute.
The issue was discussed at a state-level programme organised by ActionAid at Mahabodhi Society, Bhubaneswar Saturday. Members shared the findings of the study that was undertaken in 36 villages of Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Thirty-two villages in eight districts of the state – Nayagarh, Boudh, Angul, Cuttack, Subarnapur, Sambalpur and Jagatsinghpur – and four villages in two districts of Chhattisgarh –Raygad and Jahangir Champa – were covered under the study.
The data collection was done through a structured schedule of focused group discussion with different categories of population in the villages along the river basins of Mahanadi. Besides, the study has made an attempt to gather evidences in terms of collecting case studies from the field that reflect the vulnerabilities of the community pertaining to Mahanadi.
About 60 community representatives from 12 districts (Nayagarh, Boudh, Angul, Cuttack, Subarnapur, Sambalpur, Jagatsinghpur, Jharsuguda, Puri, Khurda and Ganjam) of Odisha and Jahangir Champa of Chhattisgarh attended the Saturday meet and shared their views, issues and concerns. Also, people from CSO, leaders of people’s organisation, lawyers and environmentalists have been invited to share their views.
We have to go beyond the state boundary and consider the people’s perspectives while resolving the Mahanadi issue, said Debabrat Patra, Regional Manager, ActionAid, while explaining the programme objective.
There should be efforts for protection of the natural flow of the river, the rights of as well as the rights to river of the people of the state, said Bratindi Jena, Team Leader, ActionAid, while setting the context.
The current Mahanadi problem is largely caused by anthropogenic intervention and also has some natural reasons. There is much potential to overcome the challenges, biggest potential being to save the rain water where it falls. River flow is a symptom, said Bimal Pandia, columnist and researcher while sharing the findings of the analysis of the secondary sources of data related to Mahanadi.
The traditional use of river water has been changed due to less water flow in the river and the livelihood of the river-dependent communities has been affected. Therefore, they have been shifted from the primary livelihood options and have become migrants. The participation of the communities in the water governance process has been ignored which is one of the major issues of concern the study has highlighted, said Priyabrata Satapathy, Programme Coordinator, ActionAid while sharing the findings of the study.
“We are also concerned about the rights over rivers but there are also constraints as the rivers have to meet various urban and industrial demands. Odisha is looming towards basin approach and bringing a river policy for protection of the rights of river,” said Principal Secretary of Water Resources department Prdeeep Jena.
The civilisation has grown on the river basin and it should be protected and managed well for the sustenance of the river, said Arabinda Behera, former member, Board of Revenue.
The state should make attempts to protect the natural flow of the river and the livelihoods of the river dependent communities, said Sudarshan Chhotray, an activist.