Bhubaneswar: In a sorry state of affairs the Nalabana part of the Chilika Lake is in jeopardy, thanks to the constant discharge of untreated water from drains of the Capital city here.
According to sources, more than 40 Million Litres Daily (MLD) of sewerage and untreated drainage water contaminated with Zinc, Magnesium and Sulfate is deposited into the lake every day. This has massively affected the eco system of the Nalabana which is home to most of migratory birds.
“Most of the polluted waters from the city here reach into the lake vis-a-vis Gangua Nala. The Gangua itself was one of the cleanest rivers and used to be lifeline for Bhubaneswar. Rapid urbanisation has resulted in large discharge of untreated water into the stream making it toxic all the way till Nalabana,” explained environmentalist Pradeep Jena.
The city has 10 major drains from West to East laid perpendicular to Gangua Nallah. The storm water of the city flows into these 10 channels. While drain No. 1 opens into river Kuakhai the rest (from No. 2 to No. 10) open into Gangua Nallah that eventually carries the untreated water to river Daya.
While river Daya starts from Saradeipur and flows through Khurda and Puri districts before merging into Chilika, Gangua begins from Gadakana and meets Daya near Kanti village.
Reports from other sources suggested that the 35.7 km long Gangua Nala discharges approximately 652 cusecs of water into River Daya. Scientists have suggested that this is massively affecting the quality of water.
A source at Orissa state pollution control board stated, “Alarming levels of dissolved oxygen and coliform were found in water samples of Gangua and Daya rivers. We have already served notice to the state government regarding this but least has been done about it.”
However, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in 2015 was asked to prepare a detailed project by the state government to treat water of Gangua Nala using ‘Phytorid’ method but it’s reported that top officials are yet to act on any such project.
Meanwhile, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) lackadaisical approach has also resulted in private vehicles disposing fecal discharge into drainages. Reports from the BMC stated that about 290 million liters of wastewater is poured into channels every day.
“River Daya has already lost most of its acquatic life due to the toxic waste and same poison has been destroying Chilika’s underwater beings for past 20 years. An urgent need of new plans and action are required to conserve our eco system and it should start with saving Gangua Nala,” Jena said.