Jajpur: Salinisation of groundwater in seven coastal districts has posed serious health hazards and sparked concern among the residents, a report said Saturday.
The directorate of groundwater development conducted a survey on the salinity in the coastal districts from 1995 to 2001. The survey report was finally published in 2001 and later, a special survey was undertaken in Binjharpur block of Jajpur district.
The final survey report pointed out that groundwater in six coastal blocks is completely saline while in 36 other coastal blocks it is partially saline.
According to the report, Chandbali block in Bhadrak district has the largest area of 62,044 hectare where groundwater is of very low quality. Since then, 22 years have passed already but the state government is yet to resolve the problem. As a result, people in the concerned areas are still struggling to get safe water for drinking and irrigation needs.
According to a report available from the Water Resources department, groundwater in Bahanaga, Balasore, Baliapal, Basta, Bhograi, and Remuna blocks of Balasore district are partially saline.
Similarly, groundwater in Chandbali, Basudevpur, Dhamnagar, Tihidi blocks in Bhadark district; Chhatrapur, Chikiti, Ganjam, Khallikote, Rangeilunda blocks in Ganjam district; Erasama, Balikuda, Kujang, Naugaon blocks in Jagatsinghpur district; Bari, Binjharpur, Dasarathpur blocks in Jajpur district; Mahakalapara, Marshaghai, Rajkanika and Rajnagar blocks in Kendrapara district has been identified as fully saline.
Groundwater in Aul, Derabish, Garadpur, Kendrapara and Pattamundai blocks of Kendrapara district has been identified as partially saline. On the other hand, Astaranga, Brahmagiri, Delang, Gop, Kakatpur, Kanas, Krushnaprasad, Nimapara, Pipli, Puri and Satyabadi blocks of Puri district have partially saline groundwater.
People in Brahmani, Birupa and Genguti delta areas under Bari block of Jajpur district are suffering a lot as the groundwater is saline. Locals said if the ground is dug even a little in these areas, saline water comes out.
In 4,209 hectare of land in Ratnagiri, Mandari and Amathpur and Sherpur panchayats groundwater is fit for neither consumption nor irrigation in the farmlands. As a result, over 40,000 villagers struggle to get even a drop of fresh water.
Similarly, groundwater on 6,458 hectare of land in Binjharpur and 8,700 hectare of land in Dasarathpur blocks has become salinised. The state Water Resources department and rural water supply and sanitation division (RWSS) have made several promises to resolve the problems but to no avail.
Land acquisition has proved to be a hurdle in resolving the saline water problem in Bari block of Jajpur district while a proposal has been mooted to supply water through underground pipelines (UGPL). The Water Resources department and RWSS have claimed to resolve the problem in other areas through scientific methods.
According to a letter by Subrat Kumar Panda, additional secretary, Water Resources department, plans are afoot to reduce the saline level in Choudhirjyagad, Tikiri, Kushabhadra and Baliguali areas through construction of in-stream storage structure while groundwater recharge shafts are being constructed at Baliapal, Bhograi, Dhamnagar, Naugaon, Dasarathpur, Binjharpur, Aul, Garadpur, Kendrapara, Pattamundai and Kakatpur blocks. Moreover, two schemes – ‘Chhata’ and ‘Arua’ – have been sanctioned to increase the groundwater level.
PNN