Kendrapara: Rampant pollution in the Mahanadi and Brahmani rivers in this district has sparked serious concern among environmentalists and the public, a report said.
The two rivers, considered the lifeline of Kendrapara district, have become toxic and their waters are unfit for human and animal consumption.
The public says that this is due to the massive discharge of toxic effluents from prawn gheries. Skin diseases and cancer are rapidly spreading in the district.
When examined, the waters of the rivers were found to have high fluoride content due to the discharge of wastes and effluents from townships in the district and from Paradip’s industrial areas.
Fact Files
- Massive discharge of toxic effluents from prawn gheries and industrial units in Paradip leads to pollution.
- The two rivers, considered the lifeline of Kendrapara district, have become toxic and their waters are unfit for human and animal consumption.
- Skin diseases and cancer are rapidly spreading among people in the affected areas in the district.
A 2017 report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) says the waters of the two rivers were highly contaminated. The people have urged urgent steps to clean the two rivers as seven rivers and their 27 tributaries flowing through the district are linked to these two rivers.
They warned that if urgent steps are not taken to clean the two rivers the situation might worsen in future.
The revelation has come at a time when the water of these two rivers are used for irrigating around 48,000 hectares in the district and for meeting the drinking water needs of Kendrapara town.
The government is also planning to supply drinking water from these two rivers in Pattamundai civic body area and 200 revenue villages in Marshaghai block’s saline region.
The government is aware of the pollution in the river, but has done little to address the problem.
The confirmation came when Forest and Environment Minister Bijayshree Routray told the Assembly in 2017 that water samples collected from Brahmani by the CPCB was C-grade, that is, they contain a high level of toxic substances.
Environmentalists said the water samples from Brahmani collected by CPCB were totally unfit for human consumption.
Manas Mishra, the state coordinator of Nadimukti Abhiyan, said the river water is not fit for use by the people of Kendrapara.
He said that wastes discharged from urban areas and industries and the drawing of excess water by industries had also contributed to polluting the river. He also blamed encroachment and excess use of water for the pollution. Encroachments have hit normal water flow in the river.
Manas held the government responsible for the situation as it has not framed a water policy for the state.
Environmentalist Hemant Kumar Rout of Barahapur said the toxic material discharged from towns like Rourkela, Talcher, Dhenkanal and Bhuban have also polluted the two rivers.
PNN