While the water in the major religious ponds in Bhubaneswar and Puri is already highly polluted, the authorities’ apathy to take remedial measures is resulting in a further worsening of the pollution level.
The latest report of the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) indicates that five major ponds of Puri and a major pond in Bhubaneswar are polluted, but repeated information in this regard issued to the concerned municipal bodies is not yielding positive results.
The Narendra Pokhari, Markanda Pokhari, Indradyumna and Swetaganga of Puri and the Bindusagar of Bhubaneswar are polluted mostly due to organic sources of pollution. While these ponds are mostly used for religious bathing purposes, the water quality of the ponds and the water quality criteria prescribed for bathing purposes do not meet the prescribed limits, said an official.
A very high level of dissolved oxygen (DO) content indicates presence of high algal population. The main causes of pollution are attributed to the blockage of outflow channel of the ponds, dumping of puja offerings and food to the ponds, discharge of domestic waste water.
Though the SPCB regularly monitors the water quality and advises the Urban local Bodies (UlBs) to take care, the latter hardly respond to the concerns, said a senior SPCB official.
Similar is the situation in the Taladanda Canal, which originates from the Mahanadi at Jobra in Cuttack and passes through the city. While the canal was constructed for irrigation and navigation purposes, it is also a source for water supply for industries, bathing and other domestic activities all along its stretch. The SPCB monitors the water quality of the Taladanda canal within Cuttack city at five locations like Jobra, Ranihat, Chhatrabazar, Nuabazar and Biribati and at Atharbanki near Paradip. The critical parameters indicate that so far as the bathing water quality is concerned, it is not up to the mark as indiscriminate discharge of domestic wastewater to the canal and dumping of solid wastes has polluted the system.