As the State goes through lockdown for COVID 19 and summer approaches fast, access to safe water emerged as one of the biggest problems . Various community leaders, NGO leaders and concerned citizens in a videoconferencing on the Earth Day organised by JANMAT and Citizens’ Action Forum urged for effective long-term water management policies to increase water affordability to prevent the impacts of water crises.
The participating community leaders, NGO leaders and concerned citizens expressed their grave concern on depleting water availability in many areas. They talked about the mining district of Keonjhar where river Baitarani serves as a lifeline for the natives. The allocation of water to industries and planned allocation of water for new slurry pipeline projects for mineral transportation without a provision of return water pipeline will further aggravate the situation of poor people, including farmers .
Many companies are drawing huge quantity of water from river Baitarani for mineral transportation through slurry pipe projects.
The slurry pipeline of Brahmani River Pellet Plant (BRPL) of 4mtpa and length 230 km from Barbil to Kalinganagar has annual water allocation of 41,99,544 cum of water from river Baitarani. Slurry pipeline of Essar Steel pellet plant of 6-mtpa and length 253 km from Dabuna to Paradip has annual water allocation of 105,16,730 cum of water from river Baitarani. On similar lines, many slurry pipeline projects such as 30mtpa capacity of JSW and 24mtpa capacity of Thriveni have already been approved by the State Government where there is no provision of return pipeline for replenishment of water and consistent drawl of water a single source. These projects will further aggravate the water flow of Baitarani river.
The present situation on water availability at Keonjhar is already alarming and many villagers say that the reason behind this is the 'faulty policy' of the Government. The water of the district is allocated to different industries and mining houses, without any consultation with the people there, who have the first right on the water. It is unfortunate that the Government is taking so many years to complete the construction of a dam over Baitarani at Kanupur, which will help farming and help in preservation of water. Instead of taking steps to complete the project and clean the river to preserve the water, the Government is allocating water to the companies to turn the district into a desert.
Only 28 percent of available water of river Baitarani could be converted for irrigation purpose. The Kanupur project started about 40 years back is still waiting for completion.
The leaders of JANMAT and CAF demanded that ,the slurry pipeline projects without return water pipeline may be discouraged as consistent drawl of water in stressed zone will further aggravate the situation. The justification of usage of water at the delivery end in water rich zone for other purposes is not equivalent to provision of return water pipeline for stressed zone. They suggested that the common carrier slurry pipeline under Government control may be promoted in place of individual slurry pipeline projects to cater to needs of many consumers in the region.