It is an irony that Odisha despite having enormous water resources has to face water scarcity, said Rourkela MlA Dilip Ray.
According to him in one of his questions in the Assembly regarding the quantity of water available in the State and the quantity of unutilized water, the Chief Minister stated that nearly 62 million cubic meter (MCM) of water goes unutilized every year. 52 per cent of the river water drains away into the sea every year in the absence of water conservation and storage facilities.
Similarly, only 30 per cent of the ground water reserves are used while 70 per cent goes unutilized. The State has around 16,690 MCM ground water out of which 4,150 MCM is used for irrigation and 780 MCM is used for drinking purposes, while 90 MCM water is used for industrial institutions.
Around 11,670 MCM ground water remains unused in the State. Out of the total 95,540 MCM water that flows in rivers and fountains in the State, 21,973 MCM is used for irrigation and 268.20 MCM is used for industries. Nearly 50,290 MCM water is drained away into the sea without being used. A total of 61,960 MCM water is not used in the State.
Water scarcity in the State can be effectively tackled with a robust plan for conservation and storage of water, opined Ray. Check dams and barrages must be made at strategic points to create reservoirs of water and control its use. The State Government should take advantage of the river interlinking project of the Central Government and propose for more link routes through the State which will optimize water utilization, he suggested.
River Koel which feeds the water supply channel in Rourkela remains dry most of the time creating water scarcity for the city. Water could be prevented from flowing away by building barrages at appropriate locations and interlinking Koel with other rivers. A steady flow in the river can address the water problems of the city and nearby areas. Same approach should be adopted with respect to other rivers in other areas in the State to prevent drainage and ensure storage of water.
The State Government in coordination with the Central Government must take concrete initiatives for conservation and optimal utilization of water in the State which could address the irrigation and drinking water needs of the people, added Ray.