Expressing grave concern over the decreasing flow of water in almost all rivers across the country, the Odisha Krushak Mahasangha has made 20 suggestions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Ministers of various States, including Odisha, for execution for protection of rivers.
“The flow of water in all rivers has decreased by 70 per cent compared to the flow 30 years back. Boating has stopped in 90 per cent of ferry ghats. Such a situation has arisen as 80 per cent of streams on hilltops have dried up due to massive deforestation,” OKM president and former MlA Bibhudhendra Pratap Das in the memorandum sent to the PM and the CMs.
Das too appraised them about depleting of ground water level in all cities and villages, excepting in coastal parts, due to indiscriminate tree cuttings, drawing of water for consumption in high-rise buildings and misuse of water bodies.
Mentioning that only forests have capacity to conserve water, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, Das suggested that use of use of wooden materials in private buildings banned completely and heavy amount of penalty collected from violators. “The money collected from illegal users may be given to persons as well as Government staffs, who inform about theft of woods, at the rate of 30 per cent and 20 per cent cost of theft materials, respectively, as incentives. The names of informers should be kept secret,” he said. He stated that people be encourage to use plastic, aluminium and iron-made household materials.
Reminding that the National Forest Policy 1998 discourages the use of wooden materials in buildings, he urged upon the PM and CMs to enact laws to achieve the goal.
To check corruption in plantation activities, he said private persons or agencies should be given the work on tender basis but keeping adequqte bank guarantee from them. The TT permit system for commercial tree cutting may be abolished, he said.
He suggested that plantation be taught as a compulsory subject in high school and colleges.
As wild animals protect forests, he said they (animals) need to be protected and, for the purpose, informers of the poachers may be awarded cash prizes ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 50,000 and 24-hour anti-poachers mobile squad provision may be made. laws should be enacted to award life imprisonment for poachers and special courts be established for quick disposal of animal crime cases.
To save forestland and trees, the export of iron ore, bauxite and chromite may be banned, and these materials may be produced according to the need of the country, he suggested.
He pointed out that top priority should be given for production of bio-diesel for use in motor vehicles so that emission of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide would be checked. He said entrepreneurs should be encouraged to produce bio-diesel with loans at lowest interest rates. All vehicles in cities may be run by CNG and bio-diesel only.
To expedite environment-related cases, Das also opined that National Green Tribunal’s branches be opened in all States.
To check pollution in river waters, he urged that bio-fertiliser and bio-pesticides be used for cultivation as chemical fertiliser and pesticide contaminate both river and underground waters.
Other suggestions include exemption of tax on use of non-conventional auto-vehicles, giving of police power to forest staffs, compulsory retirement to employees found guilty, deployment of Ex-Servicemen for forest protection, use of exhausted vacant mines as storages of rainwater, renovation of various natural water sources, use of MGNREGS funds for construction of tanks and small check-dams, harvest of rainwater on rooftops and enactment and implementation of law in line with the Odisha Reward for Dictation of Forest Offence Rule in other States.