Water flow in rivers of Odisha (except in rainy season) has decreased by 70 per cent compared to 20 years ago. Besides, waterfall flow has shrunk by 50 per cent compared to 15 years ago and 80 per cent of streams have dried up. While the reason behind the alarming situation is destruction of forests for industries at source points (hill tops), the Government has even no knowledge about it.
The Odisha Krushak Mahasangh (OKM) revealing this has lamented that a serious water crisis will arise in coming 10 years if the Government doesn’t initiate remedy measures at the earliest.
“The situation has been alarming. Ferryboats have stopped operations at 90 per cent of river ghats due to said low-level water in rivers and concerned gram panchayats have lost 50 per cent of ghat revenue in these years. When we see all these physically, it is disappointing that the Government and people’s representatives have sat silent,” rued Mahasangh president Bibhudhendra Pratap Das. He informed that two rivers, Suna and Kandra, dried up five years ago at Joda and Kara river of Sundargarh turned a dead river 10 years ago.
He said Padhanpata waterfall at Deogarh, Khandadhar in Sundargarh and Sana Ghagara and Bada Ghagra waterfalls in Keonjhar districts have dried up by 50 per cent within 15 years. “Hill tops have been treeless, and wild animals elephants and bears are moving to human habitations in search of water,” he said and informed that the Keonjhar DFO has mentioned in a letter that Joda residents have faced severe water scarcity.
Das also apprehended that, if massive forests are not created on all hills and plantation activities are not undertaken on land surfaces, over 2 crore people belonging to western Odisha, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Gajapati and undivided Koraput district will be facing famine-like situations after a few years.
Quoting Waterman of India Dr Rajendra Singh, Das said normal water flow in rivers, waterfalls and streams can be restored if stringent laws are enacted and they implemented in true letter and spirit.