Flow of water in almost all the major rivers in the State has decreased and become polluted, thanks to the callous approach of the Government authorities, alleged leading environmentalist Bibhudhendra Pratap Das.
Das, who is president of the Odisha Krushak Mahasangha, has approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take action against the erring elements and help people of Odisha in improving the deteriorating conditions of the rivers.
According to Das, flow of water in almost all the rivers has decreased by 70 per cent during the last 30 years and water flow level is going down continuously.
Approaching the NGT, Das said he has offered several remedial measures to save the situation and appealed the NGT to issue orders to the Government agencies concerned.
He further said as the forest cover on the hill tops have vanished, so the sources have dried up and flow of water has gone down.
There is alarming rate of loss of forest cover in the State and it is continuing with a fast rate, he alleged.
Increasing consumption of river water by the industrial complexes and mining giants and release of pollutants to the rivers have polluted the river water in a serious way.
He said that wild animals are coming out of the forests and moving on the roads, which speaks volumes of forest cover loss.
Several elephant corridors are eroded by the mining companies and loss of large number of elephants during these years is a matter of concern, he said.
Under this backdrop, the Forest officials are needed to be empowered with police powers and arms and ammunitions may be provided to them to control poaching in the forests.
He has urged the NGT to ensure rain water harvesting mandatory for the urban centres and all the new building plans should have the rain water harvesting features.
Use of wooden materials needed to be banned for housing and alternative eco-friendly products are to be utilised, he urged while appealing NGT to pass orders in this regard.
Das has also appealed to open a NGT branch in the state capital, which will help out the people of the State.