The Similipal forest block, which is one of the 42 tiger reserves of India and a major tiger reserve in the State, is spread over 2,200sqkm. Besides being a tiger reserve, it is also a biosphere reserve due to its large varieties of flora and fauna.
It has an exclusive wild life sanctuary. It comprises hundreds of hills and hillocks with undulating sprawling valleys. They have become a rich source of a large number of ever flowing streamlets and rivers.
Budhabalanga, Khadakei, Khairi, Bhardan, West Deo and Salandi, among others, have originated from the hills. When the Budhabalanga river is the main drainage system of north Similipal hills, the Salandi river is the largest and most efficient drainage system the hills’ eastern side. Once upon a time, greenery dominated these hills everywhere with tree species like Sal, Champa, Asam, Dhamara, Harida Bahada, Phastra, Kadamba, Anala, Karanja, Rai and Ghara etc occupying the top canopy of the multistory forests. Because of the dense forests, the hills were able to absorb the run-off during rains, which did not create flood in the low lying areas.
The writer could get a chance of serving in Similipal for several years and has most exciting experience of observing the hills and forests from close quarters. When the valleys and upper hills of Similipal were covered with dense Sal forests, the lower slips were sustaining Sal with miscellaneous other species, including bamboos.
However, with the passage of time, the rich storehouse of nature has been plundered, thanks to the felling of trees and destruction of the forests for mining and other purposes.
The Simul trees are a dominant species in the Similipal forests. Probably, the hills and forests have been named after the tree species. The trees bloom during winter in the Simili Pahad. Its scent inspires the soul.
The 180 km long Budhabalanga river flows from an elevation of about 1,100 meters. The river passes through very stiff slopes. The river has high eroding capacity. The high velocity of its stream flow erodes the soil. The river covers two revenue districts of Mayurbhanja and Baleswar. It also covers the coastal planes. The gradual destruction of the forest cover in the Similipal hills has rendered this mighty river flood-prone. During the monsoon period, the river creates havoc in Mayurbhanj and Baleswar districts and causes colossal damages.
Flood has been quite endemic to the Betanati and Badasahi areas. The food bowls of Mayurbhanja and Baleswar districts often incur heavy losses due to routine flood every year.
In a biosphere reserve, trespassing is an offence under the provisions of the Odisha Forest Act, 1972. So, large scale destruction of the greenery of the hills and forests in the Similipal is an offence but due to the support of some dishonest officials in several departments including the forest, mines and revenue etc, the offence just goes on with impunity. A special type Rohi known as khajing is found at the foothills of Similipal at Pilhabata. This is known as breeding gorge of the fish. A few years back, a pair of dolphins was too found within the river during their mating period. Budhabalanga’s mouth near Chandipur is silted up and the mangrove forests are on the wane. Due to fishing activities and trafficking of trawlers, the river mouth has been exposed to constant disturbances. It is perhaps a reason why the dolphins have stopped swimming in the river.
The second largest outlet of Similipal is the Salandi river, which covers three revenue districts like Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Bhadrak.
This has the largest gorge at Hadagarh where an irrigation dam has been established in 1965 to irrigate cultivable lands of Keonjhar and Bhadrak. Hadagarh sanctuary is situated at the foothill of Similipal. It is also rich in flora and fauna. Now, the forests are cleared to provide land to the evacuees of the sub – merged area of the Hadagarh dam. The total length of the river is about 40 km, which joins with the Baitarani near Chandabali and forms a common mouth. The most rich estuary forest formed by these two rivers has now been damaged for settlement of the Bangladesh refuges. Besides, the river mouth too has fallen victim to silting. Due to continuous silting of the river basin and mouth, proper discharge of water during rainy season is hindered resulting in flood in Bhadrak town.
Now several ports are coming up to meet various commercial purposes. These will again accentuate the problem by blocking the drainage of water in the two rivers. All the hill streams have their own bio-diversities, where a large variety of amphibians and aquatic animals live. The rich biodiversities of these hills as well their rivers and streams need to be protected. Else, we will have to encounter disasters in the scale of Uttarakhand.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist)