Jajpur: An increasing dependency of industrial firms in Jajpur district on the Brahmani river and its distributary Kharasrota has resulted in a sharp plunge in water levels of the river and a runaway increase in pollution levels in the twin water bodies.
According to reports, over 10 companies draw 200 cusecs of water daily from the rivers to operate their plants.
The latest entrant is Emami Cement in Kalinganagar, which has sought the permission of IDCO to draw 300 cusecs of water from the Brahmani on a daily basis.
IDCO on its part has laid down some stipulations which Emami has to fulfil in order to draw the river water.
IDCO’s divisional head Gourishankar Mishra in his letter (-769, dated May 11, 2017) has asked the cement firm to deposit Rs 94,535 as advance for one month and Rs 5,42,025 towards security deposit before it can commence drawing water from the river.
IDCO has also asked the cement firm to lay pipelines from its water supply project and construct a reservoir with a capacity of retaining water for 30 days and install a digital water flow meter.
Earlier, Tata Steel was permitted to draw 74.32 cusecs of water. While water is being drained from the Brahmani, the effluents being released by the industrial firms are getting mixed with the river water rendering it unfit for human consumption.
Currently, firms like Tata Steel, Visa Steel, Nilachal Ispat, Jindal Steel, Yazdani, Rohit Ferrotech, Maithan Ispat and Mesco are drawing water from the Brahmani to operate their plants.
The Central Pollution Control Board has directed the industrial firms to install effluent treatment plants (ETP) at various points of the riverbanks.
However, the orders of CPCB are far from being implemented which has forced the residents to take up the cause of river pollution under the banner of Brahamani Banchao Abhiyan movement.
The residents apprehend that the constant pollution of the river might soon result in the situation reaching a point of no return in the next five years.
Earlier, Magasaysay award winner Rajendra Singh had warned about the catastrophic effects of the river pollution on the residents.
Residents alleged that the industrial firms are together destroying the river which happens to be the main source of water for thousands of people.
It is alleged that the enactment of a new water policy and formation of Pani Panchayat system by the state government in 2002 has only worsened the pollution problem instead of helping it.
“The new policies have only accelerated the hold of the industrial firms over the river water in the last 10 years. It is apprehended that the stake of the industrial firms will increase four-fold on the rivers, nullahs and springs in the state in the next five years,” locals said.
Locals alleged the state government withdrew registration of criminal cases over river water pollution and instead named them as revenue and civil offences in the environment protection act. This has only emboldened the industrial firms to draw the river water for their benefit as per their will. PNN
