Paradip: Even as Orissa and Chhattisgarh are locked in a bitter political war over sharing of the Mahanadi’s water, a premature drying up of the river much ahead of the onset of summer has sent ripples across the port town here with locals bracing for an acute water scarcity.
The river’s drying up even before the arrival of summer will severely affect the lives and livelihoods of people in the state and might result in acute water scarcity for at least five months, it is being said.
With flow of water drying up from upstream areas, seawater has surged into the Taladanda canal up to a distance of over 30 km. The influx of saline water has affected groundwater level and has taken a toll on agricultural activities.
The drying up of the river has become a cause of concern for the residents in the port town which lies at the downstream of the river. This will not only deprive the port town of drinking water but will also affect various industries operating in the region, locals said.
The widespread concern is not unfounded as the river has never dried up even during the peak of summer.
Usually there would be enough water in the downstream areas till the month of June, which used to be sufficient to cater to the water needs of the port town.
The early drying up of the river has caused concern in the port town and has forced various industries in the region to use water stored in their tanks and ponds. However, the stored water will not suffice for long as the water in the tanks can meet their demands for a maximum period of two months.
Major units like Paradip port, IFFCO, Paradip Phosphates Ltd (PPL) and the Indian Oil refinery are bracing for the next three months when water scarcity will be at its peak. They are more concerned as to how they will meet their water demands in the next three months.
Last year, residents in the port town had to face water scarcity for 56 days.
The port authorities then were forced to supply drinking water once in a day and that too only for 10 minutes.
The residents say they fear a return to the old days whn they used to gather near tube-wells with buckets and pots to store drinking water for their daily needs.
People have started collecting money to install tube-wells in their locality. However, many of the tube-wells are pumping out saline water which is unfit for consumption.
Officials have refused to speak on the issue stating that they are looking for ways to tide over the water crisis. PNN
