Jajpur: The dependence of several industrial units in Kalinganagar of Jajpur district on the waters of river Brahmani and its distributary Kharashrota has been increasing. The result is that their waters are increasingly getting polluted while their flows have drastically declined. Meanwhile, a movement is gathering momentum to save Brahmani.
Reports said about 10 industrial units depend on the Bhramani waters for their needs. Besides, scores of industries use its waters in Sundargarh, Angul and Dhenkanal district.
The Kalinganagar industrial units alone have been using 200 cusecs of water on a daily basis. Several organisations and the ruling party have been taking up campaigns for the protection of river Mahanadi while there are no efforts to save rivers like Brahmani, Baitarani and Kharashrota, it was alleged.
A campaign for Kharashota was taken up in 1956, but it lost its steam now. Kharashrota originates from Brahmani at Jenapur. Its depth has been reduced at Tikarapada at its outfall.
It was alleged that funds has been utilised for dredging at its outfall, but the effort was of no use. The flow in the river has drastically fallen while people of about 180 villages are dependent on its waters. The river has been a lifeline for the agriculture sector in the riparian areas.
In the past, a movement was taken up for protection of Brahmani in Kendrapara and Jajpur. The attention of the Central government was drawn towards the protection of the river.
Besides, groundwater has fallen drastically in Jajpur. Seventeen panchayats in Jajpur and 12 panchayats in Kendrapara have been facing water shortage. Kharashrota Talmala Andolana, an outfit, has called for a movement to save the two rivers from the industrial units.
A committee was formed for the purpose with columnist Harekrushna Panda, litterateur Ramakant Jena, intellectuals Gobinda Swain, Saifur Rehman, Antaryami Samal, Radhakant Sahu, Bijay Jena and Sahibhusan Samal as members.
The next meeting of the committee will be held May 29 following which a memorandum will be submitted to the Central government.
