Odapada: Wanton use of water from river Brahmani by industrial units has left it dry while people of Dhenkanal district face shortage of water.
The river, known as the Ganges of the state, has also become toxic due to discharge of effluents by industrial units.
The drying river has led to decrease in population of aquatic creatures and depletion in groundwater level. A recent finding indicated that groundwater has gone down 40-ft over the last eight years.
Despite being perennial, the river remains dry for nine months a year. The river which once catered to the needs of 80 per cent of the residents of the district has stopped flowing like earlier as many factories draw water more than the prescribed limits.
Sources said the river’s water is supplied through intake wells to various industrial units in the state. Among the major users Rourkela Steel Plant daily draws 28 crore litre, National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) 13 crore litre and Nalco draws 6.3 crore litre.
Moreover, the state government has allowed several under-construction and proposed projects to draw water from the river. Among them are Monnet Ispat – 40 cusecs, Navbharat Power – 42 cusec, GMR – 30 cusec, Jindal Thermal – 40 cusec, SR Power – 48 cusec, CESC – 42 cusec, Lanco – 40 cusec, Mahanadi Urban Power – 40 cusec and Bhushan Energy – 40 cusec. PNN
