Bheden River faces threat due to industrialisation

[Mrudul Godbole]

Sharing a news about an imminent death of a river due to industrialisation. Its impact would be severe water problem for about half a million people in Orissa.
Mrudul

Bheden River faces threat due to industrialisation

Many industries have been drawing water from the river, says official If immediate steps are not taken, 50,000 people will become water refuges

BHUBANESWAR: Bheden River which is lifeline of at least half a million people in Sundargarh, Sambalpur and Jharsuguda districts may face an extinction .

Apprehensions have been sounded by Sambalpur-based Water Initiative of Orissa.

The Bheden River originates from Bonai subdivision of Sundergarh district and falls into river Ib after flowing for about 129 kilometers.

“Along with Ib, this river is under constant threat from industries. Industrialisation that is mainly characterised by coal mining, smelters, steel and sponge iron factories has disastrous impact on Bheden,” said WIO convenor Ranjan Panda on Saturday.

He said rampant cutting of trees by major development projects was combining to the woes of the river and its ecology and heavy siltation was chocking up the river.

“At several points of this small river many industries led by two giants – Vedanta Alumina Ltd. and Bhusan Steel and Power Ltd – have been drawing water from the river unabated and discharging chemical contaminated water discharged from their production processes. The people have been complaining and agitating. But nobody is paying heed to it,” said Mr. Panda.

“While at least half a million people depend on Bheden water, if immediate steps are not taken to restore ecology of the river, minimum of 50,000 people will become water refugees”, said Mr. Panda

He alleged the administration was unmindful of industrialisation impact on the river and lack of pollution monitoring mechanism made the matter worse. “There are also hundreds of illegal brick kilns and there is absolutely no proper information about the number of other industries dependent on Bheden water,” Mr. Panda said.

WIO demanded the State government should make a complete inventory of the number of industries operating along the Bheden River and put a water audit process in place by which local community could be involved at each stage.

Moreover, there should be immediate halt to establishment of ecologically destructive industries in the Sundergarh-Jharsuguda-Sambalpur belt.

Link - http://www.thehindu.com/2010/06/07/s...0751490200.htm

[Sabyasachi Patra]

An unfortunate piece of news. This story is being played out in the various parts of the country. Most of our fresh water resources are being destroyed. We are turning our rivers into filthy drains in the downstream. Sand mining in the downstream areas are drying up the river. Denuding the forests and hills is leading to more of siltation, and also choking up water supply to the river.

The biggest threat standing infront of the development of India's economy is the lack of water. We are moving into an era of water wars. Unfortunately, time seems to be running out fast.

Sabyasachi