Water in News A bulletin of media coverage of water issues

A compilation of medias coverage of water issues by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation
1


A daily compilation of media coverage of water issues
for 14.05.2014, Wednesday







Contents
Rural Drinking Water ............................................................................................................................... 2
Urban Drinking Water .............................................................................................................................. 2
Industrial use ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Disaster ................................................................................................................................................... 3
Health ...................................................................................................................................................... 3
Irrigation .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Rainfall .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Drainage .................................................................................................................................................. 4
Dam/Reservoir/River Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 4
Pollution................................................................................................................................................... 5
Water for Livestock/Wildlife ..................................................................................................................... 5

Dear readers,
Regional Centre for Development Cooperation (RCDC) is extremely happy to present you Water in
News bulletin for May 14, 2014. Todays media coverage of water issues have been captured in the
following heads: (a) Rural Drinking Water, (b) Urban Drinking Water, (c) Industrial Use, (d) Disaster, (e)
Health, (f) Irrigation, (h) Rainfall, (i) Drainage, (j) Dam/Reservoir/River infrastructure, (k) Pollution, and
(l) Water for livestock.
RCDC hopes that the readers will find the bulletin useful. Earlier issues of WIN can be accessed at
www.rcdcindia.org. Your inputs, comments, feedbacks and critics will help us improve the bulletin.
Kindly write to rcdcbbsr@gmail.com, bimal@rcdcindia.org.
Regional Centre for Development Cooperation
WATER IN NEWS
Todays bulletin covers water news and issues featured in newspapers and web portals published on
14.05.2014. We have covered print or e-paper editions of the following newspapers: (a) Sambad (all
Samaj (Bhubaneswar), (b) Dharitri, (c) Prameya (all edition), (d) Samay (Bhubaneswar and Sambalpur),
(e) Pragativadi, (f) Times of India (Bhubaneswar), (g) Pioneer (Bhubaneswar), and (h) New Indian Express
(Bhubaneswar). Besides we have covered web portals of (a) The Hindu, (b) The Telegraph, (c)
Orissadiary, and (d) Odisha Sun Times.
Water in News A bulletin of media coverage of water issues

A compilation of medias coverage of water issues by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation
2
Rural Drinking Water
PWS project in Anlabeni of Mayurbhanj district
defunct since 5 years: Balasore edition of
Sambad reports that the Anlabeni PWS project
in the outskirt of Jashipur town of Mayurbhanj
district is complete since last five years but is yet
to function. People are not aware what the
problem is. Women of the village, having 250
households, have threatened agitation.
Putupada villagers in Sinapali block of Nuapada
demand drinking water: Sambalpur edition of
Sambad informs that while the KBK
administrator was touring areas in Sinapali block
people of Putupada village made demand for
water supply. The village is suffering in deep
water scarcity.
Acute drinking water scarcity in Bolgarh of
Nayagarh district: Pragativadi reports that pipe
water supply in Bolgarh is badly damaged and
water supply has stopped. Tubewells have gone
dry. Concerned engineer informs that the main
pipeline is damaged due to expansion work of
national highway.
Magarmunda villagers in Banai block facing
drinking water scarcity: Rourkela edition of
Sambad has reported that 40 households of
Magarmunda village in Gobindpur Panchyat of
Banai block in Sundargarh district are facing
huge water scarcity. The only tubewell of the
village has very high iron contamination. The
village is covered under a PWS project. But only
one standpost discharges water in drops. People
wait for hours to collect water from that lone
standpost.
Acute drinking water scarcity in Rudhapadar
Pradhansahi of Jagannathprasad block of
Ganjam district women submit
memorandum: The Samaj has reported that
drinking water situation of Rudhapadar
Pradhansahi village of Jagannathprasad block
has become acute. The village, with about 150
families, has only two tubewells. Both of the
tubewells are defunct. Villagers are going to
ponds of other villages to bath. They are
collecting water from river. Hundreds of women
from the village came to Bhanjanagar to submit
a memorandum to the sub-Collector.
Urban Drinking Water
Inadequate drinking water provision at Burla
hospital people suffer: Sambalpur edition of
Sambad reports that the two Amrut Dhara
points inside Burla hospital campus are not
working properly. The water points inside the
indoor wards are also not working properly.
Bamra water tap open: Sambalpur edition of
Prameya informs that a water tap near Bamra
bus stand is open throughout the day and night.
The report says that while Bamra is reeling
under water scarcity, this tap is wasting a lot of
water.
Tarbha water supply in shambles urgent
attention demanded: Sambalpur edition of
Prameya reports from Tarbha about poor water
supply in Tarbha NAC area. It says that
Mahanadi water is not being supplied daily.
Illlegal pumping of water from the pipelines is
causing serious imbalance in water supply. Ward
number 11 and 12 are not getting water supply.
Besides, stand-posts are not getting adequate
pressure to meet demand. Department official
informs that a new overhead tank is under
construction at a cost of Rs 56 lakh. It will solve
distribution problem. The officer also informed
that two tankers are also supplying water.
People are not paying water dues in time and
lakhs of rupees remain outstanding on the
consumers, say the officer.
Pattamundai ward no 8 faces drinking water
woes: Samay has published a report about
water woes in part of Pattamundai town of
Kendrapada district. The report says that most
tubewells are defunct and pipe water supply is
irregular and very thin.
Jobra water supply station runs dry as goons
snap wire: The Telegraph has reported that
drinking water supply was hit for more than
eight hours in Jobra in Cuttack on Tuesday as
unidentified goons snapped the electric wire of
the pumping house near Bombay Hotel last
night. Swain said that even though they had
informed officials of public health department
that goons had snapped the wire of the pump
house, the authorities did not take any step till
late afternoon.
Water in News A bulletin of media coverage of water issues

A compilation of medias coverage of water issues by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation
3
Local residents also alleged that the public
health officials were yet to initiate measures for
setting up another pump house to resolve water
scarcity at Jobra and surrounding areas.
Industrial use
Industries causing double loss to Brahmani
river Drawing its water and reducing river
capacity: A report in Samay informs about
degradation of Baitarani river. It informs that
inflow into the river has decreased as small
streams and other water sources have dried up.
At the same time industries are drawing its
water in increasing quantity. They are also
dumping their waste and silting up the river bed
and thus reducing capacity of the river.
Disaster
River bank erosion in Manunagar of Bhogarai
block in Balasore: Balasore edition of Sambad
informs that between 2007 and 2013,
Subarnarekha river bank erosion has gobbled of
50 houses of Manunagar village in Kharidpishal
Panchyat of Bhogarai block. The first river bank
erosion had happened during 2007 flood which
had gobbled up 10 houses. The river bank was
protected with stone packing. But the protection
found inadequate during Phailin which took
away 8 more houses. After the Phailin damage a
set of activities had been planned by the
department. The Rs 22.91 Crore included stone
packing of the bank from Maunagar to
Harinakuli, repair of spur from Daamnda to
Harinakuli and construction of six new spurs in
Manunagar. The report rues that in spite of the
grand plan and nothing has started yet. The
Junior Engineer however has said that
preparations are over and work will start very
soon. Villagers have demanded to complete the
work before monsoon.
Drowning death in Mahanadi and Pond:
Samaya reports two separate cases of drowning
death in Badamba and Narasinghpur region of
Cuttack district.
Training on boat regulation in Jharsuguda and
Jagatsinghpur districts: Sambalpur edition of
Sambad has reported about Jharsuguda
administrations effort to train about boat
regulation inside Hirakud reservoir. Among
other things discussed in the training was a limit
on 40 passengers, insurance of Rs 10,000 and
safety check etc. The training was attended by
Collector and district officials, PRI members and
boatmen. Samaya has published report of
similar training Jagatsinghpur district. Out of 54
ghats in Jagatsinghpur districts, 11 are operated
with mechanised boats while the rest are
operated through desi oats.
Rain and storm damage crop damage in
Hirakud command: Sambalpur edition of
Prameya reports that paddy crop has been
affected in thousands acres due to rain and
thunderstorm on Friday and Saturday.
Health
Jaundice spreading in Sundarpada area of
Bhubaneswar: Sambad informs that polluted
water of Daya West canal is causing jaundice in
Sundarpada area of Bhubaneswar. The report
says that 20 people have already been
diagnosed with jaundice. The Daya West canal
has polluted groundwater in old town areas like
Sundarapada, Kapileshwar, Kapilaprasad,
Bhatsahi.
Solabandi diarrhoea under control: Samay
informs that spread of diarrhoea is under
control in Solabandi village of Asanijhar
Pancayat in Korai block of Jajpur district.
Infected water of pond and a tubewell is being
blamed for diarrhoea.
Khalikote diarrhoea spreading: Samaj in its
front page and Samay have reported that
diarrhoea has spread in Bania village of
Khalikote block of Ganjam district. Samaj
informs that more than 100 people have been
admitted to hospital in just one day.
Irrigation
DoWR engineers ask Pani Panchayat to
complete field channel work by March 15:
Berhampur edition of Sambad reports that in a
meeting of Pani Panchayats of Ghadahad
irrigation projects engineers from Water
Resource Department have advised Pani
Pancchayats to complete water channel works
by the financial year. The CADA is undertaking
field channel construction work.
Water in News A bulletin of media coverage of water issues

A compilation of medias coverage of water issues by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation
4
Rainfall
Monsoon to hit Odisha by second week of
June: Samaya and other newspapers have
quoted IMD sources which has predicted that
monsoon is likely to strike Odisha by June
second week.
Drainage
Clogged drains not cleared, Bhubaneswar to
flood again: Sambad has carried a report under
title Puni Budiba Rajadhani. It informs about
various natural drais of the city and the
department entrusted to maintain those. The
report says that the drains which were once
resource for the city have become threats now.
No main drain was cleared last year. The report
informs that the No 6 drain that passes through
Chintamanishwar area is in very bad state. Many
drains have been encroached upon. The report
says that while the monsoon is only about a
month away, drainage division Chief Engineer
has wrote letters to clear critical areas of the
drains. Pragatibadi has also carried a photo
feature of clogged drains in Bhubaneswar.

Ganjam town fears flood prpblem owing
choking of drainage outlets by under
construction Rushikulya embankment:
Berhampur edition of Prameya informs that the
under-construction embankments along
Subarnarekha river has blocked many drainage
outlets in Ganjam town. 16 drainage outlets
have already been closed by the executing
company. The report has alleged that attention
to drainage of the town is woefully lacking in the
embankment plan. The executing company
shifts the blame to the water resources
department saying that the department has not
informed them about places to construct
drainage outlets. The Executive Engineer has
assured that problem will be solved before
monsoon.
Cuttack drains to be cleared before June 30:
Pragativadi informs about Cuttack Municipal
Corporations decision to clear all drains and
remove garbage before June 30. The High Court
had earlier order the CMC to complete this work
by June 15. Now the High Court has extended
time till June 30, CMC officials have said.
Dam/Reservoir/River Infrastructure
Eight hydropower and irrigation projects
finalises, reports of four already submitted to
CWC for approval: Brahmapur edition of
Prameya reports that Odisha government has
submitted detailed project report of four hydro
and irrigation projects to Central Water
Commission for approval. The reports gives
information about project reports of the
following projects: hydropower project near
Kantamal on Khadga river, hydro cum irrigation
project over Salki river near Gumi in Boudh
district ; Lower Basadhara irrigation and
hydropower project near Gudari in Gajapati
district, Nandinala irrigation project near
Sheragad in Ganjam district, and Laxmipathar
irrigation project near Chorichhala of Kandhamal
district. Besides there are proposals for
Badanadi irrigation project on Rushikulya river
near Deep Sahi of Bhanjanagar block and an
irrigation project nar Brahnipada of Kandhamal
district.

Tikhali lower Indra project displaced submit 33
point memorandum to KBK administrator:
Sambalpur edition of Sambad informs that lower
Indra irrigation project displaced people
submitted a 33 point memorandum to the KBK
administrator Dr Tara Dutt while he was touring
the project

A compilation of medias coverage
Pollution
Pollution Threat to Bhitarkanika
Indian Express quotes a report, appeared in
American Journal of Marine Scienc
found out that water quality at six sites revealed
higher residue of chloride, phosphate and
magnesium as well as total dissolved solids (TDS)
which are a direct result of waste being released
into the river.. . It carried out water analysis for
pH, conductivity, TDS, dissolved oxygen (DO),
chloride, calcium, magnesium, total hardness to
examine the important parameters of pollution
at six stations covering river water of Jamboo,
mangrove forest water near Kharnasi, prawn
farm at Nuagada and Triveni, Mahanadi river
where IFFCO and PPL effluent is released
chloride content was found in the range of 4389
mg per litre to 12,575 mg per litre at different
sites. The report found significant variation in
calcium content during the six-month study
period which varied from 125.4 mg/l to 400.8
mg/l. Magnesium content in water samples saw
the highest count pegged at 474.13 mg/l against
the low of 153.16 mg/l. The study was
conducted by BC Behera, Department of
Biotechnology, North Odisha University,
Baripada, RR Mishra of MITS School of
Biotechnology, Bhubaneswar, JK Patra of
National Institute of Technology, Rourklela, SK
Dutta, IIS, Bangalore and HN Thatoi, College of
Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar


(RCDC seeks your inputs and ideas to
make it more comprehensive and user
friendly. All inputs will be appropriately
credited to the contributor/author.
Water in News A bulletin of media coverage of water issues
coverage of water issues by Regional Centre for Development Cooperation
Pollution Threat to Bhitarkanika: The new
appeared in
American Journal of Marine Science, which
water quality at six sites revealed
hosphate and
magnesium as well as total dissolved solids (TDS)
which are a direct result of waste being released
carried out water analysis for
pH, conductivity, TDS, dissolved oxygen (DO),
chloride, calcium, magnesium, total hardness to
xamine the important parameters of pollution
at six stations covering river water of Jamboo,
mangrove forest water near Kharnasi, prawn
farm at Nuagada and Triveni, Mahanadi river
where IFFCO and PPL effluent is released. The
the range of 4389
mg per litre to 12,575 mg per litre at different
The report found significant variation in
month study
period which varied from 125.4 mg/l to 400.8
Magnesium content in water samples saw
highest count pegged at 474.13 mg/l against
The study was
conducted by BC Behera, Department of
Biotechnology, North Odisha University,
Baripada, RR Mishra of MITS School of
Biotechnology, Bhubaneswar, JK Patra of
e of Technology, Rourklela, SK
Dutta, IIS, Bangalore and HN Thatoi, College of
Engineering and Technology, Bhubaneswar.
Water for Livestock
No water provision for cattle in Udala cattle
market: Balasore edition of Sambad informs
that there is no provision of water for cattle in
the large cattle market of Udala. It says the RMC
has ignored this aspect totally.
Check-dam demand to provide water to wild
lives around Balangir forest:
Sambalpur edition of Prameya reports about a
demand to construct small check dams across
streams in the hills surrounding Balangir town.
The report says that such projects will help
harvesting and storage of water which will not
only provide water to the wildlives of the forest,
but also improve water flow in the streams. The
report informs that check dams s
constructed across Jalia, Bijakhaman and
Bandkalijharan streams. Forest department
officials have cited paucity of funds for such
check dams.
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make it more comprehensive and user
friendly. All inputs will be appropriately
to the contributor/author.
A bulletin of media coverage of water issues
Regional Centre for Development Cooperation
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Livestock/Wildlife
provision for cattle in Udala cattle
Balasore edition of Sambad informs
that there is no provision of water for cattle in
market of Udala. It says the RMC
has ignored this aspect totally.
dam demand to provide water to wild
lives around Balangir forest: A report in
Sambalpur edition of Prameya reports about a
demand to construct small check dams across
hills surrounding Balangir town.
The report says that such projects will help
harvesting and storage of water which will not
only provide water to the wildlives of the forest,
but also improve water flow in the streams. The
report informs that check dams should be
constructed across Jalia, Bijakhaman and
Bandkalijharan streams. Forest department
officials have cited paucity of funds for such
DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION
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