Water Feeder is a compilation and analysis of water-related news Volume 1, Issue 8

published in Odia and local English dailies (all –Bhubaneswar Edi-

September 2010
tion) with an objective to help water professionals and enthusiasts
to capture and comprehend issues and conflicts around water
(through eyes of media). It also provides geographical, seasonal
and media perspectives of water issues and conflicts with respect
http://odishahydrologyproject.org/images/Water_resources_map.g
to Odisha.

After almost a six-months hiatus, we are again back with this Eighth issue in this new format. It covers the
water ‘News Summarizations’ from 5 major Odia Dailies and one English daily for the month of September
2010. We seek your comments in improving the usability and relevance of Water Feeder. You are also
requested to send us Water News, worries and conflicts from your areas which are not getting reported and
reflected in Media. Please send your response to baitarani@gmail.com)

ODISHA’s WATER WOES CONTINUES……..

Odisha’s tryst with water-agonies either due to less-water or from excess-water is perennial.
Many a times, both these extremes strike at the same time, though at different places. This
A Monthly Dose of Odia Water News

unfortunate coincidence was also evident in this month, with drought spelling doom in more
than 15 districts, while rain-linked cholera and diarrhea hitting a not-so prepared administra-
tion in KBK districts once again, taking heavy tolls. Started with Hirakud few years back and
that around the Brahmani over past months, the debates and protests over water allocation
priorities between industry and agriculture (and livelihoods and environmental flow) from
state’s rivers, snowballed to a movement around the Mahanadi, with overwhelming political
alignments around allocation to POSCO.

While during the first half of the month, drought situations and predictions for different dis-
tricts of the state dominated the water-news in different vernacular news papers of Odisha,
in the second half unfortunate deaths due to water contamination in Rayagada and Kalahandi
took over the headlines. News related to water conflicts around Polavaram as an inter-state
dispute and over water allocation to POSCO also continued to draw media attention with
overwhelming political alignments on both of them. Pollution of river waters from untreated
Water Feeder -

effluents industries as well as due to breaches in ash ponds also hogged the news paper
pages, albeit with less than desired attention.

Our Other Water E-publications @ SCRIBD

Past Issues Of “River Basin Transact,
Water Feeders Odisha Flood & Drought Updates
available at
www.scribd.com CONTENTS
Drought 2
Water Contamination 3
May 2009
June 2009 Pollution 3
Irrigation 3
July 2009
Aug 2009 Polavaram 4

Jan & Feb, 10 Flood 4

Mar,10 Posco 5
THE KHABAR
April, 10 Uncertain Weather 5
 Page 2
Rainfall Deviations & Drought Situation
Scanty and irregular rainfall in
this monsoon lead to drought
Status of Rainfall
situation and severe damage to
Variations as per
Kharif crops in about 15 out of
our analysis of IMD
30 districts of the state. The dis-
data
tricts like Angul, Dhenkanal,
An analysis of the cumulative Bhadrak, Balasore, Sambalpur,
rainfall data available in the Sundargargh, Bolangir, May-
urbhanj, Kendrapara, and Ja-
website of Water Resources
gatsingpur have lost kharif crops
department (from IMD) over
and the farmers of these areas
192 gauging sites in 9 River
are reeling under traumatic con-
basins of Odisha till 7th dition. Drought situation has
September 2010 shows aggravated farmers’ worries lead-
(detail table in Annexure I) ing to extreme steps like commit-
ting suicides.
o 135 (70%) of 192 sites
have less than 10% of
rainfall this year than In Angul district, 89,380 hectares
of land are targeted for kharif
the average of last 3
crops. But due to shortage of
years which include 76 water, near about 13,159 ha are
of 103 sites in the lying uncultivated. Only 58,167
Mahanadi Basin alone ha of land could be cultivated in
time. The delay in rainfall delayed
o 104 (54%) of 192 sites
the farming operations. It is ex-
have less than 20% of pected that almost half the culti-
rainfall this year than vated land will return sub-
the average of last 3 optimal harvest. The small irriga-
years which include 55 tion project like Terejanga, Aunli,
Kukurpeta and Kansabansa are
of 103 sites in the
also completely dried due to low
Mahanadi Basin alone
rainfall, thus severely limiting the
o 21 (11%) of 192 sites scope of supplemental irrigation.
having less than 50% (The Sambad, 6th Sept 2010).
rainfall this year than
the average of last 3 In Sambalpur district, in com-
years which include 9 parison to the average rainfall of
of 103 sites in the
221mm, 429.50mm, and
442.40mm during June, July, and
Mahanadi Basin alone
August was respectively, this
o There are also 25 year’s rainfall has been
sites which has 193.94mm, 293.90mm and
231.73mm in these three
received more
months. Till September 12th, the
rainfall this year than district has received only 28.9mm
the average of last 3 rainfall against the normal rainfall
years, out of which 12 of 224.7mm. Out of the 148
sites are in the GPs, the Agriculture Dept. has
Mahanadi Basin
appraised the state Govt. of crop
loss in 52 GPs in six blocks. The
drought situation forced the
small farmer to migrate from
their village. (The New Indian
Express dated 13th Sept. 2010).
Mayurbhanj and Sundargargh
have been identified as the dis-
tricts with maximum crop loss
this year. In Mayurbhanj district
27,000 ha of land could not be
cultivated due to irregular and
scanty rainfall. In 3 blocks of
WATER FEEDER - A MONTHLY DOSE OF ODIA WATER NEWS
Sundargargh district, the kharif
crops could not be taken up due
to water shortage and low rain-
fall. The Baragargh and Deo-
gargh district have same fate and
some blocks belong to the above
districts also suffer from drought
situation. (‘The Sambad’ on 3rd
Sept, 2010)
Coastal districts like Balasore,
Bhadrak, Kendrapara, Jagatsing-
pur and Jajpur have also not
been spared from the drought
situation. In Balasore, 30% less
paddy harvest is predicted this
year. Such a pattern of rainfall
has also hampered the fish popu-
lation badly. Availability of local
fish has been drastically reduced
in the market. (The Samaj on 3rd
Sept. 2010). Neighboring Bhad-
rak is also no different. In Bhan-
daripokhari area of Bhadrak dis-
trict, in the wake of drought
situation, the farmers are frus-
trated at the bad-state of the
canals and lift irrigation points,
95% of which are defective.
Power is also not available due to
non payment of electric bills.
(The Khabar, 10th Sept, 2010).
Dhamanagar block is also af-
fected by drought. In absence of
irrigation facility, farmers in this
block depend upon the rain.
With Kharif hopes already gone,
non-availability of Rabi seeds has
made their situation worse. In
these circumstances, the con-
struction of WHS, irrigation
projects, repairing of L. I. points,
supply of diesel pumps and crop
loans from the banks are being
heavily demanded. Attention of
chief minister to these demands
has also been made by the farm-
ers and the general public. (The
Khabar, 6th Sept, 2010)
Below normal rainfall in the dis-
trict during July and August has
lead to wide cracks are developed
in the agricultural lands. The
standing paddy crops have
changed its colour, without wa-
ter. Delayed monsoon has com-
pelled the thousand of farmers in
Jajpur districts to use pump sets
as an alternative to irrigate their
paddy crops in this Kharif. (The
New Indian Express, 7th Sept,
2010)
Even if the farmers have been
paying the water-cess canals are
not properly maintained as the
members of Pani Panchayat as
well as the junior engineer of the
irrigation Dept. are indifferent
towards their problem. The same
situation prevails in the Balaram-
pur panchayat of Rajakanika
block. Near about 500 farmers
depend on the “Kathapai Jora”,
which badly requires renovation,
but no body paying any heed to
that since years. The farmers of
Pattamundai block have pro-
tested before the Tehasildar to
declare their area as drought-
affected. A farmer named Ratna-
kar Jena has committed suicide
being unable to bear the burden
of loan interest with crop loss. In
Tirtol area of Jagatsingpur Dis-
trict, the drought situation is also
setting in with delayed monsoon
and low rainfall. The farmers are
not getting water from the canal
and the crop lands are shriveled.
The canals are not properly
dressed, for which the water is
not flowing as desired. Till the
end of September the canal water
are not provided to this area.
(The Khabar, 13th Sept, 2010)
Although 15 districts are report-
edly suffering from drought, the
Agriculture Dept. has not yet
started the preliminary survey. In
a press meet the B.J.B leaders
alleged that the State Govt. is not
prepared to face the drought
situation. (The Khabar, 13th Sept,
2010)
 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 8
Water Contamination & Diarrheal Deaths
Due to contamination of water,
diarrhoea and cholera have
Rayagada Cholera
spread in the entire district or
facts (GOO)- Sep 22nd Raygada and Kalahandi. More
than 100 people have died with
• 1787 affected
45 alone in Kashipur block. In
• 41 deaths Kashipur block, safe drinking
• 3 being treated water is not available. The people
of that area use water from
• 1814 already treated
spring and canal, which seem to
and cured have been now contaminated.
http://orissa.gov.in/news/ Near bout 11 blocks are affected
in cholera and 1139 people are
archive/2010/Sept/22-09-2010/
suffering from the epidemics,
News2109_1.pdf
reported the Samaj on 16th, Sept,
2010. Contamination of water
sources is stated to be major
reason behind the spread of dis-
eases. Polluted water and bad
road communication are the
main causes for increasing the
death toll in these areas. Accord-
Orissa Drought 2010
ing to the government figure, the
• 10,336 villages and 104 death toll was 41 as on Sept 13th
wards in 15 districts 2010, but other sources points to
a figure of 80. The former MLA
had been identified as
Taraprasad Bahinipati of con-
drought affected where
crop loss of 50 per cent
and above was
recorded during the Pollution Worries
kharif-2010.
• 90 of the 314 blocks in
the state received
The river water of Brahmani,
Tikira are polluted by the fly ash
inadequate rainfall this
from N T PC Kaniha.The ash
monsoon pond embankment at Kaniha
• State government has broke recently and the mud
announced washed away the paddy crops in
compensation of Rs near about 100 acres.
4,000/ ha of crop loss
for irrigated land and Rs Pollution is not confined to the
industrial area. In each and every
2,000/ha for non-
urban area, the effluents are not
irrigated land.
properly treated by any of the
• State has sought Rs
municipality authority. The efflu-
1516 Crore assistance
from Center
• 46 farmer suicides
over last two years
. Irrigation : Poor status of Canals and Defunct LI Points
The irrigation system has com-
pletely failed in most part of the
state. Even the canal systems
existing in different district have
stopped functioning properly.
The branch canal and minors are
not properly dressed, for which
water do not flow smoothly to
gress alleged that the government
was misleading the public. The
actual death toll may rise to 600
and 4000 people are affected in
the epidemics. He further alleged
that in fact there was no tube
well in that area, so people are
bound to use water from the
spring, for which the epidemics
are spreading. (The Pragativadi
on 14th, Sept, 2010).
The system has completely failed
in the Raygada district in check-
ing the epidemics. The drinking
water has become rare commod-
ity in that area. So the people are
using the water from the spring,
for which the epidemics are
spreading. During the visit of
central team to Raygada, three
people died. The tribal people of
Dorapadar village, which belongs
to Gudialipadar G.P. expressed
before Dharitri’s correspondent
that “We know the water is con-
taminated and also know that it
is fatal, but there is no alterna-
ents directly get discharged to the
rivers polluting them. In Puri
town, effluents directly go to the
sea and pollute the sea water. By
the direction of the Hon’ble
Supreme court in the year 1996,
a project was constructed for
treatment of effluents, but since
1999, the project is completely
out of order. (The Samaj, 22nd,
Sept, 2010)
The Brahmani River is polluted,
the tail end of the canal. Cleaning
and dressing work are required
for proper irrigation. The lift
irrigation system has also failed
in the state. Most of the points
are
defunct. Non-functioning of L. I
points increases the woes to the
Page 3
tive. How can we sustain with-
out water. Here, we will die if we
drink the water and also die with-
out water. (The Dharitri and
Sambada on 20th Sep 2010)
While the situation as per the
Health Minister is under control,
the opposition Leader alleged
that the State Govt. is in deep
slumber. Near about 100 people
have died only in Raygada dis-
trict. While there are allegations
about bacterial contamination of
spring water, water samples from
tube wells are being collected and
sent to laboratory for examina-
tion, reported the Samaj. While
disposing of a P I L filed by an
Advocate Dillip Mohapatra, the
Hon’ble high Court directed the
state Health Dept. to file an Affi-
davit before the Bench regarding
the steps so far have been taken
to check the epidemics at Ray-
gada. (The Samaj, 16th Sept,
2010)
due to industrial effluents. The
surface of the river water is cov-
ered with black layer of industrial
effluents. Near about 38 indus-
trial hubs drain their effluents
into the river. The people those
are living besides the river em-
bankment are facing many trou-
bles, as most of them also de-
pend upon the river water for
drinking purpose. (The Dharitri,
20th Sept, 2010)
farmers. This news is reported in
each and every News paper. The
Samaj, The Pragtibadi, the sam-
bad, The Dharitri, The Khabar,
and The New Indian Express
reported the above news in regu-
lar interval.
 Page 4 WATER FEEDER - A MONTHLY DOSE OF ODIA WATER NEWS

Godavari: The New
Narmada?
Will Polavaram be
another ecocide
zone?
* 80 TMC of water diverted
to river Krishna. Water
supply to Visakhapatnam.
Drinking water to 540
villages.
* Will irrigate 2.91 lakh
hectares. Power generation:
960 MW
* Full reservoir Level: 151
feet, total cost: about Rs
17,800 crore
* Clearance from MoEF in
July 2010
* Environmentalists and
rights activists say the dam
could inundate parts of AP,
Orissa and Chhattisgarh,
swamp 280 villages. It will
displace two lakh people,
mostly tribals.
Flood 2009
No. of dis- 15
tricts af-
No. of vil- 1451
lages af-
Polavaram
Polavaram and Vedanta news
dominated the headlines for
about 15 days in this month.
Polavaram project is proposed
to be constructed over the Go-
davari River with an estimation
of RS 17,300 corers. The po-
lavaram issue is slowly leading a
face-off between Orissa and
Andhra Pradesh. Construction
of the project will lead to sub-
mergence of total 2912.38 ha of
land including 102.16 ha of
forest land in Orissa. Scheduled
tribes such as Koya and
Kandha will be displaced losing
their farm land, house and live-
lihood forever. Near about 25
villages of Orissa will be sub-
merged. Not only will Orissa
lose the land for the project,
but the Andhra Pradesh and
Chatisgada will also lose their
land and forest. Including the
A.P., the total number of dis-
placed family would be 16,207
Flood
Although the Hirakud dam
reservoir reached its peak, but
the flood situation of Hirakud
dam was under control. There
was no flood threat during the
period of torrential rain. This
year, Rainfall in the upper and
Season’s 1st Flood Water release
from Hirakud on 28th July 2010
and they will not only lose their
house also lose their liveli-
hoods. Apart from the above
loss, the polavaram project will
destroy many types of medici-
nal plants, herbs, which will be
extinct forever. The most
popular Papi konda sanctuary
will also submerge into the
water and it will lose its exis-
tence.
Now Orissa Govt. has filed a
writ petition before the
Hon’ble Supreme Court with a
prayer not to allow the Andhra
Pradesh to construct the pro-
posed dam violating the envi-
ronmental rules and regula-
tions. The matter is subjudice
before the Hon’ble Supreme
Court. In this regard, we have
closely observed the different
news items and collected the
news from the different print
media. Some important news
items of this month are placed
for better appreciation:-
lower catchments is not that
alarming as reported in the
New Indian Expresson 21st,
Sept, 2010. However, in the
Balasore district, the Budha-
balang swelled, touched the
danger point and crossed the
1. Call all party meeting on
Polavaram—B J Y M- (The
New Indian Express, 10th Sept,
2010)
2. Five political parties or-
ganized Dharana before the
‘Raj Bhawan’ to protest against
the Polavaram Project. (The
Samaj, The Pragatibadi, The
Khabar, The Sambad, and The
New Indian Express on 23rd
Sept, 2010.)
3. Polavaram will invite Envi-
ronmental problems. (The
Khabar, 20th Sept, 2010.)
4. Orissa will be badly af-
fected by Polavaram project.
(The Khabar, 15th Sept, 2010)
Polavaram project is not pro-
ject but a national disaster.
(The Pragatibadi, 15th Sept,
2010)
embankment in some parts.
The rest part of the state was
under control and no untoward
flood situation was marked
over the state.

Population 3.94 lakh

No. of hu- 56
man lives
Crop Area 1.29 lakh
affected hectare

No. of 12547
houses (Fully – 870,
damaged partially –

No. of per- 62200

sons evacu-
ated

No. of boats 90
deployed for
evacuation
No. of relief 80
camps
opened
No. of per- 64346
sons accom-
camps
modated in
relief
 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 8 Page 5

POSCO
The state Govt. had signed the
Mou with POSCO to draw
water from the river Mahanadi
at Jobra barrage for industrial
activities. The preliminary sur-
vey was made and it was pro-
posed by the state Govt.to sup-
POSCO Politics ply the water through a pipe
• Sep25: Orissa Govt line to the industry directly
from Jobra barrage. But due to
asks Posco to
massive protest by political
consider alternative parties, civil society and com-
water source mon mass, the state Govt. has
• Sep26: Locals oppose decided not to draw water from
Mahanadi at Jobra. Now the
plan to draw water
state Govt. has proposed to
from Haunsua river take water from Hansua River
for Posco for Posco project by construct-
ing a barrage between Balia-
• Sept 27 :POSCO war
mada and Nagari. This is now
zone - Farmers being opposed by local farmers,
oppose plan to supply
Hansua water Uncertain Weather
The weather report of this
month was very uneven. The
first half or this month passed
without any rain. Due to want
of timely rain, most or the dis-
tricts are now affected by
drought. The paddy crops are
almost damaged in 15 districts.
However, in the second half,
there were depressions in Bay
politicians and others.
Different groups are voicing
their concerns and views
against and in support of the
proposal. Some of them have
raised their concern about pos-
sible submergence at Balikuda,
Erasama, and Tirtol due to
construction of the barrage.
Some said that the river Han-
sua will bring happiness for the
farmers of Jagatsingpur district
as they are going to construct
barrage on the River. The sur-
plus water draining to the sea
will be better utilized by the
industry and there is a possibil-
ity of creation of additional
irrigation potential. The former
of Bengal, which lead to torren-
tial rain continues up to three
days. The low depression accel-
erates the rainfall over the large
parts of the state. The torrential
rainfall almost created flood
M.L.A of Balikuda Mr. Umesh
ch. Swain is opposing the Han-
sua project. He opines that
Hansua River is not a perennial
river. With water drawn from
this river, the farmers of Ja-
gastsingpur district, who de-
pends on this, will face water
shortage. (The Khabar, &The
Dharitri on 30th Sept, 2010)
Hansua water to posco: -
Farmers say “no thanks”.
Farmers use the water of the
channel through lift irrigation
process but after supply of
water to posco, the base of the
river will go dry. Reported in
The New Indian Express on
29th Sept, 2010.
situation in River Mahanadi
and its branch rivers.

POLAVARAM THIS MONTH

• Centre allays Orissa's fears over Polavaram project : 2 September 2010, Affidavit justifies go-ahead for A.P. irrigation project, A.P. will
build embankments with drainage arrangements, Embankments are not permanent solutions: Orissa, The Centre has justified in the Supreme
Court the grant of clearance for the Polavaram project in Andhra Pradesh, and said protection against submergence would be ensured.

• SANDRP on Polavaram : 2 September 2010, Himanshu Thakkar writes to Jairam Ramesh to revisit the project and look for better options in
achieving the irrigation and water supply in project areas. He urges him to cancel the flawed Environment clearance of Oct 25, 2005 and the
forest clearances of Dec 26, 2008 and July 28, 2010.

• Final approval for Polavaram project erroneous: Orissa: 5 September 2010, Deliberate act to render suit infructuous, The Orissa
government moved the Supreme Court on Saturday seeking a stay on the final approval granted by the Union Environment and Forests Ministry
for the Indira Sagar (Polavaram) Project in Andhra Pradesh, and a direction for status quo.

• Students stage street play against Orissa dam project : 8 September 2010 (ANI): Students of a college here, staged a street play to
protest the rupees 100 billion-Polavaram Indira Sagar dam project on River Godavari.

• Godavari: The New Narmada? 8 September 2010 ,Will Polavaram be another ecocide zone? Not if we apply the Vedanta logic to it.

• Polavaram issue at bAiThak kHanA : 11 September 2010, The bAiThaK kHanA of Agami Odisha organised the consultation on Polavaram
on 11th September at Ekamra Hatt.

• Orissa BJP seeks details of threat from Andhra dam : 21st September 2010 , (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) activists Tuesday
staged a rally in Orissa demanding details of possible damage due to the Polavaram dam project on the Godavari river in Andhra Pradesh, re-
Concept, Design & Editing : Pranab
News Compilation : Niyati & Priyabrata
Odisha State Center,
Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water
Conflicts in India,
Baitarani Initiative
Bhubaneswar

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Brutang Circle..
• Brutang : An Irrigation project on Brutang river, a right bank tributary of river Mahanadi in Nayagarh District
• Had obtained clearance from the Techno-Economic Appraisal Committee of the CWC in December 18, 2000.
• About 23,300 hectares of agricultural land is estimated to get irrigation
• 7.42 lakh people living in 309 villages in five blocks area of Nayagarh district expected to get benefit
• 552-metre-long earthen dam , which at the full reservoir level (FRL) would submerge 2,110 ha
• 680 families will be displaced and requires diversion of 1,524.17 hectare of forestland
• Proposed submergence area falls adjacent to the Baisipalli Wildlife Sanctuary as well as Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Orissa and
proposed canal cuts an elephant corridor
• Centre rethinking clearance granted to Orissa's Brutanga irrigation project? September 11
The Union government is reportedly having second thoughts about the forest clearance granted to the Brutanga irrigation project in Nay-
agarh district of Orissa, largely due to concerns over the submergence of a key elephant corridor.
• No rethink on green nod to Orissa irrigation project: Ramesh (PTI) September 15, 2010
Even as Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh has maintained that there is no rethink over the green nod to Brutanga irrigation project
proposed in Orissa, sources said it is under the scanner of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

Coverage of Water Issues in September Coverage of Water Issues in September 2010

Def unct Irr igat ion
2010 Dr ought Sit uat ion
3% IE
Flood 17%
18% 8% Khabara
22%

Samaja
20%
Wat er Pollut ion
16%

Dharitri
17%
Uncer t ain Weat her
22%
Sambad
Polavaram Pr oject
13%
Wat er t o Indust r y 21%
3%
Pragatibadi
20%