There are many man-made factors, which are responsible for salt desertification of the Paradip port area. The first and foremost reason is the natural process of the deposition of excessive salt on the soil and water of the total estuarine area.

The whole Paradip is the river mouth of the great Mahanadi of Chhattisgarh and Odisha. About two-third of the area is occupied by Bangladeshi refugees since 1947. Even now, the people from Bangladesh are coming to the zone for settlement through sea-route.

The mangrove land has been formed through salt cum silt deposition of the river and the sea. The land is very fertile. Human-cum-industrial pressure is increasing here, with the establishment of the Paradip Port in 1962. There are several natural small rivers, rivulets and creeks which have been occupied due to human settlement and establishment of a large number of industries.

The draining of excess salt in the soil and wetland is not possible for such activities of man. The Bangladeshi people have expertise in cultivation of ‘paan, prawn and paddy’ in the Sundarvans, which is a large estuary of the globe.

These people have been immigrating to the zone for settlement and are continuing their traditional occupation. Not only the Mahanadi estuary but also the estuary of Brahmani and Baitarani in Rajkanika area of Kendrapada district has been occupied by the Bangladeshi settlers.

They are great hunters of all kinds of fish and other aquatic animals like turtles, terrapins, tortoises and crabs etc. The mangrove forests are replaced by such aquaculture practices.

All the mangrove species and also their associate species are capable of discharging excess salt from the water as a result of which soil-salt balance is maintained by a natural process. But this is not possible now.

In fact, the estuaries of the globe have rich biodiversities. Therefore, the oceanic sea turtles like Olive Ridley come to the Odisha coast for increasing their progeny.

Similarly, the ecological functions of the mangrove forests are quite different from other forests. All the mangrove species are evergreen species which are great assimilators of carbon of the land. The industrial areas like estuaries should be covered with mangrove species for tackling carbon emissions.

The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) is carrying out plantations in the area. But its garbage management has to improve. The wastages of sea foods, including prawn wastage, are not managed properly, which are polluting the atmosphere with foul smell.

One can know it from the very entrance into PPT area, which creates an unhealthy atmosphere. The authorities need to pay attention to such a situation.               

Recently, the State Government has decided to create water reservoirs in each river of the State including in wetlands. Especially, the water reservoirs are to be created on the river course of Mahanadi. Now the Mahanadi river water is monopolised by Chhattisgarh.

Keeping in view the water stressed areas, the water reservoirs cum barrages should be created to arrest flood water at different points. Mega “Jalastraya” or water ponds with barrages cum bridges should be created  where the agricultural fields can be irrigated. Besides, priority should be laid on areas facing endemic drinking water deficit.

The State Government planned to create 30 ponds –cum – barrages along the Mahanadi river alone for storage points of water. Anicuts with flood water reservoirs are badly required for irrigation cum other purposes at vulnerable points in each river. Water management of each river and rivulets is a prime task of the State Government.

There is no dearth of technical expertise for the State for water management. Efficient water management can ensure irrigation, drinking water and flood control. The industries and mines can also be supplied with sufficient water. Side by side the piscicultural programme can also be successful.

The unemployed youngsters can be employed in fish farms.

Meanwhile, it has been proposed to establish two water control structures in Kuakhai river, which is a sub-branch of the Mahanadi. `9,724. 86 crore has been sanctioned for installation of such water control structures in the rivers. Pisciculture can be carried out in these rivers at an  extensive scale.

Every day, hundreds of tons of bio-degradable and non biodegradable garbage is collected from each city or town. The garbage needs proper and purposeful utilisations. The bio-degradable garbage can recycled into cattle feeds and feeds for pisciculture. The pisciculture in our State is very poor. No proper administrative efforts are taken for efficient management of the pisciculture.

We have various sources for improvement of pisciculture. We have enough river and wetland resources for such culture. What is important is their proper utilisation. It is unfortunate that when we have enough water sources, we are depending for fishes on Andhra Pradesh.

Odisha also depends on Andhra Pradesh for poultry and poultry products. We have resources for improvement of poultry in our State but we are not utilising the same. Our village youths should be trained on the line.

Now, drought has become a permanent friend of the people of Odisha. Invariably, the people of the State are facing drought every year. The monsoon grows weak in every alternate year. So we should face such setbacks boldly within our available resources.

There are thousands of vulnerable points along the foot hills of the Eastern Ghat and other hills and hillocks of the State, where ponds can be dug for storing water to meet the eventualities. The lands along the foothills and uplands, where acute shortage of water is observed, can get water during the drought period. In the uplands and in hilly slopes only three-side embankments are required.

Through erection, three-side embankments or three dimensional structures can be erected to preserve water for multipurpose uses. During the eighties, such attempts were taken for preservation of water in drought prone areas in western and southern Odisha, but the work was stopped due to corruption in the scheme. The drought-prone scheme became a failure due to mismanagements.

Now the Government of Odisha can do so efficiently; because now there is no dearth of money for such innovative work. There was a very good scheme like the ‘Food For Work’, which was labour intensive. Now the scheme can be revived in drought prone areas to meet the challenges of cyclone, flood and drought.

Generally, all the water courses of State in tropics and sub-tropics arise from hills and mountains. It is a common phenomenon of nature that mountains and hills are the mothers of rivers, rivulets, springs and all kinds of water sources. Consequently, they should be properly utilised for the wellbeing of the State.

Now Prime Minister Narendra Modi is advocating seriously for harvesting of rainwater for public causes during rainy season. There is little or no scope for recharge of rain water in underground water table in urban lands.

Hence, there should be infrastructural development first to meet the crisis.

(The writer is a former forest officer and an environmentalist, Email: nadiya.kanungo@gamil.com, M: 9937460649)