Diverting waters from Orissa's Brahmani river basin, as has been proposed, is sure to destroy the famed mangrove-rich Bhitarkanika region, which lies between Paradeep and Chandipur on the coast of the Bay of Bengal.
Owing to the fact that this mangrove ecosystem is host to some of the most endangered species in the world and is also a life-support system for the indigenous people, it has been afforded the status of a Ramsar Site and a World Heritage Site. However, all this could change with the possibility of the fresh water of the Brahmani being sold to steel makers.
Enormous quantities are required for steel; approximately 100,000 cubic metres for every tonne of finished steel. Steel units with a total capacity of 44 million tonnes have been promised water from the Brahmani river. The capacity of the river's Rengali reservoir is 4,400 mcum. of which 3,450 mcum. is required by the Rengali canals. Another 454 mcum. shall be consumed by mega-industrial plants such as the National Thermal Power Corporation, National Aluminium Company, Mahanadi Coalfields and the Steel Authority of India Limited. An additional amount of about 414 mcum. units will be drawn at the Brahmani at Jokadia Barrage once the mega-steel plants start operating. This brings the total amount extracted to 4,318 mcum., more or less equivalent to the amount of available water supply.
Diverting these waters would be equivalent to sounding a death knell not only for the mangrove-rich Ramsar Site, but also the rich and diverse marine life of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. Several factors have already caused a drastic reduction in the river's water supply (a 58 per cent reduction between 1999 and 2003 at Jokadia Barrage) and a bad monsoon would result in a catastrophe. The drastic effect that the Farakka barrage has had on the sundari trees of the Sundarbans is a stark warning of what lies in store for us.
Mangroves are extremely sensitive to changes in salinity and occur only at inter-tidal regions, where salinity levels are just right. By diverting the water, the amount of fresh water reaching Bhitarkanika will dwindle, thereby killing 62 of the world's 73 mangrove species found here. The brackish water is also an ideal breeding, feeding and nursing ground for many estuarine and marine organisms. Bhitarkanika also supports over 1,300 salt water crocodiles. Salinity and other changes will probably force crocodiles out of the sanctuary bringing them into populated areas, thus magnifying human-crocodile conflict. There are other impacts to consider. Many extremely serious. The Brahmani flushes nutrients to the off shore waters of the Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary, which attracts the world's largest congregation of olive ridleys. Trawling and development projects have already taken a huge toll on these reptiles that come ashore to nest in a phenomenon referred to as the arribada (mass nesting).
Experts predict that the effect on local flora and fauna will also be severe. Fresh water lobsters, bhetkis and other commercially important species will disappear, stealing the livelihood of the fishermen in the Kendrapa district. Farmers of the Aul and Pattamundai areas, also depend on the river for irrigation and will have to confront acute water shortages. The state government in its haste to favour heavy industry seems not to have taken into account the drinking, irrigation and ecosystem requirements of the lakhs of people dependent upon the Brahmani. These are the type of decisions that have consistently been taken over the years in India that have led to the vast areas on the subcontinent becoming water stressed.
Please take a few minutes to understand and then lend your name to the Sanctuary campaign to against the decision to divert water from the Brahmani to benefit steel units.You can take the first step by writing a polite letter along the lines suggested and posting it to the parties concerned.
