Waiting To Submerge In Sea? Climate’s first orphans: The cases of three villages in Coastal Odisha

Waiting To Submerge In Sea? 

Climate’s first orphans:

 The cases of three villages in Coastal Odisha

State Scan

BY SUDARSHAN CHHOTORAY

Rising sea levels and climate change effects have their own impact on coastal Odisha villages. For thousands of villagers of Satabhaya, Ramayapatana and Podampeta in coastal Odisha life is a twice told story. They have survived with many disasters and nature’s fury. Satabhaya in Kendrapara and Ramayapatna and Podampeta villages of Ganjam district are the living testimonials or classic cases of ongoing climate change debate. Are they going to be submerged in the Bay of Bengal? It is mentioned that Puri, Gopalpur, Satabhaya and Kantiagada sea beaches are mostly vulnerable and prone to sea erosion. People there are still showing brave hearts to be there in sea’s lap. Unperturbed and unhindered with the crisis in life they have set and suit themselves to fight the nature for their life and livelihood. Living on the verge of nature’s fury, the surging sea may come and grasp them any time.

Many attributed the present crisis of sea erosion to climate change. The sea shore which was off a kilometer away twenty years back has now come closer to habitation. The surging tidal waves are now touching the fishing hamlets and homes almost daily in this monsoon. The cause may be plenty but the situations remain the same. The question is—are we going to relocate the villages and the villagers?

Government policies not inclusive

Yes! Relocation of villages have been attempted several times but in vain. The government has neither any definite plan to relocate and resettle the villagers nor is there any plan to check sea-erosion, study the cause or way out. The World Bank funded 227crore Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Plan which talks about Erosion, Conservation, Eco-Tourism, Heritage Preservation, Pollution Control and Livelihood Security but it has short of protection policy for endangered coastal villages, except a plant to set up a Geo-Synthetic Wall (700 meters long geo tube bundh) spending 19 crore in Penth village near Rajnagar to check erosion.

Odisha government’s Draft Climate Change Action Plan with a huge budget of Rs 17,000 crore seeks to help industries more by reducing their expenditure on adapting to climate change, while providing hardly any budget for the victims of climate change at Saatabhaya. In the year 2005, Centre had included many sea-side villages under another World Bank assisted National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Programme (NCRMP).The idea was to build shelter belts to save the seaside villages and towns from the onslaught of cyclones, storms, tidal waves even tsunami etc. But yet there is no information on how far these projects worked to the extent of protecting coastal villages.

Odisha has never experienced any such year where it does not have any natural disaster. So far as the issue is concerned, one hundred disasters have been recorded in last 100 years. The state has been declared disaster affected for 95 times within the 105 years. Frequent disaster in Odisha already killed 22,228 people from 1963 to 1999 many people and till date 34, 21,000 people became homeless in Odisha left many children alone as orphan, disabled, and missing. This will increase the vulnerability of children.

Odisha Government has already installed radar in Paradeep with an investment of Rs 12 crore for Tsunami and cyclone warning assessment with the aim of protecing life and livelihood of human being as well as domestic animals. According to govt sources several other projects are also in the pipeline and to be installed in collaboration with Government of India. Notably among the developments as has been claimed by the government is that the state is now equipped with all technologies to enable us to evacuate at least two lakhs of people within a span of 2/3 hours during any disaster waning.

At a time when industrialists are queuing up to penetrate Odisha, nobody is concerned about the extreme climatic condition of the state. Odisha has been experiencing the most extreme climatic condition for a decade ranging from heat wave to cyclone and from drought to flood.

Upcoming development projects in terms of Ports, Steel Plants, SEZs, Jetties, Hotels and large Tourism projects etc. have further worsened the woes of coastal habitations and population. Development projects are good only when they engage with communities and become beneficial for local population. Sometimes unsustainable ways of planning and setting up projects without community consents have paved the way for more conflicts and alienations. Such has been the situation in Coastal areas. Thousands of coastal artisans, salt workers, fishermen both marine and Chilika have left the area for Surat, Mumbai, Kerala and Bengaluru etc in search of alternative job.

The situation further aggravated following illegal land encroachment by prawn mafias and intervention of non-fishermen in fishing activities, the conflict between conservation and livelihood, surging sea and above all land acquisition for $12 billion POSCO Steel plant, Dhammara Port, Gopalpur Port, Dhamara Railway line, Gopalpur Tata Steel Project etc. The Government of Odisha planned to set up 12 more ports in coastal area besides the existing three ports. These port projects are part of proposed 187 ports in the Country. Environmentalists have expressed serious reservations about these port proposals.

Starting from the northern coasts of Odisha to the southern coasts, many villages have fallen victim to the wrath of the ocean. Today a grim scenario has emerged the coastal habitations are being continually eroded by the ravages of the sea.

Satabhaya

The villages most affected by the climate change are the coastal villages in the district of Kendrapara. The cluster of seven villages called Satabhaya is the live example. Though within a decade five villages have been washed away in Satabhaya area, government has done little to reduce the danger and ameliorate the plight of the displaced communities. 1930 land records show an area of 320 sq km for the Satabhaya cluster near the port town of Paradip in Odisha. The 2000 land records indicate that this area has been reduced to 155 sq km with five of the seven villages being swallowed by the sea. The first to vanish into the sea in the early 1980s were Govindpur, Mahnipur and Kuanriora villages. Two more villages—Kharikula and Sarpada were submerged in the mid-1990s.

On June 8, this year district Collector and local MLA laid the foundation stone for Bijunagar, near Bgapatia Vilage in Kendrapara, the resettlement colony to relocate 571 families of Satabhaya, who are living in constant fear and uncertainty. Seven years back in 2004 Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also laid the foundation stone and in the year 1991 his father late Biju Patnaik, the then CM also laid the foundation stone.

“The government has been making plans for the people of Satabhaya since 1977 but none of them has seen the light of day. Skeptical about the government’s rehabilitation measures, hundreds of families in the two remaining villages of Satabhaya have now mored out to relatively safer places of their choice,” says, Bikask Kumar Pati of RCDC.

Pati further added: “72 families have settled down at Magarkanda and have named their new hamlet Atasala. 60 families from Satbhaya and 20 from the neighbouring Kanpur have taken refuge under a mound near the Ekkakula mouth which now goes by the name Balisahi.The newly established village of Barahipur near the wheeler Island houses 45 erstwhile families of Satbhaya and Kanpur.”

Prafulla Nayak of Satabhya village has been very critical on state government’s approach to the rehabilitation of surviving people saying: “Only one out of seven cluster villages has sustained the onslaught of the sea because of the natural sand dunes.”

Gayadhar Dhal, a farmer leader too alleged: “The lack of effective strategies by the state government has multiplied their woes. Though, the government has provided 70 acrers of land at Gupti during the tenure of Biju Patnaik-to rehabilitate displaced families nothing has started yet.”

Nrusingha Sahu of the area argues, “That wide spread depletion of mangroves has resulted in severe coastal erosion.”

Podampeta

Eleven villages of Pallibandha gram panchayat in Ganjam district have started experiencing the influence of climate change in various ways. Nearly 200 households of Podampeta and Gokharkuda village have disappeared from the original location. 400 meter beach have receded to 25 meter within a decade. Due to reverse wind blowing, Salt production has come down to 50 per cent seriously affecting the standard of living of the local population. Quantum and variety of fish resources are demeaned to an all time low. Changes in salinity and temperature of sea have such a tremendous impact on available fish varieties that they have started migrating to the deeper sea from the west side to the eastern coast, which had made life of fishing community miserable.

Podampeta which was severely hit by 1999 Super Cyclone is still struggling to escape from the rising sea level. At least 300 fishermen families are living with uncertain future. Though district administration has decided to shift them to the nearby Prayagi-Palur belt, finding no alternative livelihood most of them are relenting to leave the habitation.

According to Tateya, a resident of Podampeta village, “Earlier the fish catches which were within 1-2 kms near the sea is now found beyond 15 kms off the coast, fish varieties like Vekrty, Bengala, Ilishi, Ghee Chandi, Kani and Kokili are in extinct or not available in plenty near shoreline.” He further added, “Fishermen who were earning Rs. 100-500 per day are now opting for wage labour outside the village.”

Rameyapatna

During the first week of July people of the village were surprised to find themselves in water logged. Though they have been in living with fear and uncertainty since 1999, they had never imagined to witness such a huge flow of water inside the village.

Since the year 2003 Ramayapatna village situated near Bahuda sea mouth under Kanishi Tahasil of Ganjam district is witnessing tidal waves entering the village regularly. Though, the village is located 500 meters away from the shoreline because of the incessant rain and surging sea, they often have to take shelter in cyclone shed. District administration has started the resettlement process for these nearly one hundred residents who have opted for relocation. Some of the villagers have submitted their family details after their consultations with local tahasildar Mahendra Kumar Panda. Government is planning to relocate them near Chandanbadi and has assured them with government land, Indira Awas etc.

“Yes, government has asked us to submit the list of family members by september 10, but the situation is something different, villagers are not included in government welfare or development schemes because of CRZ provisions and identity, then how will we except full rehabilitation?” asked a villager.

By Sudarshan Chhotoray From Bhubaneswar

http://udayindia.in/2011/09/17/waiting-to-submerge-in-sea-climates-first-orphans-the-cases-of-three-villages-in-coastal-odisha/

Climate Change Jeopardizing livelihood of many in Odisha

State Scan

March 24, 2012

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BY SUDARSHAN CHHOTORAY

Thousands of fisher people, salt workers and agricultural labourers have left their home to work elsewhere in the state and country because of the rising sea level, fall in fish catch, erratic monsoon and flash floods. Similarly in South and Western Odisha people in large numbers have migrated to the nearest and far-off places across the country due to failure of successive crops and threat of an imminent drought condition. Not only this, the spate of farmers’ suicide is still continuing in the state. At least 10 farmers have killed themselves during the last few weeks. And all this is happening because of the climatic adversaries and increasing threat of livelihood for rural artisans.

The threat of global climate change has caused concern for many. Not only scientists but also common people are much worried about the change in climatic pattern. Both land and ocean temperatures are increasing. Hazards include increased flooding in low-lying areas, greater frequency and severity of droughts in semi-arid areas, and excessive heat conditions. All of which can limit crop growth and yields. Although the effects of changes in climate on crop yields are likely to vary greatly from region to region, it is feared that agriculture production and food security could be affected both globally and locally. As a result of which people in large numbers will be homeless, jobless and resourceless. That would force them to leave those areas of their present habitation. And in all probability world will produce millions of climate refugees. That’s’ why migration and poverty are much talked about now.

This year we are celebrating 20 years of Rio-Sustainable Development Summit declarations. A month ago FAO published a comprehensive report on water and land resources, which said, world food production grew up. During the last 50 years, land under cultivation increased up to 12 per cent, but still 2 billion people in the world are living Below Poverty Line. Poor farmers in developing countries are especially vulnerable to these impacts of climate change because of their geographical exposure, low incomes, and greater reliance on agriculture as well as limited capacity to seek alternative livelihoods.

As temperature continues to rise, the impact on agriculture will be significant. This impact is already being experienced by many communities. There will also be an increase in droughts and heavy precipitation events, which will further damage crops through crop failure, flooding, soil and wind erosion. An increase in intense tropical cyclone activities will cause crop damage in coastal eco-systems, while sea-level rise will reduce cropping areas and will salinize coastal aquifers.

Over the past 50 years, humans have changed eco-systems more rapidly and extensively than that in any comparable period of time of inhuman history. Between 1960 and 2005, the demand for eco-system services grew significantly as the world population doubled to over 6 billion people and the global economy increased more than six fold. To meet these growing demands, food production increased by roughly two-and-a-half times, water use doubled, wood harvests for pulp and paper production tripled, and timber production increased by more than half. Agriculture is an essential component of societal well-being and it occupies 40 per cent of the land surface, consumes 70 per cent of global water resources and exploits biodiversity at genetic, species and eco-systems levels. At every point of production, agriculture is influenced by eco-systems, biodiversity, climate and the economy. Modern agriculture is a fossil-fuel-energy-intensive industry and its development is tightly linked to energy factors, trade and globalisation.

In this connection, we need to think about Gandhiji’s ideas and how environmental friendly were the people, during those days. But we have not given any importance to such issues since 1950s.

In all probability 1950 would be the base year in case of assessing the trends of disasters experienced due to climate change and environmental disorders. To prove this trend let’s take an example: the destruction of forests was only 2000 sq.km during 1945-80s whereas the destruction reached at 24,000 sq.km during the period 1980-2000.

Odisha has been witnessing a warm climate with ever-increasing number of hot days and higher summer temperature, chronic drought and flash floods. As per a report of World Health Organisation (WHO), around 1.5 lakh people are dying each year because of the effects of climate change. Industrial areas like Angul, Talcher, Rourkela, Rajgangpur, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Choudwar are identified as industrial hot spots within Odisha. The temperature of Talcher and Jharsuguda rise up to even 50 degree centigrade. Bhubaneswar temperature is also rising due to city expansion and lot of concrete structures including apartments and also lack of proportionately tree coverage.

All these hotspots have been identified as per a Heat Island Study. Besides these, increasing mining activities ultimately help in large-scale deforestation, displacement and related rehabilitation. The then Member Secretary of Central Pollution Board, New Delhi, has highlighted about Odisha’s steel industry and how the steel industry works as a large Green House Gas (GHG) emitter.

It is mentioned that Puri, Gopalpur Satabhaya and Kantiagarh, Pentha sea beaches are mostly vulnerable and prone to sea erosion while Titilagarh, Talcher, Sukinda and Jharsuguda are recorded as the highly warming up areas so far as geographical areas of Odisha are concerned. Unprecedented floods, cyclone, drought and sunstroke are being experienced every year where thousands of casualties and loss of habitats and livelihoods are reported. This concern was widely felt over by the study and subsequent needs also emerged to have researched upon it for taking up various adaptation and mitigation measures.

Odisha has never experienced any such year where it does not have any natural disaster. So far as the issue is concerned, one hundred disasters are recorded in last 150 years. Odisha government has already installed a radar in Paradeep with an investment of Rs 12 crore for tsunami and cyclone warning assessment with an aim to protect life and livelihood of human being as well as domestic animals. Other projects are also in the pipeline and to be installed in collaboration with Government of India. Government of Odisha has always been saying that it is equipped with all technologies to enable it to evacuate at least two lakh people within a span of two/three hours during any disaster warning but disasters are still continuing in the state killing thousands and destroying life and livelihood of millions.

When asked, a senior state government official said, “The evacuation plan as made available with Orissa Disaster Mitigation Authority (OSDMA) is scientific and it is being practised by OSDMA during pre, during and post-disaster time.” He laid emphasis on advance preparedness for facing such disasters. Needless to mention that he made a promise to provide the required funds for taking forward the action plan, the same action plan shall also be assessed at OSDMA level prior to approval.

He also reiterated the role of corporate and NGOs in implementing and designing various development projects particularly on climate change mitigation.

It has been a great concern that lakhs of people in Odisha would become climate refugees, if the situation would continue where adaptation, mitigation and rehabilitation measures are very much necessary. In other words, daily wage earners, fisher folk and the aged would definitely be victims of climate change, which ultimately work adversely and affect human rights and disrupt social justice.

While speaking to this correspondent, Manas Ranjan Mishra, a prominent development analyst, said, “The draft Odisha Climate Change Action Plan (OCCAP) prepared under the aegis of the World Bank and DFID does not consider the concern and interest of common people of the state. Neither does it reflect state’s seriousness towards self-discipline, sobriety and adaptation; rather vociferously reiterates its nexus with neo-liberal lobby which propounds reckless industrialisation and unwarranted investment.”

He further added, “Notwithstanding the fact that its citizens are either the victims of climate change or are the vulnerable lot at coastal areas and the hills, the government treats them as the climate criminals while allowing the criminals to expand and multiply their crimes. With its focus on promoting investment-intensive measures as a tool to encourage state’s ongoing unabated industrialisation drive, it looks more as an “Investment Plan for Industrialisation” offering almost nothing for state’s farmers, fishers, forest-produce gatherers.”

However, an analysis made by Focus Odisha Forum on climate change revealed Odisha government’s Draft Climate Change Action Plan with a huge budget of Rs 17,000 crore, which seeks to help industries more by reducing their expenditure on adapting to climate change, while providing hardly any budget for the victims of climate change at Saatabhayaa, around Talcher and Jharsuguda.

It proposes a 15-fold increase in the capacity of thermal power plants under the guise of improvement of technology which alone could lead to at least thirteen times higher levels of emission of heat and pollution. One can imagine the hazards that the already boiling Talcher and Jharsuguda will face in this scenario. A budget of Rs 5500-crore is made for reducing transmission and distribution losses which is only going to help private energy companies sell more electricity and make more money. On the contrary allocation of mere Rs 4 crore for the establishment of biogas plants can support only about 5000 biogas plants, which is even insufficient for one block.

Two of the most critical areas of climate change impacts are falling production in agriculture, livestock and fishery; and increasing health hazards due to heat-related illnesses and accidents. There is no budget under the action plan for something as obvious and basic as preventing and treating heatstrokes. The livestock sector is seen by the government less as a victim of climate change and more as a producer of methane. The climate change action plan accuses the farmers of Odisha of not killing old and unproductive cattle due to religious cultural reasons and that this leads to large-scale methane emissions.

By Sudarshan Chhotoray From Bhubaneswar

Marine fishermen Uncertain Future!

State Scan

August 6, 2011

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Due owing to periodic ban on fishing in the sea on account of turtle protection and conservation more than three lakh traditional marine fishermen living in 480-km-long stretch, spread over 284 fishing villages under six coastal districts of the state of Odisha, are living in uncertain future.

Coastal fishermen caught in duel conflict of conservation and livelihood restoration are up in arms now. Odisha, one of the largest fish-producing states, has been neglecting its fisher folk, allege the community leaders.

In Kendrapara district only at least seven fishermen have died attempting suicide and four others have been mentally disabled. All these happened because of the fishing ban on 65 km along Gahiramatha coast of the district, says Konda Alleya, General Secretary, Odisha Traditional Marine Fish Workers Union (OTFWU).

Not only this, thousands of marine fishermen of Ganjam, Puri and Jagatsinghpur have migrated to Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Hyderabad in search of livelihood. Fisher people of these districts are facing the wrath of local police and forest department officials because of the fishing ban along the coastal areas of Rushikuly, Devi and Jatadhari sea mouth and adjoining areas during breeding seasons of Olive Ridley Turtles and declaration of these areas “the marine sanctuary.”

While speaking to this correspondent W Simadri, a fisherman from Rushikulya Rookery in Ganjam, said, “It is the fisherman who protects and ensures safe passage of turtle hatchlings to sea; government agencies are only supervising.”

Simadri further added that though government spents crorers in the name of turtle conservation, the local community was not involved. They pay only Rs. 90 per day for two months to 10-20 persons of a fishing village of more than 300 families.

“It is pity to note that, government is shying away to recognise community conservation efforts, though thousands of fisher women and men are engaged in turtle conservation and protecting biodiversity of the area, their livelihood issues are not taken care”, says, Mangaraj Panda of Orissa Marine Resources Conservation Consortium (OMRCC-UAA).

In addition to this, land rights have been another critical area that has not been looked into by successive governments. Though they have been living in coastal areas, they have not been provided with land pattas of their ancestral land.

The never-ending agony of the coastal fishermen does not stop here. During rainy season especially from May to August, they are not allowed to venture into the sea owing to breeding. Government has announced this period as a Lean Session and to compensate fishermen a scheme called “Saving-cum-Relief” is in place to be financed by both central and state governments, but because of departmental apathy the scheme is not working well. In addition to this, on account of the turtle nesting and breeding, every year from November, to May 31, government has banned fishing. As a result, thousands of fishermen have been deprived of venturing into the sea for more than seven months in a year, thus living with an uncertain future and semi-starving condition.

To bail out, fishing communities from this vicious trap, Odisha Traditional Marine Fish Workers Union (OTFWU) had lodged a strong complaint with the CEC (Central Empowered Committee) formed by Hon’ble Supreme Court and CEC had recommended to compensate fishermen for that period. To implement this fisheries department had ordered through a letter vide no. 7fy-sch-30/2004, 10810, 14-7-2005. But still fishermen are not getting their due compensation

Apart from this, the major cause of concern for the coastal fishermen is fishing by unauthorised trawlers from Andhra, Bengal, Bangladesh and Thailand fishing in Odisha coast, violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification, Orissa Maritime Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA). But the government has been the silent spectator to all these violations. Though Union government has sanctioned Rs. 2 crore to construct two speed boats for patrolling inside the Sea and final amount of Rs. 32 lakh recently, there seems to be no headway on this.

Whereas, the government has fail in implement CRZ notification, they are now keen to implementing Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) and have allowed Special Economic Zones (SEZ), violating user access rights of traditional fishers and converting agriculture lands into other purposes to corporate/ multinational houses.

General problems like non-availability primary health services, malfunctioning of educational institutions, communication and transport facilities to marine fisher populous villages, legal rights of fisher people over their homestead land, insurance coverage of the productive assets of traditional fisher people by the government are not adequately taken care of.

In this regard, more than 7000 marine fishermen had staged a three day-long dharna and a rally during last year’s assembly session from 21to 23 November to press for their demand. Fortunately, state fisher minister had the visited dharna and had assured the delegates to solve the problem of traditional fisher people. Before that Minister and fisher secretary had lengthy discussion with the union leaders. But since then nothing has been done concrete yet.

Therefore, OTFWU has warned the government to immediately look into the genuine demands of thousands of marine fishermen, otherwise they will be forced to resort seizure of illegal trawlers and declared that the organisation and marine fisher people will go on strike.

By Sudarshan Chhotoray from Bhubaneswar

Flood Fury In Odisha

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State Scan

October 1, 2011

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BY SUDARSHAN CHHOTORAY

Despite tall claims of institutionalisation of disaster management and flood control measurers Odisha witnessed a severe flood in Mahanadi system, the largest river in the state, during the last week which has affected 2.2 million people spread over 19 districts. This flood has caused death of 20 persons, 11 persons have been swept away, 24,000 families rendered homeless, and crop damage is reported over 1, 48,000 hectares of land. So far 50,000 people have been taken to safer places and close to 1,50,000 people taken to temporary shelters, out of 3,505 affected villages spread over 93 Blocks and 866 Gram Panchayats. 1109 villages are still marooned and remain cut off.

The situation in four districts of Mahanadi delta Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Cuttack and Puri is still grim and so in Sonepur in the lower catchment and the river basin. Even state Capital Bhubaneswar has not been spared. Few apartments and villages near Daya River Bridge have been affected and people were rescued to the nearest buildings.

Despite efforts by government and non-government agencies people had to spent sleepless nights in temporary or makeshift shelters and rooftops for a couple of days together without food, drinking water and medicine. Air dropping of cooked and dry food started three days after the flood waters entered the villages. Children and women were the worst sufferers. Reports of cold fever and the water-borne diseases have started coming in.

Though, flood waters have started receding in many areas, because of the full moon on 12th September and due to strong tidal waves and swelling sea water discharge to the Bay of Bengal was tardy. The situation further worsened following temporary breaches over river embankments in at least 48 places (35 in Mahanadi, 10 in Brahmani and 3 in Baitarani) for which new areas came in the grip of floods. Many of the deployed 911 boats and rescue teams could not reach to people in time.

A number of villages in Kanas, Satyabadi, GOP and Nimapara areas of Puri district, Marsaghai, Mahakalpada of Kendrapara, Kujanga and Tirtola area of Jagatsinghpur and Banki of Cuttack and Sonepur district headquarters are still water logged.

The focus has now been shifted to restore roads and communication facilities, ensuring relief works and providing health facilities.

Though the recent flood in Odisha caused due to releasing of flood waters from Hirakud reservoir by opening its spillway gates from 6th September—initially 10 gates were opened when the storage was 625.60ft then 59 gates on 9th and 10th September which played havoc in Sambalpur, Sonepur and Boudh besides Mahandi delta in Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapara. But most surprisingly it also had devastat effects in Bargarh and Jharsuguda non-flood prone areas in upstream. Generally excessive rain in Chhattisgarh and resultant inflow of water is blamed for overflowing of Hirakud but major rivers and tributaries like Tel, IB and Bhedan rivers also contributed substantially to Mahandi floods.

While speaking to this correspondent Pranab Chaudhury of Forum for Policy Dialogue on Water Conflicts in India, said, “Not only rivers and tributaries in lower catchment of Hirakud contributed to floods, government’s embankment management policy in deltaic region also responsible for this. On the plea of preparedness and repair government is draining money, in 2002 where the total relief caused was Rs 1200-1300 crore for repair of embankment government had spent at least 30 crore more in the same year then what was the need?”

All this happened following the continuous unprecedented rain and flash floods in upper stream of Mahandi River and catchment area Hirakud Dam in Chhattisgarh. “The present situation is largely due to mismanagement of Hirakud storage facilities”, says an expert.

Just a fortnight ago drought engulfed almost fifty per cent of the state and the news of farmers’ suicide were much in the news headlines. Apart from these, People of Western Odisha were up in arms over a hydro-power project proposed near Sindhol village in Sonepur district. Though this plant was planned ostensibly to augment the energy needs of the state in reality people in Western Odisha put up a brave face on the project, which refrained the government from retrieveing decision for time being. For them it was a conspiracy to facilitate another Hirakud like big dam for which they have been suffering since 1950s. Of which, both ruling and opposition parties were making charges and counter charges in the monsoon session of the state assembly held during 17th to 27th August blaming each other for the unrest in Western Odisha.

Hirakud Dam known as the largest earthen built dam in Asia with 25.8 km length and build up area of 743 square km was constructed with an estimated sum of Rs 100.02 crore foundation stone of which was laid on March 15, 1946 and was dedicated to nation by first Prime Minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru on January 13, 1957 with an objective of flood control in Mahanadi Basin besides other priorities like power generation and irrigation etc. It took at least 10 years to build the dam.

“Another aspect of the recent flood in Odisha is—among our engineering fraternity there is a bias for large dams and large irrigation projects. That may be a reason why our political administration is trying to shift its blame onto some engineers,” says Tapan Padhi of Odisha Water Forum (OWF). “While we had capacity of releasing 17 lakh cusec of water then, how 13 lakh cusec of water caused overflowing, leakages and breaches?” he further.

According to Bimal Prasad Pandia, a water policy analyst, “After just three years of the rigged flood in 2008, we are again forced to suffer a flood this year. Like the 2008 flood, this flood too is an outcome of complete neglect to Hirakud dam safety, a grossly flawed dam management policy, a dreadful ‘Rule Curve’ and a senseless ignorance to rain forecasts.” Mr Pandia further added, “There is another similarity to the 2008 flood. Both floods occurred in September and while rain started pouring, the dam had a water level beyond 625 ft. During both times when rain occurred in the down-streams of Hirakud, the gates were shut. Further water accumulated in the Hirakud reservoir. When rainfall gradually moved west-wards, into the catchments of the reservoir, the reservoir was already exhausting all its water holding capacity. Both times, the dam gravely played with the safety of the dam and released water in desperation. Both time the department tried to convince us that it only followed the ‘Rule Curve’. But we fail to be convinced on both occasions. I suspect the figures and statistics relating to dam water level, inflow and discharge. First hand information cannot go wrong. And such information clearly indicates that the discharge is definitely more than what is being told dam. The government owes us an explanation.”

      “59 out of the 64 spillway gates of the dam have been opened to release 9, 74,373 cusecs of water. 10, 37,000 cusec of water is entering into the reservoir. Almost all the districts downstream have been hugely impacted by this. In districts like Sambalpur, areas which had not seen floods even in 2008 have been inundated with flood waters. The dam management authority kept watching for this situation to come even as the water in the reservoir kept increasing steadily from July 20”, alleges Ranjan Panda of Water Initiatives Odisha.

Mr Panda, added: “Now the government puts the responsibility of the flood on the heavy rain at the upper catchment and release of water from Chhattisgarh. However, daily and weekly predictions by the IMD were continuously warning of heavy spells. It proves that the dam management authority has not been following a co-ordinate approach with Chhattisgarh and IMD. We at WIO have demanded that the government of Odisha establishes proper communication and clearly defined co-ordinate action with Chhattisgarh on management and planning of Mahanadi river. The government must, without any further delay, enter into a legally binding ‘water management and basin planning treaty’ that will help in management of Mahanadi water throughout the year.”

Further, Odisha Water Forum and Baitarani Initiative has tried to analyse the ‘Rule Curve’-based reservoir operation of Hirakud to see whether the violations in rule curve prescriptions add to flood severity and woes, or the ‘Rule Curve’ itself needs modification with changing circumstances and situations in the dam’s catchment and the reservoir capacity. Based on a rapid analysis of rainfall, runoff, siltation, reservoir level data over about 50 years (1957-2009) and this flood’s daily observations along with post-Hirakud water-resources development trends in Chhattisgarh, which contributes to 85 per cent of dam’s catchment, there is a need to revisit the ‘Rule Curve’ developed in 1988 to make it more adaptive to changing climatic and development context and also the need of exploring a formal arrangement with Chhattisgarh over management of water and water information on Mahanadi basin.

By Sudarshan Chhotoray From Bhubaneswar

http://udayindia.in/2011/10/01/flood-fury-in-odisha/

99th Indian Science Congress in Bhubaneswar Focus On Inclusive Development

State Scan

February 4, 2012

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BY SUDARSHAN CHHOTORAY

Our scientists delivered Green Revolution and White Revolution; by launching Chandrayan we found water in space; we are now witnessing a reverse brain drain; our infrastructure is growing in all sectors; we are good at pharmaceutical science but due to lack of investments and policy direction, which is largely directed towards urban areas, we lack in both volume and quality in the field of science. The difference between public and private sector is widening. In India, today 2/3rd of investments in science and technology come from government and 1/3rd from the private sector, whereas more investments should come from the private sector. Amidst all these we need to concentrate and focus on food security, health security and defence security for the nation and with science and technology we will be able to progress. We should go for reforming the entire science sector and there is a need to make this sector more attractive destination for all. To ensure inclusive development, we have to have new innovations and involvement of women. Our growth lies not in investment banking but in science and technology. We need to pool young talents, and encourage more competition among them.

These were few observations and reflections, which were made at the 99th Indian Science Congress, held at KIIT University, Bhubaneswar, from January 3 to 7, 2012, in collaboration with NISER and Government of Odisha. The year 2012 being celebrated as the Year of Science, the 99th Science Congress was historical, as it ushered in the centenary year of Indian Science Congress. All roads led to KIIT University in the first week of the New Year as thousands of delegates from across the length and breadth of the country and also from abroad thronged Bhubaneswar to participate in this historic event. Bhubaneswar, the historic temple city, otherwise known as the hub of Information Technology in Eastern India, hosted the Congress after 35 years. This event coincided with the Diamond Jubilee of UNESCO-Kalinga Award for popularisation of science, the prestigious prize started with the generous support of Odisha’s great visionary leader the late Biju Patnaik.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh while inaugurating the Science Congress said, “Over the past few decades, India’s relative position in the world of science has been declining and we have been overtaken by countries like China. Things are changing but we cannot be satisfied with what has been achieved. We need to do much more to change the face of Indian science. While it is true that science and engineering continue to attract the best students, many of them later opt for other careers because of poor prospects in science.”

Dr Singh further said, “As far as resources are concerned, the fraction of GDP spent on R&D in India has been too low and stagnant. We must aim to increase the total R&D spend as a percentage of GDP to 2 per cent by the end of XII Plan period from the current level of about 0.9 per cent. This can only be achieved if industry, which contributes about one-third of the total R&D expenditure today, increases its contribution. I believe public sector undertakings especially in the energy sector should play a major role in this expansion.”

In her opening address, Prof Geetha Bali, President, Indian Science Congress Association, said that India had the third largest scientific and technical manpower in the world and represented one of the world’s largest systems for generation of creative science & technologies. “With six major science departments, 400 national R&D centres, more than 500 universities churning out graduates and doctorates and nearly 2000 in-house R&D units in Industry, India has one of the finest R &D infrastructures in the world. These institutions have written a number of success stories. India undoubtedly has the ability to develop new and need-based technologies,” said Prof Bali.

Prominent among the speakers were Union Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Minister, Earth Sciences, Ashwani Kumar, Governor of Odisha, Muralidhar Chandrkant Bhandare, and Chief Minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik. On this occasion, Prime Minister gave away prizes and felicitated 15 scientists for their outstanding contribution in the field of science including two tribals from Koraput. The prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award was given to KIIT and KISS Founder and Convenor of ISC in Bhubaneswar Dr Achyuta Samanta. Dr Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS, has been elected as a member of Executive Council (EC) for the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA). In the recently concluded election for the EC, Dr Samanta secured highest number of votes to become the first Odiya to be included in the Executive Council of ISCA. In the highest body ISCA only 10 members are elected from all over the country to take important decisions on various activities relating to Science and Technology in the country. Dr Samanta while talking to Uday India said: “with God’s blessings the Indian Science Congress was a great success at KIIT. I am proud that all the delegates were happy for the state of the art arrangements.”

Former President of India Dr APJ Abdul Kalam and Indian Ambassador in the USA, Nirupama Rao, inaugurated Children Science Congress on January 3 and Women’s Science Congress on January 5, which were held simultaneously with Science Congress.

ISCA introduced first Women’s Science Congress to showcase the success of women scientists and how science and technology could be used for the empowerment of women. Issue of giving adequate support to women scientists was also discussed. Children Science Congress was participated by children and school students from all over the country. Dr Kalam said that students were world’s most important resources. Child scientists presented and exhibited their individual and group projects and were also awarded.

Rashtriya Vigyan Chalchitra Mela was also organised by Vigyan Prashar, a unit of Science and Technology Department, GoI, during the ISC session which saw the screening of more than 30 scientific films both fiction and non-fictional. At least ten filmmakers were awarded in five different categories.

KIIT Campus was specially designed and decorated to host the ISC. Besides the main venue, parallel sessions and thematic sessions on 11 different subjects of science were organised at different venues. An Odisha Mandap to showcase Odisha’s arts and crafts, and an exhibition centre were also part of ISC, where country’s military might was exhibited with advancement of our science and technology.

The Indian Science Congress at Bhubaneswar witnessed the participation of more than 15,000 registered delegates including 200-odd delegates from abroad and 10 Nobel Laureates. The special plenary sessions drew a large crowd as Noble Laureates and prominent scientists delivered their speeches on a wide range of topics from climate change to cancer stem cells.

By Sudarshan Chhotoray from Bhubaneswar

http://udayindia.in/2012/02/04/99th-indian-science-congress-in-bhubaneswar-focus-on-inclusive-development/

Poor implementation of solar energy policy in Odisha: a review

PRESS NOTE    

                                                                           30 Sept. 2014

Poor implementation of solar energy policy in Odisha: a review

Odisha is the first state in India to proceed with reforms in power sector. However, the state has for long ignored non‐conventional sources of energy like solar power. Considering the Sun God temple in Konark, it is ironical that the state government has ignored solar energy for long. The state is adversely affected by prolonged power cuts because of energy production not meeting the consumption demands. By virtue of its geographical location, Odisha state, receives solar radiation of about 5 kmh/sqm/day. Currently, 8 power projects with a cumulative capacity of 8 MW related to solar energy are under implementation by private players by availing state government's incentives.

Using the diagnostic toolkit developed by World Resources Institute (WRI), Youth for Social Development (YSD) a non-government organization based in Berhampur, Odisha, working to improve governance and people’s participation has undertaken the review of solar energy in Odisha state. The diagnosis toolkit looks at finances, administration, monitoring‐revision‐reporting, compliance and enforcement. These four form the key functions of the policy making and implementation. Concomitantly, principles of good governance are taken in to account ‐‐ role & responsibility, transparency, stakeholder participation, institutional capacity and accountability.

Odisha state enjoyed excess power availability in the state at least until 2010. However, it is important to note that around 10,000 villages/habitats are yet to be electrified in Odisha. Given the current deficit in power supply in addition to the expansion of power facility to villages with no power hither to, it is only going to further increase the demand for power in Odisha. Solar energy is a boon in geographical areas that are hitherto inaccessible due to harsh terrain. Thus, it is right time for the government of Odisha to encourage renewable energy sources like solar power.

Solar energy is also encouraged by the government of India through JNNSM, while creating structural space of Independent Power Producers (IPPs) through RPOs. Though solar energy plants are being installed in Odisha, that sector is plagued by problems like high costs, institutional incapacities, lack of awareness and therefore lack of transparency, lack of funds, poor stakeholder engagement, inconsistency in policies particularly with two agencies involved like GEDCOL and OREDA, are some of them that are discussed below. Though a draft solar policy is in place for Odisha, it remains yet to be finalised.

The review study identifies various issues with the solar policy implementation in Odisha like, transparency, finances, coordination between various agencies, failure in expanding the solar energy programme, etc. The study concludes with policy suggestions. It is high time that Odisha captures the momentum in expanding solar energy across the state.

On the way forward it has been resolved to take the solar energy issues to more discussion level to understand the technicalities, suggest specific policy suggestions and pressure state government to make an efficient solar energy policy in Odisha at the same time ti identify specifc policy gaps and to advocacte for bridge them. So a civil society consultation will be organised to have more discussion on these issues and take this to the next level.  

In this occasion officials from OREDA, GEDCOL, Energy Department, members of civil society, Secretary of Youth for Social Development Bibhu Prasad Sahu, convenor Coast Council Mr. Sudarshan Chhotray, Director Chetna Society Dr. Narasimha Reddy, Mr. Thimma Reddy of People’s Monitoring Group on Electricity Regulartion, Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Bharat Jairaj from World Resources Institute and other environmentalists present and shared their valuable suggestions.

On the other hand Additional Secretary Mr. Samarajit Nayak, Additional Secretary of Energy Department, Government of Odisha, Mr. Ambika Nanda of State Chief of UNDP and Mr. Akshaya Kumar Biswal, Regional Manager of Oxfam India, Mr. Bibhu Prasad Tripathy of CEE has presented and shared their valuable suggestions on solar energy policy of Odisha.  

The programme was jointly organised by YSD,Berhampur,Coast Council in collaboration with Chetna Society ,Hydrabad and World Resources Institute.

TRAINING cum WORKSHOP on GREEN LAWS & COASTAL ENVIRONMENT Both Conservation of Wildlife and Protection of Livilihoods of Coastal Communities should go Hand in Hand

TRAINING cum WORKSHOP on GREEN LAWS & COASTAL ENVIRONMENT

Both Conservation of Wildlife and Protection of Livilihoods of Coastal Communities should go Hand in Hand

Bhubaneswar, September 20^th

 

Despite best efforts of coastal communities like traditional marine fishermen, Chilika fishermen, salt workers, farmers and artisan communities due to manmade interventions and environmentally unsustainable development projects besides impact of extreme weather conditions caused by Climate Change-have changed the landscape of 482kms long Odisha Coastline. In other hand, when communities are struggling to restore their lost livelihood over exploitation of natural resources in terms of Industrial Projects, Hotel & Tourism projects, Commercial Aquaculture, Sand Mining, Roads & Buildings, Hatcheries, Fishing by outside Trawlers and Mechanized Boats, expansion of existing Ports and upcoming Ports all these above have threatened the fragile Environment & Ecosystem services of coastal areas. Moreover, the ongoing debate over conservation of wildlife vis-à-vis livelihood protection of coastal communities especially fishermen has also added fresh impetus to the ever-existing conflict in this region.

Coast Council Odisha and EIA Response & Resource Centre New Delhi Jointly organized a training programme on Coastal Environment and Green Laws on 18^th and 19^th September 2014 at CYSD in Bhubaneswar. The meeting was attended by 70 participants from 8 coastal districts. There was discussion and deliberation on environmental and forest clearance mechanism, scope of National Green Tribunal in addressing emerging environmental issues in coastal areas of Odisha.

A serious concern raised about the proposed 15 ports planned along the 482 km of Odisha Coast line. The participants from Paradip,       Dhamra and Gopalpur Port areas besides upcoming ports like Astarang have echoed that the existing pollution by the ports and dredging activity are threatening marine flora & fauna and in particular the Olive Ridley Turtles. Olive Rydle Turtles are the signature of the state and heritage of our coastline. People from Balesore district and Rushikulya River Mouth had expressed their anguish over the mushrooming of acqua culture firms along the coastline violating the Costal Regulation Zone notification (CRZ) and discharging the untreated waste water directly to the sea. In recent past the coast has witnessed serious oil spillages in Paradip and Gopalpur area threatening the delicate marine faunas. There has been sharp decline in Ilishi (Hilsa) Fish in Coast line, shared by the traditional fishermen from Paradip coast.

The Training cum Workshop was jointly moderated by Sudarshan Chhotray, Convenor, Coast Council and Shankar Prasad Pani, East Zone Representative of New Delhi based ERC. 

In his opening remark Ambika Nanda, State Representative UNDP argued on the need of community participation and awareness which would contribute significantly for community based conservation efforts.

Prominent among the speakers were Pranav C.Chaudhury of Baitarani Initiative, Tapan K Padhi of East Zone Water Partnership, Dr Jayakrushna Panigrahy of Odisha Environment Society, Kailash Ch. Das, Director RCDC, Mangaraj Panda, Convenor OMRCC and Secretary UAA, Ms. Binapani Mishra, Secretary SWAD and Convenor Coast Council, Puri, Naresh Jena, Advocate, Odisha High Court, Prassan Behera, Vice-President, OTFWU spoke on various aspects of Environmental issues, Climate Change and Coastal Ecology and Ecosystem.

Apart from these,  the workshop also discussed on Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 besides provisions of CRZ Notification, OMFRA, and National Green Tribunal etc.

While discussing about the implementation of CRZ in Odisha, Mr Jagannath Bastia of Beach Protection Committee, Puri, described it as a sham. Not even a single hotel is closed down even though the hotels are directly discharging their untreated waste water to the sea. He has termed the demand of hotel association to discharge The only Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) their only STP managed by Public Health Department as rubbish because the waste water from hotels are having high Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and the only STP managed by the Public Health Department do not have the capacity to treat water from hundreds of hotels. He demanded that each hotel industry must be asked to set up their own STP and till then the hotels must be closed completely. He has also questioned the seriousness of Sate Coastal Zone Management Committee which hardly meets and even if the meeting takes place the committee does not take cognizance of CRZ violations

The Synthetic wall which is now being constructed in Pentha in Kendrapara area under ICZM Project to check the sea erosion is a wrong idea and this has been seriously failed in other states and countries and this project should be immediately scrapped. Instead of that, the bio-shield should be promoted along the coast by the planting the mangrove and other species which can resist the storms and act as a soil binder.

Villagers of Podampeta in Ganjam who are facing the wrath of Sea Erosion had said that out of 350 families in the village Govt. has shifted only 150 families that to without basic amenities and livelihood security.

Odisha Traditional Fish Workers Union(OTFWU),  questioned the policy of state government in preventing the fishermen for six months from fishing in Devi and Rushikulya river mouths areas also near Bhitarakanika Sanctuary without providing appropriate compensation package and subsistence allowance. Presently the fishermen communities are forced to leave their old age and traditional way of living and migrating to other states in search of job because of the restriction imposed by forest department without providing any alternative livelihood.

The meeting also discussed the intention of the new government in centre by diluting the environment norms in the name of investment and constituting a high level committee to review the environment laws.  It was demanded that the existing circular mandating to seek consent of Gramsabha for diversion of forest land should be incorporated in Forest Conservation Act 1980, so that it can be saved from the executive interference as it has now witnessed in linear project those are exempted from seeking consent of Gramsabha. It was decided to submit a details memorandum to HLC constituted by Union Govt on violations of Environmental Laws and proposed amendments like fixing penal provisions and accountability besides identifying cases to pursue with National Green Tribunal.

Among others  Ashish Senapaty, Sr. Journalist, Convenor Coast Council, Kendrapara, Asim Mahapatra, Director, Programmee Serviices, RCDC,  Pradip Patnaik,Co-Convenor, Coast Council, Khurdha and Anchor-Odisha Mobile Vani, Utkal Ranjan Mohanty,Convenor,Coast Council,Jagatsinghpur, Dr. Manohar Chauhan,CSD, Ms. Pushpanjali Satpathy, Vasundhara, Ms. Sukanti Parida, Directror-CIDR Balesore & Co-Convenor-Coast Council, Balesore, Rabi Tripathy,Welcomes and  Smruti Ranjan Mohanty, Srujanee Jagatsinghpur, spoke on how to protect the fragile ecosystem of Odisha coast.

Community Representatives who took part in discussion were Ch,Balaji of PEORPC, Podampeta, Ananta Mallick, Traditional Marine Fishermen Association Balesore,Rabindra Nath Sahu of Rushikulya Turtle Protection Committe, Bichitrananda Biswal of Astaranga Turtle Protection Group, Kendrapara.Ms Bimati Samal,Balesore,, Ms. Mita Panda, Puri,, Ms. Minati Sahu, Jagatsinghpur,  Mohanty, Konark,Kusa Kumar Behera,Ganjam,Hemanta Kumar Dora and Abinas Das,Jajpur,Manoranjan Mondal, Kendrapara,Sanjaya Kumar Malik,Bhadrak, A.Kamesh,Sana Noliagaon,Rakhal Charan Das, Parivartan Project,Balikuda and Prassana Dash of Chilika Environmental Group.

COAST COUNCIL is a civil society network of individuals and organizations spread across all the ten coastal districts of Odisha. The organization has pledged to work on livelihood protection of coastal artisans and communities, protection and preservation of natural resources; besides Climate change concerns and Disaster Risk Reductions. Protection of environment/ecology in fragile coastal region and equipping communities on CCA & DRR are the area of interventions of the organization. The organization believes both protections of livelihood of communities and wildlife conservation, preservation of our cultural heritages should go hand in hand. 

eRc is a Resource and Response Centre that keeps a watch on the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) processes and ensures that the impact of developmental activities on India's Environment and Communities is properly accessed and accounted for. The Environment Impact Assessment Resources & Response Centre was established in the year 2007, in response to the felt need to keep a watch, as well as to challenge, Environment Impact Assessment-EIA reports which are based on inadequate and improper assessment of the impacts of proposed developmental activities on natural resources of India including, wild flora and fauna, rivers, wetlands etc. 

 Sudarshan Chhotray

Convenor

COAST COUNCIL

09337111879

E-MAIL- coastcouncilodisha@gmail.com