LocalWire

The hyper local news platform

Environment

Three-day-long Bhitarkanika Festival begins from 7 February

By Leave a Comment

Kendrapara, Feb 4 (LocalWire) Starting on 7th Feb the three-day-long Bhitarkanika Festival will be held for the first time at Nalitapatia village on the outskirts of the Bhitarkanika National Park, Kendrapada.

The Forest Department, the District Administration and the Tourism Department are jointly organizing the festival to attract more tourists to the country’s second largest mangrove forest.

The district administration will spend a sum of Rs 30 Lakhs for the festival.

“We selected the Nalitapatia village, six kilometers away from the park, for the festival so as not to disturb the wildlife in the park,” said Bikash Ranjan Dash, the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the park.

The Bhitarkanika National Park, a Ramsar site, is home to a variety of wildlife, including spotted deer, salt water crocodiles, pythons and Sambars.

It also plays host to a large number of migratory birds during winters.

The festival will generate awareness among people about the conservation of birds and other animals, added the forest officer.

The officer informed LocalWire that during the festival, a photo exhibition, seminars and other events will be organized.

The Gahiramtha Marine Sanctuary within the park is the world’s largest rookery of Olive Ridley Sea Turtles.

In an effort to attract more tourists, the authorities have built cottages at Habelikothi, Gupti, Danagamala.

We are also giving emphasis on sustainable tourism to generate employment for the locals, added the officer.

The festival will be attended by state’s Tourism Minister, senior forest officials, tour operators, wildlife researchers, and others.

In 1975, the ministry of Forest and Environment in collaboration with the UNDP had started a crocodile breeding and rearing project in Dangamala within the Bhitarkanika Park after which the crocodile population started increasing in the creeks, river and other water bodies of the park.

The park is now a home to 1757 crocodiles as per the latest census.

Nine years back, the Guinness Book of World Records recorded a 23-foot long salt-water crocodile in Bhitarkanika as the largest crocodile in the world.

The salt water crocodile conservation programme in Bhitarkanika is the most successful one as in 1975, the park had only 96 crocodiles.

Edited by Meenal Singh

LocalWire

Special: Villagers using pit-water for basic necessities

By Leave a Comment

Baripada, Feb 4 (LocalWire): The tribal-dominated villages of Gajapathar and Aswakuti Chowk Sahi within the Labanyadeipur and the Sarat Gram Panchayat respectively have been using pit-water for their basic necessities.

Despite dozens of promising schemes initiated by the state government to resolve such problems in rural Odisha, the residents of these two villages under the tribal-dominated district of Mayurbhanj continue to face a water crisis.

Small pits with brown-colored water are the only source of drinking water for these villagers.

They have dug small pits after cultivating paddy on their fields and have been consuming water from these pits as their tube-wells have failed to provide them water due to lower groundwater levels in the village.

The villagers stated that the tube-wells were built some eight years back and the problem has remained unchanged ever since.

“As the village lies near the foothills of Similipal, the concerned department claims the presence of stones to be the reason behind the non-functioning tube-wells,” the villagers said.

The concerned department (RWSS) is providing drinking water through water tanks four times a week which fails to fulfill the demands of the entire village forcing them to fetch water from pits.

Various water-borne diseases have been detected amongst the villagers since then. Economically challenged as they are, they have been unable to build a deep tube-well to cater to their everyday needs.

Similarly, the residents of the Aswakuti Chowk Sahi village under the Sarat Gram Panchayat have been dependent upon water from such pits and the nearby village of Tala Sahi although there’s only one tube-well at Tala Sahi.

Turi Sing, a senior citizen of the village, said, “No matter what schemes the government comes up with, us villagers have been struggling even for a single drop of water. Not only the villagers, but the domestic animals have also been facing this problem.”

“I have been facing such problems ever since my childhood, thanks to the government’s carelessness,” he added.

When contacted, the Collector Vineet Bhardwaj said that he would direct the officers of the RWSS Department in Kaptipada to visit these villages and that necessary steps will be taken to tackle with the situation.

Edited by Meenal Singh

LocalWire

75 industries in the state perform below the environmental standards: officials

By Leave a Comment

Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 (LocalWire): At least 73 industries in the state have been performing way below the environmental standards and have been rated as 1-Star industries, according to the latest rating by the state pollution control board, an official said on Friday.

The Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) has put forward the star rating program under which, they are closely monitoring emissions from major industrial plants and revealing the data to the public maintaining complete transparency.

Under this program, the SPCB has been monitoring the emission data from different industries very closely and giving star rating to each one of them based on their performance.

The ratings range from 1 to 5, 1 star being given to the industries managing their emissions in the worst possible manner, 5 being the best.

Odisha is home to more than 4000 small and large-scale industries out of which the SPCB is focused on 135 large-scale industrial plants belonging to the 17 most polluted sectors.

Presently, the Star Rating Program is restricted to observing merely the Particulate Matter emissions of the selected industries.

In future, other sectors such as Cement, Fertilizers, Sponge iron, etc. will also be monitored, he said.

The latest star ratings have found that out of these selected industries, at least 73 have been performing way below the environmental standards and have been rated as 1-Star industries.

Written by Meenal Singh

LocalWire

କଟକଣା ମାନୁନାହାନ୍ତି ଟ୍ରଲର, ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ମୁଖରେ ପଡ଼ୁଛନ୍ତି ବହୁ ଅଲିଭ ରିଡଲେ

By Leave a Comment

ପାରାଦୀପ,ଜାନୁଆରୀ ୩୧(ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର): ଓଡ଼ିଶା ଉପକୂଳର ବିଭିନ୍ନ ସ୍ଥାନରେ କଟକଣାକୁ ଅମାନ୍ୟ କରି ସମୁଦ୍ର୍ରରେ ଟ୍ରଲର ଗୁଡ଼ିକ ଅବାଧରେ ଚଳାଚଳ କରୁଥିବାରୁ ବହୁ ସଂଖ୍ୟକ ଅଲିିଭ ରିଡଲେ କଇଁଛ ମୃତ୍ୟୁମୁଖରେ ପଡ଼ୁଛନ୍ତି, ଯାହାକି ପରିବେଶବିତ୍ ମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଗଭୀର ଉଦବେଗ ସୃଷ୍ଟି କରିଛି ।

ଶୁକ୍ରବାର ଜଗତସିଂହପୁର ଜିଲ୍ଲାର ପାରାଦୀପ ଉପକୂଳ ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ବହୁ ସଂଖ୍ୟକ ଅଲିଭ ରିଡଲେ ମରି ପଡ଼ିଥିବା ଦେଖିବାକୁ ମିଳିଥିଲା । ପର୍ଯ୍ୟଟକ ଓ ପରିବେଶବିତ ମନେ ଏଭଳି ଦୃଶ୍ୟରେ ବ୍ୟଥିତ ହୋଇଛନ୍ତି ।

ମୋଟର ଚାଳିତ ଡଙ୍ଗା ଏବଂ ଟ୍ରଲରରେ ମାଡ଼ ହୋଇ କଇଁଛଗୁଡ଼ିକ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ମୁଖରେ ପଡ଼ୁଥିବା ସେମାନେ ଅଭିଯୋଗ କରିଛନ୍ତିି ।

ଉଲ୍ଲେଖଯୋଗ୍ୟ, ଧାମରା, ଦେବୀ ଏବଂ ଋଷିକୂଲ୍ୟା ନଦୀ ମୁହାଣରେ ଉପକୂଳରୁ ୨୦ କିଲୋମିଟର ସମୁଦ୍ର ଭିତର ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ନଭେମ୍ବର ୧ ତାରିଖରୁ ମେ ୩୧ ତାରିଖ ପର୍ଯ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମାଛଧରା ଉପରେ ସରକାର କଟକଣା ଜାରି କରିଛନ୍ତି ।

ବିଶେଷ କରି ମୋଟରଚାଳିତ ଡଙ୍ଗା ଏବଂ ଟ୍ରଲର ଉପରେ କଟକଣା କଡ଼ାକଡ଼ି କରାଯାଇଛି । ଏହାସତ୍ତ୍ୱେ ମତ୍ସ୍ୟଜୀବୀମାନେ କଟକଣା ନ ମାନି ଟ୍ରଲର ଚଳାଉଥିବାରୁ ବିରଳ କଇଁଛ ଏହାର ମାଡ଼ରେ ମୃତ୍ୟୁ ମୁଖରେ ପଡ଼ୁଛନ୍ତି ।

ଗତ ୨୭ ତାରିଖରେ ଗହୀରମଥା ଅଞ୍ଚଳରେ ୧୯ ଜଣ ମତ୍ସ୍ୟଜୀବୀମାନଙ୍କୁ ଗିରଫ କରାଯାଇଥିବା େବେଳେ ୮ କ୍ୱିଣ୍ଟାଲ ମାଛ ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଠାରୁ ଜବତ ହୋଇଥିଲା । ସେମାନଙ୍କ ଠାରୁ ୨ଟି ଟ୍ରଲର ମଧ୍ୟ ଜବତ ହୋଇଥିଲା ।

ବିରଳ ଅଲିଭ ରିଡଲେ କଇଁଛଙ୍କ ସୁରକ୍ଷା ପାଇଁ ବନ ବିଭାଗ ଓ ମତ୍ସ୍ୟପାଳନ ବିଭାଗ ପକ୍ଷରୁ ପାଟ୍ରୋଲିଂ ବଢ଼ାଇ ଅବାଧ ଚଳାଚଳ କରୁଥିବା ଟ୍ରଲର ଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ଜବତ କରିବାକୁ ପରିବେଶବିତ୍ ମାନେ ଦାବି କରିଛନ୍ତି ।

ଲୋକାଲ ୱାୟାର

Six industries and five hotels fined for environment pollution

By Leave a Comment

Paradip, Jan 30 (LocalWire)- Yesterday, the Odisha Pollution Control Board (OPCB) taking strict action against the Paradip based industries causing both air and water pollution has imposed a fine of Rs 1 crores on six industries and Rs 25 lakh on five hotels in Paradip.

In 2017, the Central Pollution Control Board had entrusted the Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Delhi, with the preparation of a Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index (CEPI) in Paradip. The CEPI for critically polluted zone stands at 70.

A Severely Polluted Area (SPA) lies between 60 and 60.9. Paradip comes under the SPA administration. The administration has prepared an action plan to reduce the pollution level in Paradip.

Despite this, no improvement in the situation has been observed so far. Industrial pollutants allegedly affect the water bodies passing through the Paradip industrial area. The oil leakage from Indian Oil Corporation’s pipelines has become a recurring phenomenon resulting in the deaths of thousands of aquatic animals in the area.

Gypsum, an industrial waste from fertiliser plants, has also contributed to the water pollution in this area.

Air pollution has also emerged as a major health hazard in the area as the air is often heavy with dust particles resulting from the transportation of ores. This dust settles on plants in and around the town.

The Paradip Port Trust, two fertilizer units PPL & IFFCO, IOCL, Goa Carbon Pvt Ltd. ABN Beverages Pvt Ltd and other hotels in this area are causing enormous damage to the environment, but nothing has been done to tackle with the situation in Paradip.

Ramesh Chandra Ekka, the Regional Officer, (OPCB), informed LocalWire that PPT, PPL, IFFCO, IOCL, Goa Carbon and ABN Beverages Ltd. have been asked to deposit a fine of Rs 1 crore each within seven days of the proceedings failing which legal action will be taken against these industries.

He also told us that hotels like Hotel Empires, Golden Anchor, Hotel Paradeep International Hotel have been fined Rs 25 lakh each.

The locals have raised complaints several times regarding the discharge of effluents into water bodies in Paradip.

Edited by Meenal Singh

LocalWire

Exclusive: Meet Amresh Samant who turned desert into forest

By Leave a Comment

Paradip, Jan 30 (LocalWire): Ganeshi Lal, the Governor of Odisha, has felicitated and praised the efforts of Amresh Naresh Samant, an engineer at the Paradip Port, concerning the protection of environment.

Samant has successfully converted a deserted industrial area into a vast land full of lush green trees.

Samant holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and a Post-graduate Diploma in Environmental Studies.

He is a well-known environmentalist & a social activist in the districts of Jagatsinghpur & Kendrapara.

In the past 20 years, he has been able to plant more than 20,000 saplings in the various schools, and colleges.

Samant has also helped in creating public awareness regarding environment conservation.

His organization is also working towards the sanitary development of rural India. He has financially supported many needy students in this locality.

He is an inspiration for the local youth.

Informing the LocalWire team, Samant said, “I wish to stay focused on creating a healthy & prosperous society for all.

I want to motivate the local youth to show interest in activities related to the protection of the environment and wildlife.”

Samant was also a part of various environmental awareness campaigns and cleanliness drives conducted in different slum areas during World Environment Day.

He was also involved in several other awareness programs concerning environmental issues.

Earlier, he also conducted a bicycle rally of nearly 750 km from Paradip to Berhampur in order to spread awareness amongst the people of eight districts.

Paradip and its nearby villages are under a threat of industrial pollution due to the presence of coal and other pollutants in its atmosphere.

Thousands of people living in Paradip area have been suffering from various respiratory problems owing to the air pollution in the area.

But nothing has been done to control the situation so far.

We need more people like Amresh Samant who would not only take this mission forward but also inspire and motivate others to join the cause.

Edited by Meenal Singh

LocalWire

Know about Nakshyatra Vana the government is developing in Ganjam

By Leave a Comment

Berhampur, Jan 27 (LocalWire) Odisha is going to develop a Nakshatra Vana (Astral Garden), a park related to stars, at Budhakhol in the district of Ganjam within next three years, an official said on Monday.

Budhakhol is a picturesque tourist place near Buguda, around 93 km from the prominent southern city of Berhampur.

The forest department has sanctioned Rs. 2.85 crore here for setting up an eco-park in around 9 acres of land.

The park will also have a water body, trekking facilities, medicinal plants, tree-houses, an interpretation centre, Ghumusar south divisional forest officer Satya Narayan Behura told LocalWire.

Department of Ayush in the Union Ministry of Health and Family Planning has approved the lists of plants related to Nakshatra, he said.

Nakshatras are associated with Zodiac and celestial bodies.

Nakshatra is the term described for a lunar mansion in both astrology and astronomy.

The Ayurveda also believes that every Nakshatra has a spiritual symbolic tree or plant attached to it.

Such plants having medicinal value will be planted in the proposed Nakshatra Vana inside the nature park, he said.

It will also allow the visitors, particularly the children to enjoy the scenic beauty with varieties of flora and fauna.

Budhakhol heritage site is also home to numbers of beautiful trees, caves mostly built of uncut stones, temples and perennial waterfall.

It has a hill which contains archaeological remains, including the mutilated Buddhist image of the first century AD.

A Nakshatra Van has been created by the Jharkhand forest department in front of the residence of the Jharkhand governor in Ranchi.

LocalWire

Mahanadi Coalfields Limited to develop garden complex near Hirakud dam

By Leave a Comment

Sambalpur, January 23 (LocalWire) Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited on Thursday said it will develop a heritage garden complex at Hirakud dam on the lines of Mysore’s famous Vrindavan Gardens.

Named “Maa Samleshwari Gardens”, the heritage complex at Asia’s longest Hirakud dam will be a site of tourist attraction, the company said. It has already funded a ropeway project the at the dam, MCL head of public relations Dikken Mehra said.

Principal secretary to Prime Minister office PK Mishra had given the idea of developing the park during his meeting with MCL chairman B N Shukla.

MCL has roped in Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur as the project consultants for the park project which will also have a big convention center, seminar hall, fountains, lights and sound arrangement to showcase the cultural heritage of the state.

A team from IIT has visited the site yesterday for preliminary survey along with the engineers of Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd.

The garden is being developed with an aim at bringing prosperity to the local population by bringing Hirakud on the national tourist circuit.

LocalWire

Talcher fertilizer plant to commence production by 2023

By Leave a Comment

Bhubaneswar, Jan 20 (LocalWire) The state-run fertiliser unit at Talcher will commence urea production by 2023, Union fertilisers secretary Chhabilendra Roul said on Monday.

Talcher Fertilizers Ltd (TFL), a joint venture of five public sector undertakings is reviving the factory that was closed in 1999 after suffering huge losses.

The revived plant which will be country’s first coal gasification-based urea production unit, will have an an output of 1.27 million tonne of Neem coated urea using a blend of indigenious coal and petcoke as feedstock.

LocalWire

Endangered dolphin population in Chilika jumps

By Leave a Comment

Bhubaneswar, Jan 20 (LocalWire) The population of Irrawaddy dolphin, one of the world’s most endangered species has jumped by 15 per cent in Chilika, the largest brackish water lake in Odisha, an official said on Monday.

Chief executive officer of Chilika Development Authority Susanta Nanda tweeted that the dolphin headcounts in Chilika is more than 150, the highest single lagoon population of the aquatic mammal in the world.

The enumeration exercise was carried out on Sunday with the help of wildlife staffs.

The officials for the first time used the Global Positioning System (GPS), a satellite-based radio navigation system to count the mammals.

A total of 130 Irrawaddy dolphins were sighted last year.

The total population of these endangered aquatic mammals in the world is less than 7000.

Of these, more than 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins have been sighted in Bangladesh, while Chilika has the highest single lagoon population, officials said.

LocalWire