Mahanadi river facing a deficit water yield of more than 10%, the largest among basins in India: Ranjan Panda

Mahanadi’s water yield has decreased by a huge 10% in the recent decades

·         This is the highest among major surplus basins in India, according to an IIT Study!

·         This puts serious question mark on the plan of Interlinking of Rivers!!

·         Odisha and Chhattisgarh joint dialogue must recognize climate change impacts!!!

Sambalpur, 30th July 2016 – We have always been warning that Mahanadi is no more a water surplus basin, as being marketed by governments, but a deficit basin.  A study carried out by a team of researchers from IIT Madras and IIT Bombay has now come up with a scientific analysis and found out that Mahanadi’s water yield has decreased by a huge 10% in recent years owing to significant decrease in rainfall over the basin. 

The study titled, “Indian Summer Monsoon Rainfall: Implications of Contrasting Trends in the Spatial Variability of Means and Extremes” by Prof. Subimal Ghosh of IIT Bombay and team tells us that the decrease in yield in Mahanadi is highest in the country along with another river.  The study has found out that the water yields of major surplus basins, such as Mahanadi, Godavari and West Flow River–I, have exhibited decreases in recent periods. The water yields show decreases of more than10% for the Mahanadi and West Flow River–I. For other surplus basins, the changes are within 10%.

This is mainly because of significant decreases in rainfall. Brahmani has also faced significant decrease in rainfall.

The study findings say that the decrease in the monsoon rainfall in the surplus river basins, which are majorly present in the core Indian monsoon zone, may be due to the drying of rainfall in these regions during recent decades. The monsoon over Indian region is typically associated with a strengthened cyclonic circulation, with the moisture flux converging over this region. However, when the changes in mean vertically integrated moisture flux (VIMF) and wind patterns are analyzed an anticyclonic circulation leading to divergence in VIMF was found, especially in the central part of India, along with convergence in the Gangetic plains. Hence, this could be the reason for which the major surplus basins have a decreasing rainfall trend.

This study also confirms our apprehensions about the Interlinking of Rivers (ILR) plans of the government of India. We have been warning the government about Mahanadi being a deficit basin already and is going to further starved of water owing to climate change. The ILR plan for Mahanadi is not suitable at all.

The IIT study says, “Our analysis also raises concerns about the suitability of major nation-wide projects related to river water-basin interlinking, in which the sustainability of water surplus conditions in river basins in response to a changing climate is not ascertained. Therefore, the water demand in a surplus basin first needs to be assessed and met under decreasing water availability scenarios before transferring water to the deficit basins. Hence, we argue that planning for inter-basin water transfer necessitates an immediate reassessment with a systematic approach”.

This study findings are significant and have come at the right time when we are trying to pursue both Odisha and Chhattisgarh to recognise that Mahanadi is a water deficit basin and hence planning all development projects need to consider this.

We have initiated a Mahanadi River Basin Peace Initiative and are demanding both the state governments to initiate a dialogue for integrated planning and management of Mahanadi basin in which the ecological carrying capacity of the river needs to be assessed under such climate change induced scenarios in which the water availability of the basin would be further decreasing. Hope both the governments would be seriously considering this.

For further information, please contact:

 

Ranjan Panda

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, waterinodisha@gmail.com

Cell: +91-9437050103

Tweet @MahanadiRiver

Tweet @ranjanpanda

=============

Ranjan Panda, popularly known as the ‘Water Man of Odisha’ has been championing the cause of water conservation and management for more than 25 Years now. He has been designated in 2013 as ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’ by New York based global Waterkeeper Alliance for his constant endeavours towards conservation of river Mahanadi. He also convenes the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO), the leading network of organisations and individuals working for more than two decades in the state of Odisha on water, environment and climate change.

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper organisation works to conserve Mahanadi River’s ecosystem so that all communities and other species dependent on it have access to clean water for today and forever in a sustainable manner. It is based at the Water Initiatives Odisha. Mahanadi River Waterkeeper is member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance based out of New York!

“Mahanadi River Basin Peace Building Initiative” has been started on 21st July 2016 between ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’  and ‘Nadi Ghati Morcha (Raipur)’ to initiate a citizen driven initiative to resolve Inter-State Water Conflict over Mahanadi. We have already got endorsements from many individuals and organisations from across the country and world for this Peace Initiative. Looking for more support. Please join hands!!

Mahanadi needs peace, not conflicts: Ranjan Panda's latest article in Big Wire!

Mahanadi needs peace, 

not conflict

ByRanjan Panda

Posted on July 29, 2016

India’s sixth largest river Mahanadi is now witness to a bitter political fight between its two major riparian states.

A river that is already fighting for its life because of excessive exploitation of the water by industrialization and negative impacts of climate change can hardly afford this fight.

But the states of Odisha and Chhattisgarh are fighting and it seems this will lead to a war. This war is not going to do any good for the cause it is being fought.

The current episode of the fight that started about a month back following the leaking of an internal letter from the Odisha government’s water resource department has already engulfed the entire state in a big movement against neighbouring Chhattisgarh.

Odisha’s ruling party Biju Janata Dal (BJD) has taken the lead in it and many others, including civil society and media, have joined the force.

Odisha says the upstream state is intercepting Mahanadi waters to an extent that will dry up the river and make the Hirakud Dam dysfunctional.

Chhattisgarh discards this allegation and claims it has all rights to utilise each drop of water of Mahanadi within its geographical territory.

Odisha is projecting itself as a victim in this, as all lower riparian states do in such cases.

The debate has travelled from streets to Parliament and the chief ministers of both the states have already flagged off war signals.

Responding to Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh’s claim over Mahanadi, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik has said that he will fight for Mahanadi water till his last breath.

In this political slugfest what subsides is the real debate about the health and well-being of the river herself, and the millions of people and other species dependent on her.

More than a half of people in each of the states depend on Mahanadi for all their needs including drinking water, irrigation, other livelihood needs and above all for maintenance of the ecological balance of this region.

The genesis of the conflict

Ever since the Hirakud Dam was constructed in 1957, both the states (Chhattisgarh was then part of Madhya Pradesh) have been engaged in battles of discontent and differences.

There was no bipartite agreement between the two states with regard to this largest earthen multi-purpose dam project of Asia.

In various meetings organised between the two states, Madhya Pradesh kept raising the issue of utilising Hirakud dam’s catchment areas to provide ensured water supply for the rice bowl of eastern India that falls in this region.

In fact, about 87% of the dam’s catchment lies in Chhattisgarh and 88% of water at the dam site is contributed by that state.

The Chhattisgarh government has been pursuing their Mahanadi irrigation plan to utilise each drop of water and augment irrigation up to 50% in the catchment.

They have also been pushing for 5% power from the Hirakud reservoir. These issues have always remained the bone of contention between both the states but not much of a coordinated effort was ever tried out.

In 1983, the CMs of both states reached into an agreement to establish a joint control board to review the progress from time to time of survey, investigation, planning, execution and operation of joint inter-state irrigation and or power project(s) and to discuss and resolve any issues.

However, this board was never established and the states continued to manage Mahanadi in their own ways and the coordination meetings were reduced only to discussions of flood control operations of Hirakud reservoir during monsoon.

Coal curse

Mahanadi, in official terminology of both the states, has been a water surplus basin and there has virtually been a competition between them to invite investments marketing the river water as a cheaply available natural resource.

Fortunately or unfortunately, the basin is bestowed with a huge coal reserve. Following economic liberalisation, the rush for establishing coal -fired power plants has put the river to severe stress.

Studies as early as 2010 pointed out that out of the 118 proposed projects being pursued by Chhattishgarh, for which data was available, 33 plan to draw water from the Mahanadi.

The water requirement of projects drawing water from the river stands at 1,500 mcm per year. If the water requirement of projects drawing from its tributaries – Lilagarh, Hasdeo and Seonath – is added, the withdrawal jumps to 2,700 mcm, adding to the withdrawal of around 1000 mcm by existing industries.

Thermal power plants, known to guzzle water, would be drawing close to 1,500 mcm every year. The estimate is based on data of just a fragment of the projects planned.

The dependable water availability in the Mahanadi (measured at Kasdol upstream of Raipur) over the last 10 years is an average 1,528 mcm annually, according to state water resource department. With industry set to withdraw 3,700 mcm, water budgeting in the state will clearly be highly deficit.

In fact, government spokespersons including ministers of Chhattisgarh government have openly admitted that most of the dams and barrages being built upstream are meant for coal fired power plants and other industries.

Downstream, Odisha also has been committing a major chunk of Mahanadi water to such industries.

River set to die,needs urgent attention

The real issue, therefore, is the way we are treating the river.

Chhattisgarh may have the right to obstruct the flow it thinks is its due share, however, without a cumulative impact assessment of the entire river basin it would be virtually impossible to tell how much of an obstruction would not harm the Hirakud Dam and the flow downstream.

All data that both the governments are now putting up are fragmented and outdated.

While the current spurt in political fight has brought in the right attention and awareness of both the public and policy makers, the solution is in a dialogue.

And such a dialogue is only possible by rebuilding the trust, which means transparency in information sharing and cordial approach in coordination.

The governments should trust each other as well as the people and form a coordination mechanism that takes on board not only the government officials and politicians but also others who are able to help resolve this issue amicably.

Ranjan Panda is an Indian environmentalist, water and climate change expert.

Source: http://bigwire.in/2016/07/29/mahanadi-needs-peace-not-conflict/

Latest Update from Mahanadi Peace Initiative: Ranjan Panda on 30th July 2016

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

Greetings from Mahanadi River Waterkeeper!

The 'Mahanadi River Basin Peace Initiative' that we started on 21st of this month, in order to advocate for peace and a coordinated dialogue between Odisha and Chhattisgarh over the health of the river, has been getting exciting response from across the nation as well as abroad.  

We thank you all who have already endorsed this unique initiative and request all who have not yet endorsed, to kindly do so asap by sending in an one liner.  

This email is to quickly update you about some of the developments so far.

1. Please read my article titled 'Mahanadi needs peace, not conflicts' published in the Big Wire at http://bigwire.in/2016/07/29/mahanadi-needs-peace-not-conflict/

2. As we progress towards the campaign strategy meeting scheduled for 5th August at Sambalpur, we have already organised two public/coordinatoin meetings at Bargarh and Sonepur (for two riparian districts including Boudh). In both the places we have got encouraging response from people and new ideas have emerged.  We shall be discussing all the ideas and finalize the campaign strategy on 5th.

3. We are planning more district level meetings as well.

4. We are already discussing with MPs and MLAs of various political parties about the initiative and have got positive responses so far.  

5. The media have been generously supporting us and the issue is getting good coverage so far. 

6. A tripartite meeting was organised between the two riparian states and central government on 29th July and a beginning has already been made by the governments.  We are hopeful our timely advocacy can bring together the states further closer for a healthy dialogue. 

This much for now.  We shall keep you updated as the campaign progresses.

Request you also to send in ideas for the campaign that we can discuss on the 5th.

And again, please send in your endorsements if you have not done so far!!!

Look forward to your continued support and cooperation.

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan

--

Ranjan K Panda

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, waterinodisha@gmail.com

Cell: +91-9437050103

Tweet @MahanadiRiver

Tweet @ranjanpanda

=============

Ranjan Panda, popularly known as the ‘Water Man of Odisha’ has been championing the cause of water conservation and management for more than 25 Years now. He has been designated in 2013 as ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’ by New York based global Waterkeeper Alliance for his constant endeavours towards conservation of river Mahanadi. He also convenes the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO), the leading network of organisations and individuals working for more than two decades in the state of Odisha on water, environment and climate change.

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper organisation works to conserve Mahanadi River’s ecosystem so that all communities and other species dependent on it have access to clean water for today and forever in a sustainable manner. It is based at the Water Initiatives Odisha. Mahanadi River Waterkeeper is member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance based out of New York!

“Mahanadi River Basin Peace Building Initiative” has been started on 21st July 2016 between ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’  and ‘Nadi Ghati Morcha (Raipur)’ to initiate a citizen driven initiative to resolve Inter-State Water Conflict over Mahanadi. We have already got endorsements from many individuals and organisations from across the country and world for this Peace Initiative. Looking for more support. Please join hands!!

Mahanadi Peace Initiative Meet held at Sonepur on 28th July 2016: Ranjan Panda

Volunteers from two riparian districts: Sonepur and Boudh participated in this and ideas for the campaign were discussed.  All these will be taken up on 5th August when we sit for the joint coordination meeting at Sambalpur.

Mahanadi Peace Initiative Meeting at Bargarh today: 27th July 2016 - Ranjan Panda

Please join if you are around.  

Thanks and regards,

Ranjan

=============

Ranjan Panda, popularly known as the ‘Water Man of Odisha’ has been championing the cause of water conservation and management for more than 25 Years now. He has been designated in 2013 as ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’ by New York based global Waterkeeper Alliance for his constant endeavours towards conservation of river Mahanadi. He also convenes the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO), the leading network of organisations and individuals working for more than two decades in the state of Odisha on water, environment and climate change.

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper organisation works to conserve Mahanadi River’s ecosystem so that all communities and other species dependent on it have access to clean water for today and forever in a sustainable manner. It is based at the Water Initiatives Odisha. Mahanadi River Waterkeeper is member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance based out of New York!

“Mahanadi River Basin Peace Building Initiative” has been started on 21st July 2016 between ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’  and ‘Nadi Ghati Morcha (Raipur)’ to initiate a citizen driven initiative to resolve Inter-State Water Conflict over Mahanadi. We have already got endorsements from many individuals and organisations from across the country and world for this Peace Initiative. Looking for more support. Please join hands!!

Pledge Your Support Now! for Mahanadi River Peace Initiative... Ranjan Panda

Please pledge your Support

Mahanadi River Basin Peace Building Initiative 

Dear Friends/Co-sailors,

As you are aware, the ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper,’ Odisha has initiated a unique citizen driven initiative to resolve

Inter-State Water Conflict over Mahanadi.

The ‘Nadi Ghati Morcha,’ Chhattisgarh has already pledged its support to this initiative and has assured to help us in their state.

This is perhaps going to be the first of its kind civil society initiative in the nation that aims at involving citizens, experts, politicians, academia, media and all those interested to save Mahanadi from a dispute that is brewing between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

At the core of our initiative is a demand for ‘Dialogue’ as none of the river disputes has ever been resolved in the country by resorting to conflicts. 

We have already had an initial meeting after which this initiative was rolled out.  On 5th of August, we are proposing a coordination meeting and press meet to delve into the strategy. 

This letter is to request you to please pledge for your support to this unique voluntary citizen driven initiative.  You may give us individual endorsement or an institutional one.  We will list that for the 5th meeting.

On the 5th of August, we will come out with a strategy to involve citizens at a larger level and build a plan to engage withboth the states to start a dialogue.  We shall also chalk out plans to support the dialogue process with further research, fact finding, civil society actions and other such methods.

Alike our other campaigns, this is also a voluntary initiative dependent on support of all of you.  We are hopeful you will realise the importance of this timely unique effort and extend your cooperation. 

Request you to please write back  giving the following information, confirming you pledge your support.  We shall soon be creating a campaign page, list and other media to make the engagement more vibrant. 

Name:

Designation/Organisation:

Mobile No:

Email id:

We would request you to pass this information to all who you think would be interested to be part of this effort and support it. 

Thanking you,

Truly,

Ranjan Panda

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper

Convenor, Water Initiatives Odisha

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, waterinodisha@gmail.com

Cell: +91-9437050103

Tweet @MahanadiRiver

Tweet @ranjanpanda

=============

Ranjan Panda, popularly known as the ‘Water Man of Odisha’ has been championing the cause of water conservation and management for more than 25 Years now. He has been designated in 2013 as ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’ by New York based global Waterkeeper Alliance for his constant endeavours towards conservation of river Mahanadi. He also convenes the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO), the leading network of organisations and individuals working for more than two decades in the state of Odisha on water, environment and climate change.

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper organisation works to conserve Mahanadi River’s ecosystem so that all communities and other species dependent on it have access to clean water for today and forever in a sustainable manner. It is based at the Water Initiatives Odisha. Mahanadi River Waterkeeper is member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance based out of New York!

Appeal to join Mahanadi River Peace Initiative between Odisha and Chhattisgarh: Ranjan Panda

Update from Mahanadi River Waterkeeper

Mahanadi River Basin Peace Building Initiative 

‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’  and ‘Nadi Ghati Morcha (Raipur)’ to initiate a citizen driven initiative to resolve Inter-State Water Conflict over Mahanadi

A unique initiative that will involve citizens, experts, politicians and all those are interested to save Mahanadi from a dispute that is brewing between Odisha and Chhattisgarh.

Bhubaneswar, 21st July 2016 – Members of ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’ organisation, Odisha and Nadi Ghati Morcha (Raipur) today initiated a citizen driven initiative to build peace between Odisha and Chhatisgarh to conserve the River Mahanadi by avoiding unnecessary disputes between the two states.

For almost a decade now Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO), leading water advocacy network of the state, has been warning of a conflict between Odisha and Chhattisgarh owing to the neglect of the river basin by the two states. We kept writing to both the states to treat Mahanadi as an ecological entity and plan all developments in a coordinated and integrated approach so that the mother river of both the states does not suffer.  However, the states ignored our warnings and marketed the river as a water surplus one to invite investments for water guzzling industries, especially coal fired power plants.

This June, when water scarcity got worse and Odisha realised that the upstream development projects are actually affecting water flow in the river negatively, the state has upped its ante against Chhattisgarh and has already cautioned that state as well as approached the central government in this regard. There is a statement or action from both the governments each day and a conflict is brewing up. We need to have a citizen’s drive to understand this conflict and work towards resolving it.

This peace building exercise is necessary because many groups in both the states are trying to flare up the conflict, which might be good to serve some vested or political interests but not at all good for the health of river Mahanadi and people & species dependent on it.

No inter-state water dispute in the country has been solved even for decades of bitter political and legal fights. It is therefore important to understand the fact that we cannot solve it by fuelling a conflict.  The need of the hour is coordinated strategy between the two states, and we will work towards building that up.

In December 2012, WIO and Nadi Ghati Morcha had already laid the foundation of such a peace initiative by inviting civil society groups, farmers, academia and other experts from both the states to Sambalpur in Odisha for a joint discussion on the emerging conflicts between the two states.

After that we have jointly organised many programmes and consultations.  This initiative is part of our long term goal to conserve river Mahanadi for good of both the states.

In both the states, we will engage with governments, have citizen’s consultations and many more initiatives to build a process of peace and step up our pressure so that both the states initiate a consent based joint coordination mechanism where the government along with citizens work towards solving conflicts amicably keeping in view the ecological carrying capacity of the river.

As our other campaigns, this will also be a purely voluntary effort that would be dependent on open support of all sections of the society including the media.  We urge upon all friends in civil society, academia, media and other sections to come join hands with us and save our mother river Mahanadi from this conflict and devastation.

We are seeking all your support in this initiative. It's an appeal!

For further information, please contact:

Ranjan Panda

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper

Email: ranjanpanda@gmail.com, waterinodisha@gmail.com

Cell: +91-9437050103

Tweet @MahanadiRiver

Tweet @ranjanpanda

=============

Ranjan Panda has been designated in 2013 as ‘Mahanadi River Waterkeeper’ by New York based global Waterkeeper Alliance for his constant endeavours towards conservation of river Mahanadi. He also convenes the Water Initiatives Odisha (WIO), the leading network of organisations and individuals working for more than two decades in the state of Odisha on water, environment and climate change.

Mahanadi River Waterkeeper organisation works to conserve Mahanadi River’s ecosystem so that all communities and other species dependent on it have access to clean water for today and forever in a sustainable manner. It is based at the Water Initiatives OdishaMahanadi River Waterkeeper is member of the global Waterkeeper Alliance based out of New York!