Industry shuts as water flow stops in river

LOCKED

Pump house of a steel and power company locked as it sucked water from everywhere inside a river

The 0.25 MTPA capacity Eastern Steel and Power Ltd (ESPL) came to an abrupt closer as Jharsuguda Tahsildar made the final seal at its pump house in the IB river just above the Hirakud reservoir. The Tehsildar followed the instruction of the District Collector, who in turn was under serious pressures from the nearby villagers who were protesting against the ‘manner in which the company was drawing water from the river’.

As water flow almost came to a naught, the ESPL authorities in desperation to continue operation of their unit dug numerous channels inside the river to feed water to the pumping station. This resulted in total drying of the river at other places and badly affected domestic and livelihood necessities. Before this incidence the company was sourcing water from another nearby river Bheden and met with similar opposition.
Now, the company has been forced to shut its installation for want of water. Probably this is the first instance where a relatively new large industry has been forced to close. In a MoU signed in the year 2005, the ESPL was allowed to draw 2.2 Cusecs of water from IB river. While the villagers rejoice shutting down of the pump house, it also points out serious consequences of mindless industrialization around the Hirakud reservoir.
This is one company which was allowed to draw water from IB river just upstream of the Hirakud reservoir. In many sense, it was quite unfortunate for the company that many of its peers in close vicinity are drawing water directly from the Hirakud reservoir and do not have to worry about water problems, leave alone bothering about opposition from villagers. It is not that water level at Hirakud reservoir is very encouraging. It has reached very critical level. Power generation has already been a casualty and reports of large scale crop losses are coming from every parts of the command area. Yet, massive pumps keep guzzling water from the reservoir. There is no one to shut out pump houses of those industries which are deep inside the reservoir.

Some may argue that shutting down an industrial unit results in massive loss to industry. But, no one can be blamed for that but the industries themselves and the government who facilitated such industries with the assurances that water and natural resources are available in plenty.

The SMC is a mere fly compared to many other industries that are no less than hawk. Had such an industry faced similar water scarcity, I don’t believe that a Tahsildar would have found courage to put locks on their pump house doors or the villager’s grievance would have ever been heard. But, similar scarcity is bound to happen in the Hirakud reservoir, sooner than later. We must not ignore that.

For more information, please contact

Ranjan K Panda at +91-9437050103 (cell) and ranjanpanda@gmail.com (email)

or,

Bimal Prasad Pandia at +91-9438488563 (cell) and bimalpandia@gmail.com (email)

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Water Initiatives Orissa

C/O- MASS

Dhanupali, Sambalpur, 768005, Orissa, India

Coordinator, Water Initiative