Untreated water discharge from Bhubaneswar worsens water quality of Chilika lake

BHUBANESWAR:  The Nalabana part of the Chilika Lake is in its worst state, due to constant discharge of untreated water into the lake from drains of the Bhubaneshwar city. As per an environmentalist, polluted waters from the city reach into the lake via Gangua Nala.

More than 40 million liters daily (MLD) of sewage water containing chemicals like Zinc, Magnesium and Sulfate is drained into the lake every day. This has adversely affected the eco system of the Nalabana which is home to many migratory birds.

There are 10 major drains from west to east laid perpendicular to Gangua Nala in the city. The storm water of the city flows into these 10 channels. 35.7 km long Gangua Nala discharges approximately 652 cusecs of water into river Daya. Scientists have suggested that this is massively affecting the quality of water.

According to an official from Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), “Alarming levels of dissolved oxygen and coliform were found in water samples of Gangua and Daya rivers. We have already served notice to the state government regarding this but least has been done about it.”

Earlier in 2015, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) was directed to prepare a detailed project report by the state government to treat water of Gangua Nala using ‘Phytorid’ method (this method involves construction of a wetland to treat municipal waste water, greywater or storm water runoff) but the top officials are yet to act on any such project.

Reports from the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) stated that about 290 million liters of wastewater is poured into channels every day.

As a fact, river Daya has already lost most of its acquatic life due to the toxic waste and same poison has been destroying Chilika’s underwater beings for the past 20 years.