Indiscriminate mining threatening the water regime
Indiscriminate mining activity at Keonjhar district of Orissa, has affected the flow of a number of perrenial streams originating from the hills. This will have a drastic impact on the water security of the state in upcoming days
A LARGE number of perennial springs originating from the hill tracts of Keonjhar district in Orissa have been affected due to on going indiscriminate mining activity. Keonjhar, of country is endowed with large deposits of iron and manganese minerals. At present 119 number of mines are operating in this district. Out of which 46 are iron mines and 38 are iron and manganese mines.
Keonjhar also bears large tract of forest covering 2,525.08 sq km, which is mainly confined to mineral areas of district. River Baitarani, one of the large river of the state also originated from this district. Numerous perennial springs have originated from mineral deposits like Gandhamardan Hill, Malangtoli and from Thakurani Hill area which has finally joined to form this river.
A number of major perennial springs like Thakurani, Khandadhar, Gudguda, Gonasika, Bolani, Karo, suna, Murga have originated from the mines infested area of Keonjhar. The discharge of these springs depend upon various factors like the land use, vegetation cover, rainfall and geomorphology of the recharge zone the mountain. The lineament produced by joints, fractures and faults plays a vital role in the origin of spring. During rainy season, water is recharged in this fracture and discharged in the form of perennial springs.
During the pre-mining period 23 number of perennial springs have emerged from the Gandhamardan Mountain located in Banspal block. However, due to on going iron mining by Orissa Mining Corporation and two private mines, three springs namely Raktiya Chua, Samaka Pani, Dansa Jhari has disappeared. Another Nala, Ghagara Pani is currently blocked by OMC and the water is used for staff of the company. Similarly at Joda block, streams like Suna, Karrow, Kundra, Jurudi and Murga have been affected as mining activity are being carried out at there origin places.
Impact
The water of perennial springs act as lifeline for the local tribal people living in the hilly forested areas. The tribal people use this water for Rabi cultivation apart from using it for day to day activities. Similarly at mining infested Joda block, spring water is supplied directly from the hilly spring to various mining colonies as the groundwater potential in these areas is poor. At this back ground, shortage and pollution of streams has turned the situation alarming. This has also led to increase human- elephant conflict as the elephants are entering the village in search of water.
As all the mining operating in this area are mostly open cast, it involves various activities like blasting, operation of large machinery and movement of heavy vehicles. These activities are leading to deforestation, generation of huge amount of overburden thus resulting in instability in hill slope and alternation in recharge zone. The overburden dumps carried by rain water chokes the recharge zone thus affecting the flow of perennial springs.
These freshly broken rock surfaces also impart high levels of total dissolved solids (TDS), thus making this unfit for consumption. Apart from this oxidation and hydrolysis of minerals in the spoil material are resulting in the production of acid or toxic drainage containing elevated concentrations of metals and sulfate.
Present condition of springs at Keonjhar
Present condition of springs at Keonjhar
During the pre-mining period 23 number of perennial springs have emerged from the Gandhamardan Mountain located in Banspal block. However, due to on going iron mining by Orissa Mining Corporation and two private mines, three springs namely Raktiya Chua, Samaka Pani, Dansa Jhari has disappeared. Another Nala, Ghagara Pani is currently blocked by OMC and the water is used for staff of the company. Similarly at Joda block, streams like Suna, Karrow, Kundra, Jurudi and Murga have been affected as mining activity are being carried out at there origin places.
Impact
The water of perennial springs act as lifeline for the local tribal people living in the hilly forested areas. The tribal people use this water for Rabi cultivation apart from using it for day to day activities. Similarly at mining infested Joda block, spring water is supplied directly from the hilly spring to various mining colonies as the groundwater potential in these areas is poor. At this back ground, shortage and pollution of streams has turned the situation alarming. This has also led to increase human- elephant conflict as the elephants are entering the village in search of water.
Looking this, the divisional forest official, Keonjhar has issued notice to five mining company namely M/s TISCO Ltd, OMC, M/s Sree Metaliks Ltd, M/s OMDC and M/s BPME to reduce the pollution level and blockage of Suna and Kandra stream. The Baitarani River has become polluted due to release of effluents containing high TDS ,TSS and other heavy metals from the mines field. It is time that the government takes some initiative to conserve these springs, otherwise all these will become dry in future, causing damage to the biodiversity.
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