Water pollution in rivers of Odisha, India

Problems

• Odisha is a state located in Eastern India full of rivers. 
  
  Odisha has a coastline of 485 kilometers (301 mi) along the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean.
  
  The main rivers of this state are Mahanadi, Baitarani, Brahamani. Subarnarekha, Rashikulya, Budhabalanga, Vamsadhara and Nagavali. The rivers have deposited a lot of silt and enlarged the area. Besides, these rivers there is big lake Chilka. About 30% of the area in this state is under forest. The state is sometimes victim of cyclonic storms.
  
  Rivers in Odisha are formed from rains. Some of the rivers are the source of agriculture in Odisha and Jharkhand. 
  
  Endowed with nature's bounty, a 482 km stretch of coastline with virgin beaches, serpentine rivers, mighty waterfalls, and forest-clad blue hills of Eastern Ghats with rich wildlife. 

• Causes of water pollution in rivers of Odisha, Indian

  River pollution is plaguing Odisha with water quality of most of the rivers flowing in the state turning extremely contaminated and toxic, as per the report of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).   
  
  The water of major rivers and their distributaries and tributaries in Odisha is highly polluted, says a report by the Odisha Water Supply & Sewerage Board (OWSSB). The Mahanadi is particularly very polluted near the confluence.
  
  The board conducted a sample test of the Mahanadi’s water and its 26 tributaries and found that the water of 10 rivers at 33 locations was not potable. Also, the water of 16 rivers at 41 places was found not potable or usable.
  
  Besides Mahanadi and its tributaries, other major rivers like the Brahmani, Baitarani and Rushikulya and tributaries such as Sankha and Koel are also polluted. Barring Talcher, Kabatabandha and Bhuban, waters in the remaining riverside areas of Brahmani are highly polluted.
  
  Also, the waters of Nadira river in the lower catchment areas, Kharasrota river at Binjharpur, Badajhora Nullah, Banguru Nullah and Bangaru-Singadajhor nullah of Guradinala river and the Karo river in Barbil were also found to be highly polluted.
  Strangely, though the OWSSB has in its report mentioned the waters of the aforesaid rivers and their distributaries and tributaries as exceeding pollution limits, it has not put restrictions against the use of water at any place.
  
  According to OSPCB specifications, the minimum pH level of river water should be between 6.5 and 8.5, while the diluted oxygen per litre should be 4 mg and more. Similarly, the BOD level should remain at 3 or less while the TC level should be less than 5,000. But the BOD and the TC level in all major rivers in the state has remained high. 
  
  Rivers in the country are polluted mainly due to discharge of untreated or partially treated sewage from cities/towns and industrial effluents in their respective catchments, problems in operation and maintenance of sewage/effluent treatment plants, lack of dilution, dumping of solid waste on river banks and other non-point sources of pollution. Rapid urbanization and industrialization have compounded the problem. 
  
  Gap between sewage generation and treatment remains a major point source for increase in pollution of rivers.

• Health effects of water pollution in rivers of Odisha

  As per the information available with the Odisha State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB), all rivers and their distributaries and tributaries in the state are under the Category-C. Though the pH value and volume of diluted oxygen in the water of these rivers is not alarming, the concentration of biological oxygen demand (BOD) and coliform bacteria (TC) in the water is so high that direct contact with the water triggers serious skin diseases.