Cyclone, floods take a toll on salt production

The very severe tropical storm Phailin and the recent spell of flash floods triggered by low pressure rains has taken a toll on salt production, affecting livelihoods of around 20,000 people in the worst hit Ganjam district.

Ganjam is the major salt producing district in the state with 5,000 acres of land devoted to salt farming.

There are 43 manufacturers, including private entrepreneurs and two salt cooperative societies who produce salt from sea water. Production is to the tune of 15,000-20,000 tonne every year. The salt lands are leased out to cooperative and private sector firms by the Central and state governments.

Salt manufacturers were staring at a bleak future after the area was battered by the twin calamities of cyclone and floods.

“The salt sector has incurred huge losses. We are assessing the damage and thinking of ways to revive production”, said B P Choudhury, assistant director (salt), industries department (Odisha). He visited the salt producing areas like Humma, Ganjam, Sorala and Sumandi in Ganjam district.

“While infrastructure facilities like the sheds, pump sets, iodisation go-downs and electric transformers were damaged by the cyclone, there was huge siltation in the fields due to heavy rains and floods”, said Duryodhan Reddy, secretary of Humma Binchhanapalli Salt Production and Sales Cooperative Society, Ganjam.

At least Rs 10,000 per acre is needed to de-silt the salt field to revive the production, he added.

Out of around 10,000 tonne of salt stocked in different go-downs, around 4,500 tonne were washed away in the floods. The damaged stock belonged to the Bahuda Salt Production and Sales Cooperative society and private manufacturers.

“Revival of salt production in the district will be very difficult unless the government extends its support to repair the damaged infrastructure and makes efforts to de-silt the salt-beds”, said Goutam Polai, the Salt Manufacturers’ Association.
Besides Ganjam, salt is also produced in Balanga and Astaranga areas in Balasore and Puri districts respectively.