State to frame river, lake conservation plan

The Orissa government will frame a State River and Lake Conservation plan for cleaning of major rivers and lakes in the state.

It will be in line with the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) and is expected to cover conservation measures like cleaning of the river basin along with the lower end of the river.

Though the state government has taken up cleaning in 39 locations in the state on 6 rivers like Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, Rushikulya, Nagabali and Subernarekha, the cleaning in mostly confined to areas closer to the cities or towns. The Central government has agreed to provide funds for the purpose, official sources said here.

The components of the proposed action plan include catchment area treatment, cleaning of the rivers till the end point, measures to check industrial discharge into the river stream and measures to conserve the lakes from pollution.

Though the activities pertaining to the cleaning of the rivers is being monitored by the Orissa State Pollution Control Board at present, the scope of monitoring will be expanded to cover the entire basin of the river.

The issue figured in the national conference of state ministers of environment and forests chaired by the Prime minister in New Delhi recently.

Similarly, the Centre will also release 80 percent of the funds collected and deposited by the state government as water tax. Sources said, the state government collects about Rs 5 to Rs 6 crore every year and deposits the money with the Centre.