Mahanadi Pollution: Urgent Action Needed

The Mahanadi River, a vital lifeline for Odisha, faces a severe pollution crisis due to the unchecked discharge of untreated industrial effluents. Along a 300-meter stretch of the Mahanadi embankment, from the bridge to the New Industrial Estate, industries release waste through underground pipes, a practice that has drawn sharp criticism from local residents. Communities in Munda Sahi and Nua Sahi have accused the Industrial Development Corporation of Odisha (IDCO) of negligence, highlighting its failure to establish an effluent treatment plant (ETP) as a major contributor to the deteriorating situation.

This untreated waste, rich in harmful chemicals, has made the river unfit for drinking, bathing, or supporting aquatic ecosystems. The pollution has led to widespread health issues, including skin ailments among those who use the river, while also disrupting its ecological balance. Residents further note a lack of monitoring by authorities to identify waste sources or ensure proper treatment before discharge, exacerbating the problem.

IDCO’s Cuttack division has acknowledged the issue, stating that stormwater channels and effluent lines are under construction. Additionally, a request for two acres in Jagatpur industrial estate to build an ETP has been submitted, with tenders to follow once approval is granted. However, the slow pace of these efforts has left communities frustrated and the river’s health in jeopardy.

The crisis mirrors challenges seen elsewhere, such as India’s Ganga River, where the ambitious Namami Gange project has aimed to curb pollution through sewage treatment plants and industrial regulation. While progress has been made in the Ganga basin, with over 100 treatment plants operational by 2023, enforcement remains uneven, offering lessons for Mahanadi’s restoration. Similarly, successful efforts in South Korea’s Han River cleanup, driven by strict industrial controls and public investment, reduced pollution significantly within two decades, suggesting a potential model for Odisha.

Beyond Cuttack, a 2024 Indian Council of Medical Research study linked heavy metal pollution in rivers like Mahanadi, Kathajodi, Kuakhai, Daya, Brahmani, and Rushikuliya to rising cancer risks in cities like Bhubaneswar, Rourkela, and Bramhapur. The study found lead, iron, and aluminium levels exceeding permissible limits. Supporting data from a Synergy Institute of Technology study revealed massive sewage discharges: 10 lakh litres into Kuakhai and Daya, 7.5 lakh litres into Mahanadi and Kathajodi, 6 lakh litres into Brahmani, and 5 lakh litres into Rushikuliya. The 2024 CAG report also flagged industrial and urban wastewater as key polluters.

With gallstone disease and gallbladder cancer increasing in Odisha, tied to heavy metal exposure, the Mahanadi crisis demands urgent action—effective treatment infrastructure, rigorous monitoring, and lessons from global successes—to protect millions reliant on these waters.