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Other Physical Changes
A. Increase in Salinity
Due to environmental degradation during the past decades salinity of
the soil and of the water-table has increased in the lower reaches of the
Mahanadi Delta. This has reduced the yield per hectare in the case of rice and
pulses. It has also polluted the water-table by turning it brackish in the
Balikud and Erasana blocks of Jagatsinghpur district and Mahakalapada, Ali and
Raj Nagar blocks of Kendrapara district. The tidal water bring in salt water
which is not completely flushed out during the ebb tide. The water has become
brackish even in deep tube wells. If this problem is not tackled scientifically,
it may create problem for drinking water in future.
B. Erosion of Kukitola Island
The cause of erosion is attributed to the break water embankment at Paradeep
port. Another opinion is that this erosion is due to deforestation of the
coastal
forests.
C. Coastal Erosion
The coastal area is shrinking due to checking of silt in the Hirakud since
1956. It has also changed the course of the distributaries in the Mahanadi
Delta. The area covered by tidal forest is also declining. As a result, floods and
cyclones are becoming more frequent and more devastating.
6. Decline in Rainfall
Due to deforestation, rainfall
has declined in the upper reaches of the Mahanadi.
Deforestation of the hot wet tropical rain forests in Dandakaranya has most
probably adversely affected rainfall in the Kalahandi plateau further westward.
7. Industrial Pollution
The discharge of industrial waste has polluted the water bodies and smoke from
industrial establishments has polluted the air. The discharge of industrial waste by paper mill at Brajarajnagar and two
others in Madhya Pradesh into the Mahanadi, has resulted in cracks in the
Hirakud Dam due to increase in the alkalinity and salinity of the water at the
dam site. Further if this water is used for irrigation, then it may effect the
fertility of the soil. The limestone beds upstream of Hirakud have also added to
the problem. The water of the Brahmani is highly polluted and its water is unfit for human
consumption. 'Wet process' in the cement plant is highly air polluting. Fly ash from the
Talcher thermal power station also pollute the air. Jayshree chemicals, located on the left bank of the Rushikilya estuary used
to discharge its effluents into the river because of which its water was being
polluted and becoming unfit for drinking purpose downstream. The foul smell of the paper mill at Chaudwar pollutes the air and the effect
is felt in winter at Cuttack. Smoke emitted from Rourkela is also polluting the
air.
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