Environmentalist to oppose water supply to

Tag : Mineral Water Plant
July 04, 2008
Environmentalist to oppose water supply to TATA Steel plant inBastar
BS reported that environment activists are gearing up to protestagainst the Chattisgarh government's move to supply water fromIndrawati River for constructing the plant and meeting the demandof water at the initial stage of TATA Steel’s proposed steelplant in Bastar region.

Mr Sharad Verma president of Bastar Society for Conservation ofNature said that "Any move to give water from Indrawati to theproposed TATA steel plant will be strongly opposed." He added thatthe society is collecting all details before drawing up a strategy.

Mr Verma said that “Indrawati is considered the lifeline ofBastar as it is a holy river for tribals. The river originates fromRampur Ghumal village in Orissa's Kalahandi district. But a majorpart of the river flows in Chhattisgarh. About 43% of the tribalsin the interior parts of Bastar depend on Indrawati for theirlivelihood as the river is a major source of irrigation, fisheriesand drinking water. The existence of the river is itself at stakeas its course is returning to Orissa and merging with Jora nullahinstead of entering the Bastar region."

He said that "Water level recedes fast after the monsoon and atmany places, Indrawati gets dry as the natural flow diverts intoJora nullah near the state border and returns to Orissa. If TATAdraws water, it would set a new precedent as the National MineralDevelopment Corporation would also demand water from Indrawati forits proposed sponge iron unit coming up in the area."

Mr Manoj Varu deputy secretary at department of water resourcessaid that the TATA plant would get water from Indrawati for 3years. It would be requiring 4 million cubic meters of water ayear.

Meanwhile, Mr Krishna Nandan TATA's project in charge in Bastar,said that "Water from Indrawati would be used only as a stop gap asthe company would get water from Sabri for routine use."