Posts filed under ‘Natural and Man-Made Disasters’
Kalahandi’s flood: a manmade disaster?
Following report is from The Dharitri:
MP Bhakta Das appeals to central govt. to help the Kalahandi flood victims
Following report is from the Samaj:
At places like Balangir, Odisha govt. should invest more on renewable energy production
Dear honorable CM of Odisha,
It is reported in The Samaj that Jharsuguda will be the highest electrical power producing town of India: http://wp.me/pFC4h-Gu
Is this a good thing for Jharsuguda which has already high concentration of heavy industries? The western Orissa will be full of thermal powerplants as many are coming up at Birmaharajpur of Sonepur, Titlagarh of Balangir, one at Kalahandi and one at Sundergarh. The temp of western Orissa will increase many fold.
Titlagarh is known in the country for recording highest temperature during summer. Places like Titlagarh needs more non-polluting industries like solar power plants. I belive in such places the govt. should invest more on solar power units.
Also, putting all the industries in the western Orissa and establishing most of the HRD institutes in the coastal belt is not at all a good idea. It is surprising that various places of western Odisha like Balangir do not have any state govt. technical institutes viz. engg/medical college or central govt. instituts.
This needs to corrected.
Best regards,
Sanjib
–
Dr.Sanjib Kumar Karmee, PhD
Department of Biotechnology
Delft University of Technology
Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft,
The Netherlands
Water holding capacity of the Indrabati dam is decreasing: A from The Samaj
Following is a report from The Samaj Oriya daily (29.07.2010):
Insufficient rainfall and attack of swarming caterpillars:No cheer for Sambalpur farmers
Following report is from expressbuzz.com:
SAMBALPUR: Even as low pressure-induced rain has brought some respite from sultry weather, it has failed to cheer up the farmers in Sambalpur district, particularly those in rain-fed areas.
Farmers who have gone for transplantation, are awaiting more rains that would allow them to prepare the bed for transplantation. In Kuchinda sub-division, comprising blocks of Kuchinda, Jamankira and Bamra, germination drought seems imminent in rain-fed areas where farmers have sown seeds. Though there was intermittent rain today, it brought little cheer for the farmers. Normally the sub-division receives about 1,500 mm rain annually while it is 464.5 mm in July. Despite drought condition last year till July 20, Kuchinda had received 306.8 mm, Jamankira 333.5 mm while Bamra had 391.6 mm of rain. But this year till July 20, Kuchinda, Jamankira and Bamra received 68 mm, 96.1 mm and 79 mm of rain respectively.
This insufficient rainfall coupled with attack of swarming caterpillars has added to the woes of farmers. Although District Agriculture Officer Harmohan Patra said rains would help improve the situation, the ground realities present a grim scenario.
Hirakud Dam: Fifty Mournful Years- An article by Bikash pati and Manas biswal
Paddy crop to suffer if Balangir doesn’t receive enough rain: farmers of Balangir district are worried
Following is a report from The Pioneer (reported by Sudhir Mishra):
Hundreds of farmers of Balangir district and elsewhere in the State are a worried lot as Monsoon rain plays hide-and-seek with them, bringing agricultural operations of paddy and other crops to a virtual grinding halt.
Balangir district recorded an alarming 67 per cent deficient rainfall in June, receiving only 69 mm rainfall against the normal 217mm. However, in July, although the rainfall is so far 220 mm, it is much behind the average 338 mm for the month.
If one goes by the average rainfall, it would not give a clear picture. The weekly rainfall received and its analysis is most important. In the first week of July, the district got 66 mm of rainfall and in the next week 125 mm. However, in the third week, only 22 mm of rainfall was recorded.
Transplanting and Beushaning operations of paddy crop have been withheld due to the absence of the required rain. Unless there is rainfall within next seven days, there would be moisture stress of paddy field and subsequent wilting of the plants, explained an official here.
Kharif paddy was targeted to be taken up in 1,88,300 hectares in the district, while cultivation has been undertaken in 1,08,000 hectares. Unless there is adequate rainfall within next seven days, the situation could be worse, pointed out president of Zila Krushak Mahasangha Sudhir Parischha
However, in this backdrop, cultivation of non-paddy crops like cotton, maize, groundnut and pulses have been taken up in 68,000 hectares.
Heatwave, power cuts hit life in Boudh district
Following is a report from expressbuzz.com:
BOUDH: Heatwave along with low voltage and unscheduled power cuts have hit normal life in Boudh district. The mercury is hovering around 45 degree C for last three days.
The district has recorded two sunstroke deaths in as many days. One Lingaraj Sethi (50) died of suspected sunstroke in a farmland near Boudh town today. Another Mathura Nayak (55) died in Rahithani village yesterday. Police have seized both the bodies and sent them for postmortem. While recent shower brought brief respite from gruelling heat, it jacked up the humidity level. Due to prevailing heatwave, people are preferring to remain indoors during daytime. Boudh town almost wears a deserted look after 11 am. The low voltage has been a major problem in the district for last two months.
SOUTHCO officials have passed the buck saying the district draws power from Phulbani grid station. Reports said the grid is being renovated and the low-voltage condition is likely prevail for some more days during the intervening period. Low voltage and power cuts have also curtailed official work in the district.