WATER WAY TO KEEP IT COOL: Nachiketa Das (Top), Professor of Geology, Ravenshaw University said water bodies such as Laxmisagar (Middle) and Bindusagar should have scientific revival plans. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, April 22: The depleting green cover and rising temperature continues to be a cause of concern for people in the capital.

During the 41st International Earth Day celebrations at the Regional Museum of Natural History today, professor Nachiketa Das of Ravenshaw University underscored the need to make Bhubaneswar more water-friendly.

The professor of geology urged the civic authorities to concentrate on measures to ensure retention of water and revival of water bodies such as lakes, ponds and wetlands.

Talking to The Telegraph, the geologist also added that large water bodies such as Bindusagar, Laxmisagar, Haaja Pokhari and other large water bodies in and around the city should have scientific revival plan in consultation with geological researchers. This, he argued, would also help recharge the ground water table.

“Keeping the green cover intact in any ecosystem depends on water availability. Ask any old resident of Bhubaneswar and he will tell you how the natural water bodies around the city have dried up. The hills on the western side of the capital have lost their water holding capacity,” he said.

Das said by building small dams on the hill slopes around the city, water retention capacity of the hills could be enhanced. This would lead to the growth of thick vegetation on the hills. He said that since all the water channels flowed from west to east, in and around Bhubaneswar, the revival of the water holding capacity of the hills would definitely change the water equation in the local ecosystem.

Stressing the provision of rainwater harvesting structures in all buildings of the city, the geologist said that all educational and government institutions should have compulsory rainwater-harvesting structures.

Regarding revival of the all the 10 natural drainage channels in the city, the professor said that the state administration should act ruthlessly on the encroachers who have used part of the areas under the water bodies, restricting their flow.

“The natural drainage channels have already turned into sewerage lines as people have started opening the wastewater pipes into them. A quick action towards revival of the channels can only help Bhubaneswar in having a healthy water ecosystem,” he added. The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA), as per the comprehensive development plan prepared by IIT-Kharagpur, lists only 10 channels, but still there are many natural drainage channels beyond Ainginia and within Khurda-Jatni patch.

“We have to include them immediately into the development plan so that the BDA can work on their holistic development. As the urbanisation process has already started in this zone, revival plan of the drainage channels in these areas should be taken up urgently,” he added.

Principal secretary, forest and environment department, Aurobindo Behera said: “The staff of the forest department should work with a green vigil. They should not distinguish between forest and non-forest patches before taking any action when trees are felled. Only statistical achievements on paper cannot help, but we have to work for result-oriented conservation strategies.”

Principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), Suresh Chandra Mohanty and additional PCCF Dinesh Singh were the other speakers on the occasion.