APPEAL FROM ' WATER INITIATIVES ORISSA' ON THE OCCASION OF

"WORLD DAY TO COMBAT DESERTIFICATION AND DROUGHT(17th June)"

Time We Take Climate Change Seriously

Orissa may suffer from severe food insecurity, if desertification is not reversed

Even with increase in irrigation potential, and other chemical and fertilizer inputs average annual production of paddy, Pulses, Oilseeds, Potato, Onion and other vegetables have decreased by 6.8, 56.4, 44, 20.7, 14.4 and 24.8 percent respectively in a decade. At the same time land degradation has been more rapid.

Climate Change Calling

A Day By No Means Ceremonial Only

The 'World day to combat desertification and drought', again reminds us of the looming threats, which is even more pronounced in Orissa. Drought has been a regular feature of Orissa. The desertification process, which is growing at a faster rate, is adding to the distress. Trends in temperature, rainfall, land degradation, agricultural production and other climatic and environmental variations present a scary scenario in Orissa.

Temperature Scaling New Extremes

Lowest Getting Cooler And Highest Becoming Hotter

Consistent abnormal rise in recorded maximum temperature in Orissa is a cause of serious concern. Average maximum temperature has risen in excess of 4 degree Celsius through out Orissa in a decade, barring Puri and Phulbani centres where temperature increase is milder. Average maximum recorded temperature has increased by a threatening 6.6 and 6.7 degree Celsius in Sambalpur and Balangir centers respectively. Situation is no better in coastal centers with Baleshwar, Bhubaneshwar and Gopalpur centers recording 5.5. 5.7 and 5 degrees increase in average maximum recorded temperatures respectively. A similar trend has been noticed in lowest recorded temperatures with lowest temperatures dipping to new lows each year. Average of lowest recorded temperatures has fallen through out all centers of Orissa. Barring Phulabani and Puri, where dip in lowest temperatures has been below three degree Celsius, all other centers in Orissa have recorded over 3 degree decrease in average lowest temperature in a decade. Sambalpur, Keonjhar and Jharsuguda centers have recorded lowest average temperature decrease of 5 degrees.

Rain Pain

Drying Up The Thirsty and Drowning The Submerged

Rainfall trends too are far from normal. The state's normal annual rainfall is 1482.2 mm. But the average annual rainfall of last 20 years and last 10 years were 1394.9 mm and 1375.3 mm respectively. They are constantly decreasing. Similarly, average annual rainfall of Sambalpur, Raygada, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, Nuapada, Balangir districts have been 11.1, 25.8, 18.5, 19.3 , 12.9, 25.8 and 17.4 percent less than their normal rainfall. But at the same time in some coastal districts average annual rainfall have been above normal. Average annual rainfall of last 15 years has been 3 percent and 12 percent higher than normal rainfall in coastal Puri and Baleshwar districts. Thus, drought prone districts are becoming drier and water logged and flood prone districts are getting further wet.

Land Slide

Rampant Land Degradation

Consequent to climatic pressures and other human interferences, rate of land degradation in Orissa has assumed immense proportion. Between the years 1991-92 and 2004-05 additional 2.2 percent of total geographic area of Orissa has turned barren & uncultivable, 3.8 percent more has stayed fallow and 1.6 percent more area of the state has been converted for non-agricultural purposes. Thus a whopping 7.7 percent of total geographic area of the state has turned unfit for sustainable agriculture in just 13 years. With this about 18 percent of total geographic area, excluding forest area, has turned unfit for agriculture. This is the initial stage of desertification which ultimately may lead to development of full scale deserts in Orissa, if not checked, in less than 150 years.

Climate Casualty?

Free Fall Of All Major Agri Productions

These trends have not just been restricted to symptoms only. The affects are slowly emerging. Most prominent among them are declining agriculture production in the state. Production of all major crops, including vegetables have shown decreasing trends. Even after formulation of a comprehensive state agriculture policy in 1996, the slide in production has further aggravated. Even with increase in irrigation potential, and other chemical and fertilizer inputs average annual production of paddy, Pulses, Oilseeds, Potato, Onion and other vegetables have decreased by 6.8, 56.4, 44, 20.7, 14.4 and 24.8 percent respectively in a decade.

No More Pondering, Action Must

Actions Till Now, Too Little and Too Few

We can not anymore ignore or take lightly the climatic changes and its impacts on Orissa. The Water Initiatives Orissa(WIO) had warned, six months ago, of massive desertification of Orissa and that the state may turn a desert in another 150 years. Though some scattered initiatives have been taken in this regard, the required urgency is still woefully lacking. It is welcomed that the government has taken due consideration of ecology in the new State Water Policy, has planned compulsory roof-top water harvesting in big towns and has started actions on integrated water and land management. But still they are too small and too few and their implementation has not yet started. Issues of large scale environmental degradation caused by industries and development programmes have not yet been addressed with due earnest. The NREG scheme, which has potential to create ecological assets and combat droughts and desertification has strayed direction with major expenditure being made on road construction.

The projections made by the IPCC in its 4th assessment reports and other such studies present further gloomy scenario for states like Orissa which are more vulnerable to climatic changes and global warming due to low adaptive capacity. Thus, urgent actions are the need of the moment or else time will not be on our side to resurrect the damages of climate changes and desertification.

This 'World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought' should again remind us to wake up from the deep slumber and to face and mitigate the challenges with firm and committed actions.

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About Us:

Water Initiatives Orissa is a seven-year old campaign which draws strength from Civil Society Organizations, Grassroots Communities, Academicians and Others who are determined to work on Water, Disasters and Climate Change issues. It is currently housed at MASS, an Orissa ( Eastern Indian State) based NGO, which has been working with local communities to promote sustainable development.

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Be A Part Of The Challenge; Be A Climate Change Crusader

You Can do so by Supporting:

Ø A Water Harvesting Project

Ø A Forest Restoration/Conservation Project

Ø A Clean Energy Project At The Community Level

Ø Publications That Raise Awareness On Water And Environment

Ø Activities To Advocate For Policies That Ensure Just And Equitable Use, Management And Development of Water and Natural Resources.

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For further details, please contact us at :

Ranjan K Panda

Convenor, Water Initiatives Orissa, C/o: MASS

Dhanupali, Sambalpur – 768 005, Orissa, INDIA.

Email: waterinitiativesorissa@gmail.com

Cell: +91-94370-50103(Ranjan Panda) and +91-99378 – 88466(Bimal Pandia)

posted to ClimateConcern