dakhine saziba utare gaziba Purbe na rahiba kehi

dakhine saziba utare gaziba Purbe na rahiba kehi jhadabada dhari rahithiba jiye kulaku bihan seyhi…. An Oriya quote from MALIKA. Key document-State of Orissa’s environment: A citizen’s report

ISSUES THAT WE DEALT WITH § Major nrm issues of Orissa: - Drought, floods, climatic changes, forest & land degradation. § Analysis of situation (present scenario and situation prevailing 15 years back). § Interventions implemented in last 10 years.

STATE OF CRISIS OF ORISSA : A BRIEF BACKGROUND § Due to calamities, at an average 900, 000 ha of agricultural lands lose crops every year in the state. § In last fifty years food production decreased by 40 percent. § Constant agricultural losses has brought per capita cultiv’d land from 0. 39 ha in 1950 -51 down to a dismal 0. 18 ha in 1997 -98. § Today, 52 per cent of the state’s land faces erosion due to deforestation. § Forest cover in the state has come down to 4. 72 millon ha from about 6. 8 million ha in 1960 -61

DROUGHT: UNDENYING FATE OF ORISSA Scenario last 15 yrs back : § Some of the human casualties : Distress sale of land, produce, gender woes, epidemics, malnutrition, unemployment & migration. § Starvation deaths. § Some of the interesting stories: a) The Goti movement. b) Wage struggle

§ Present scenario § 25 districts have been declared drought prone. § Conditions have worsened much more.

§ Reasons……………. . § Increased frequency of drought due to neglecting Orissa traditional water harvesting structure. § Indigenous drought resistant varieties are on verge of extinction. § Use of HYV seeds for commercial use. § Skewed politics of Government. § More stress on drought relief rather than drought proofing.

FLOOD AND CYCLONES § One of the most flood prone states of India § During last one century Orissa has seen : 20 major & more than 200 minor floods Mahanadi, Brahmani, Baitarani, and Subarnarekha. § Mahanadi : The sorrow of Orissa § Pre Hirakund Dam & post Hirakund Dam § In last forty years , frequency of flood has increased in Orissa

THE DEBATE IS ON § Is it just natural or is the state paying the price for climate change and environmental degradation? § Evidence suggest that state’s ecology and weather condition have gone for a change. § Orissa showing up the impact of climate change induced by global warming. § Geographical location of the state as one of the causes. § State environmental condition has gone a long way in triggering the disaster.

Forest Regeneration and Development § Orissa for its peculiar geographic location embraces a diversified floristic composition & a broad spectrum of vegetation. § In last thirty years massive deforestation done that led to extreme weather condition. § Major reasons………… a)Organised theft : The real threat. b)Timber trading and deforestation. c)Improper management for people’s participation in social forestry.

OVERLOOKED ISSUES § Revenue maximisation : Unsustainable management. § Timber, Bamboo, Kendu leaves, Minor forest produce major contributor to forest revenue. § No proper plantation management for aromatic and medicinal plants. § Unscientific exploitation of bamboo forests. § Plight of Bamboo cutters & artisans.

§ For afforestation and regeneration of degraded forest Govt. of India started programme in the year 1988. § Initiated a special programme, Area Development Approach for Poverty Termination (ADAPT), & later on Long Term Action Plan (LTAP). § Major breakthrough in 1998, a Revised Long Term Action Plan (RLTAP) § Increased forest cover. § The afforestation programme in KBK district under RLTAP started since 1998 -1999 and 1, 25, 167 ha area has brought under afforestation by the end of 2004 -2005. § Generation of employment opportunities

Recommendation & activities under RLTAP Plantation of high value economic species such as teak, saal, gambhar , bija o better sites have been taken in gaps and blanks with active participation of people. Some regulations and monitoring body to save from illegal trafficking. Solving lease issue of timber trading. Strengthening the bamboo production base by taking up plantation of different species of bamboo. Increasing forest produce to meet the ever growing demand of fuel wood & small timber.

Can we conclude on a hopeful note? ? § Participation of the community and users, planners , policy makers at all levels. People must rededicate ourselves to the protection and wise management of our life sustaining environment. If the world is saved, It will be saved by people With changed minds and a new vision It will not be saved by people With old minds and new programs It will not be saved by people With the old vision but a new program. David Quines

REFERENCES: • Key document: -State of Orissa’s environment – A citizen’s report ; Council of Professional Social workers , Bhubaneswar. § • Orissa flood report 2004 - 7 th September 2004 (Orissa flood SITREP) • UNDP-United Nations House , Bhubaneswar. • Case studies –DFID. • Down to earth magazine (June 21 st , 2001 issue ) • Orissa review (A Monthly magazine)-JUNE- 2005; An article by Prasant Sarangi. • KBK region official site - www. kbk. nic. ac. in. • A document from Government of Orissa; Planning and Co-ordination Department.

THA NK YOU Baijanti Mallick(10) Nikhil Ranjan Ratanman(23)