Midsummer rain and flood in 23 districts of Odisha in 1995, death of 2,042 people due to heat wave in the State in 1998, two devastating cyclones, flood in 2001, massive flood in 23 districts in 2003, 14 depressions along with flood in 27 districts in 2007, highest flood ever in Balasore and flood in 19 districts in 2008 along with occurrence of drought and cyclone in a frequent interval probably provides much more evidence than requirement regarding the impact of climate change in the State. There are also many more to list out, which can open our eyes to realise the climate change in the State.
Rainfall — the most unpredictable one:
If we look at the pattern of rainfall of Odisha, we can easily feel the impact of climate change. Due to deviation in the pattern of rainfall, the flow of river in Odisha has been reduced drastically and for around eight months in a year, rivers are lying dry. The rainfall has become irregular and unpredictable. Even the experts have revealed that rain days are reducing by a day in every five years in the State.
Calamities — unpredictable but regular:
The calamities like drought and flood have become a common phenomenon in our State and those have a direct link with the precipitation as former one is the indicator of scarce water and the later one is the indicator of surplus water. When flood was common in coastal plain, drought was in upper terrain. But with the changing climate, both drought and flood are common in almost all parts of the State. The height is that, in the year 2007, 27 districts out of 30 in Odisha experienced flood.
High erosion — less productivity:
Due to massive de-forestation, the landslide and soil erosion has become a common phenomenon in Odisha. The eroded soils drain out through the steams to river and river to sea. As rivers are getting flat year by year, the water retention capacity of rivers are decreasing causing flood in catchments. Study by experts has found that in just 13 years, from 1991-92 to 2004-05, severely degraded land in the State has increased by 136 percent, barren land has increased by 69 percent and land converted to non-agricultural uses has increased by 34 percent. All these have a direct impact on agriculture, which sustains close to 90 percent of rural population. Emphasis on industrialization has started aggravating land degradation in the State due to discharge of polluting and heavy water as well as consuming minerals.
Increasing mercury – Sun is a killer:
While the global mean temperature rose by 0.5 degree Celsius in the last 50 years that of Odisha rose by 1 degree Celsius. Weather is becoming extreme like never before. Death of 2,042 persons due to sunstroke in 1998 for the first time taught Odisha that rising mercury and sunstroke has emerged as a major killer in the State. Despite several precautions and expenses of crores of rupees in creating awareness among masses to beat the heat, death due to sunstroke is regular every year and as many as 2,712 persons have died of sunstroke from 1998 to 2008.
Sea Erosion — History May Repeat:
Odisha has 476.6 km coast line covering Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada, Jagatsinghpur, Puri and Ganjam districts. In the changing climatic condition, these districts are facing severe threat due to erosion of the seashore. Erosion-prone Satabhaya cluster of hamlets in Kendrapara district for the first time figured in global map of climate change as climate’s first orphan of Odisha. Then the marine drive of Puri drew the attention of environmentalists across the globe. Rajnagar block of Kendrapada district is now under high threat due to sea erosion. Current erosion in marine drive of Puri has made the situation more panic. Saline ingression is adding flavour to it. If this trend continues, the day will come, when history will repeat and Sun Temple of Konark will be at sea.
Ground Water — The Last Hope:
Due to deviation in the pattern of rainfall, the flow of river in Odisha has been reduced drastically and this has been forcing all to depend upon ground water to meet all short of water requirements. The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has clearly indicated that the ground water of 24 out of 30 districts in Odisha is depleting. The ground water aquifers in many regions of our State have already gone dry. Ground water is the last hope for a water starved population. It is like a bank account, from which we are withdrawing without any deposit and our withdrawal is not judicious.
Climate change is probably the biggest threat ever the world is facing today. Odisha is in the forefront of victims and many more impacts are yet to be faced. Everybody is responsible for this and everybody has quite a lot of responsibility to combat the climate change. Joining the hand to fight against the will of nature is the need of the hour. Because nothing is predictable here.
-- The writer is Programme Manager, Water Programme at the Regional Centre for Development Cooperation, Bhubaneswar
