• City dwellers contribute to the water pollution at Kamapalli tank
    City dwellers contribute to the water pollution at Kamapalli tank  
Khodasingh Dhoba Pond, Balunkeswar Temple Pond and Kamapalli tank are the most polluted ponds in the city.
Silk City Berhampur has a total of 39 water bodies, but as shocking as it may sound, water pollution levels in as many as 36 water bodies have reached an alarming level. 

As per the State Pollution Control Board, the pH (power of Hydrogen- indicator of level of acidity and base in water) levels, BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand- needed dissolved Oxygen to break down organic material in water) level and level of Dissolved solids (Inorganic and organic substances in liquid mostly generated from dissolution of rocks and minerals in water) in the waters of the ponds are not meeting the set standards.

“The pH should be within 6.5 to 8.5 moles per Liter in the surface water while it has been found up to 9.9 moles per Liter in the ponds. It means the Base (Usually generated from detergents and soaps) in water is increasing. Similarly, BOD which should be within 3 miligrams per Liter has reached an alarming limit of 15. 7 miligrams per Liter. It means microorganisms are increasing faster. At the same time, 'Dissolved solids' which should be within 1,500 miligrams per Liter have been found to have reached the level of miligrams per Liter . The water in these ponds has become unfit for human consumption,” Regional Officer of the State Pollution Control Board P.K. Mohapatra informs.
Balunkeswar Temple tank

According to Pollution Control Board's data, the three ponds – Khodasingh Dhoba Pond, Balunkeswar temple pond and Kamapalli tank – are the most polluted ponds in the city.
  
A case has also been filed at the National Green Tribunal by an advocate regarding the deteriorating condition of the ponds in Berhampur. Answering the green court, the Regional Pollution Control Board has given the verification report. “BMC has been issued notices on several instances by the Pollution Control Board to carry out cleaning and bleaching of the pond water," shares Mohapatra.
Baba Ji Tota Sahi street Tank

When Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Manoj Kumar Mohanty was questioned in this regard, he replied, “BMC will soon be spending Rs 5 lakh for cleaning of eight ponds in the city. Besides, we are also planning for deployment of a specialised group which will clean the ponds on a regular basis. A private holder will do it on a contractual basis. Tenders will be called very soon for this.”

-DNA, |