Save Kelo River from Industrial Pollution in Raigarh

RAIPUR (India CSR): In a significant development, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken decisive action to address the severe pollution plaguing the Kelo River in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. The river, once a lifeline for the region, has been reduced to one of India’s most polluted stretches, with industrial waste and sewage turning its waters black and rendering it unfit for use. However, despite the NGT’s intervention, local communities remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the measures due to systemic challenges, including corruption and lack of oversight.

In October 2024, the NGT directed the Raigarh Collector to implement remedial measures based on recommendations, such as improving sewage treatment and waste management. However, the effectiveness is uncertain due to systemic issues.

The Plight of the Kelo River

The Kelo River, a tributary of the Mahanadi, flows through Raigarh district, a region known for its industrial activity, including coal mining, thermal power plants, and steel production. Over the years, unchecked industrial discharge and sewage have transformed the river into a toxic stream. A 2016 study highlighted the alarming levels of pollutants such as total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), all of which exceed safe limits (ScienceDirect). More recent reports confirm that the river’s 15-kilometer stretch has been classified among India’s 351 most polluted river stretches (India Legal, October 2024).

The pollution has had devastating consequences for the local community. Residents of Raigarh, who once relied on the Kelo for drinking water, now face severe health issues due to the contaminated environment. A fact-finding report from 2017 revealed that over 100 residents of Kosampalli-Sarasmal panchayat alone have died from respiratory and other health diseases linked to pollution in the past two decades (YourStory, May 2017). Additionally, the river’s pollution has led to groundwater depletion, with 90 out of 116 villages in the Tamnar block facing serious water scarcity (YourStory, May 2017).

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NGT’s Intervention: A Ray of Hope?

In a proactive move, the NGT has approved a set of recommendations from a Joint Committee of the State Pollution Control Board to curb the pollution. These include:

1. Rectifying the Tipakhol reservoir check dam to prevent sewage from mixing with the river.
2. Diverting and controlling excessive water flow into drains.
3. Reviewing the sewage channels network through sewage treatment plants (STPs).
4. Constructing permanent or reinforced cement concrete (RCC) bunds on Indranagar and Kevadabadi nalas.
5. Increasing public awareness about waste management, single-use plastics, and waste separation.
6. Installing trash skimmers and bar racks to remove floating and plastic waste.

These measures aim to address the immediate causes of pollution, particularly the direct discharge of untreated sewage and industrial waste into the river. However, the NGT’s order also highlights the challenges in execution, noting that similar directives in the past, such as those from the MC Mehta case on the Ganges, have often been ignored due to corruption and a lack of accountability (India Legal, October 2024).

Local Impact and Community Struggles

The pollution of the Kelo River has not only affected health and water availability but also disrupted daily life. In villages along the river, children are forced to wade through knee-deep water to reach school, especially after monsoons, due to flooding caused by the Kelo Dam, constructed in 2014 (Firstpost, July 2017). The dam, while intended to provide irrigation and industrial water supply, has exacerbated the region’s water woes by altering natural drainage patterns.

Moreover, the river’s degradation has economic implications. Local communities, particularly those dependent on agriculture and fishing, have seen their livelihoods dwindle. The once-thriving ecosystem of the Kelo, which supported diverse flora and fauna, is now a shadow of its former self, with fish populations decimated and agricultural lands suffering from contaminated irrigation water.

Efforts to Save the Kelo

Despite the grim situation, there have been efforts to raise awareness and push for change. Senior journalist Shiv Rajpoot, often referred to as the “Kelo man,” has been a vocal advocate for the river’s conservation. Having traveled the 90-kilometer stretch of the Kelo twice on foot, Rajpoot documented its transformation from one of Chhattisgarh’s purest rivers to one of its most polluted. His work has inspired local campaigns to clean the riverbed and protect it from further degradation (India Water Portal, January 2015).

However, these grassroots efforts have struggled to gain traction against the might of industrial interests. Raigarh’s industrial belt, driven by coal mining and power generation, continues to prioritize economic growth over environmental sustainability. The region’s coal reserves, estimated at over 21,000 metric tonnes, have made it a hub for mining and related industries, but at a steep environmental cost (India Water Portal, March 2017).

The Road Ahead: Challenges and Opportunities

While the NGT’s intervention is a step in the right direction, its success hinges on effective implementation. The tribunal’s order emphasizes the need for strict oversight and accountability, but past experiences suggest that enforcement remains a significant hurdle. Corruption within the policing and administrative systems has historically undermined environmental regulations, allowing industries to flout rules with impunity.

Moreover, the lack of public awareness and participation poses another challenge. The NGT’s recommendation to increase awareness about waste management and plastic use is crucial, but it requires sustained efforts from both the government and civil society. Local NGOs and community groups must be empowered to monitor and report violations, ensuring that industries comply with environmental norms.

On a positive note, the Kelo Irrigation Project, which aims to provide water for irrigation, domestic use, and industrial needs, could potentially alleviate some of the water stress in the region. However, its impact on the river’s ecosystem must be carefully managed to avoid exacerbating existing problems (Centre for Science and Environment, January 2010).

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Comprehensive Analysis of the Source for NGT’s Actions on Kelo River Pollution

Context and Background

The Kelo River, a tributary of the Mahanadi, flows through Raigarh, an industrial hub in Chhattisgarh known for coal mining, thermal power plants, and steel production. Historically, the river was a vital water source, but it has become one of India’s most polluted stretches, with a 15 km section listed among the 351 most polluted river stretches, as noted in recent reports (Dirty Flows The River). Industrial waste and untreated sewage have turned its waters black, rendering them unfit for use, leading to health issues, water scarcity, and economic challenges for local communities. A 2016 study highlighted high levels of pollutants like total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), exceeding safe limits.

The pollution has caused significant impacts, including respiratory diseases and over 100 deaths in Kosampalli-Sarasmal panchayat over two decades, as reported in 2017. Groundwater depletion affects 90 out of 116 villages in the Tamnar block, exacerbating water scarcity ([Increased health problems and diminishing forests: how coal mining in Chhattisgarh spells disaster]. Flooding from the Kelo Dam, constructed in 2014, has disrupted daily life, particularly for schoolchildren, adding to the region’s woes.

Recent Developments and NGT’s Intervention

In October 2024, the NGT took significant steps to address the river’s deteriorating condition, as detailed in two articles from India Legal. The first, published on October 20, 2024, reports that the NGT disposed of a plea on waste disposal, directing the Raigarh Collector to implement remedial measures based on the Joint Committee of the State Pollution Control Board’s recommendations (National Green Tribunal disposes of plea on waste disposal in Kelo river, Chhattisgarh). The second, published on October 26, 2024, describes the river as a “garbage dump” and notes the NGT’s proactive stance in approving recommendations to stop sewage drainage, though it raises concerns about execution (Dirty Flows The River).

The Joint Committee’s recommendations, accepted by the NGT’s Central Bench comprising Justice Sheo Kumar Singh and Dr A Senthil Vel, include:

• Rectifying the Tipakhol reservoir check dam to prevent sewage mixing.
• Diverting or controlling excessive water flow into drains.
• Reviewing the sewage channel network through sewage treatment plants (STPs).
• Constructing permanent or reinforced cement concrete (RCC) bunds on Indranagar nala and Kevadabadi nala.
• Increasing public awareness on waste littering, single-use plastic prohibition, and waste separation.
• Using trash skimmers and bar racks for floating matter and plastic waste removal.

These measures aim to address immediate pollution causes, but the articles highlight challenges, such as the historical ineffectiveness of similar orders (e.g., the MC Mehta case on the Ganges) and potential corruption in execution by local authorities.

Despite these efforts, local communities remain skeptical, as noted in the passage, due to systemic issues like corruption and lack of oversight. The India Legal articles echo this sentiment, suggesting that past experiences indicate enforcement may be weak, with STPs potentially being “dummy setups” and untreated waste still bypassing treatment facilities.

Source Identification and Analysis

The passage provided in the query states, “In a significant development, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has taken decisive action to address the severe pollution plaguing the Kelo River in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh. The river, once a lifeline for the region, has been reduced to one of India’s most polluted stretches, with industrial waste and sewage turning its waters black and rendering it unfit for use. However, despite the NGT’s intervention, local communities remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the measures due to systemic challenges, including corruption and lack of oversight.” This aligns closely with the content from the India Legal articles, particularly their emphasis on the NGT’s actions, the river’s pollution status, and community skepticism.

A search for the exact phrase and related terms confirmed that the India Legal articles from October 2024 are the most direct sources. The article from October 20, 2024, details the NGT’s directive and measures, while the October 26, 2024, article provides additional context on the river’s condition and execution challenges. No other sources from the search results, including older reports from Down to Earth (2019) or Business Standard (2021), provided more recent or directly matching information. Other results, such as those from the NGT’s website or unrelated news, did not contain the specific passage or context.

The passage’s phrasing, while not an exact quote, seems to be a summary or rephrasing of the information from these articles, given their detailed coverage and alignment with the described events. The mention of local skepticism due to corruption and oversight issues is consistent with the articles’ discussion of historical enforcement failures and systemic challenges.

Community Impact and Ongoing Efforts

The pollution’s impact on local communities is profound, with health issues like respiratory diseases and economic challenges due to disrupted livelihoods in agriculture and fishing. Efforts to save the river, led by figures like journalist Shiv Rajpoot, known as the “Kelo man,” have included campaigns to clean the riverbed and raise awareness. However, industrial interests often overshadow these efforts, given Raigarh’s reliance on coal and power industries, estimated at over 21,000 metric tonnes of coal reserves.

The Kelo Irrigation Project, aimed at providing water for irrigation and industrial needs, could potentially alleviate some stress, but its impact on the ecosystem must be managed to avoid further degradation ([EIA analysis of Kelo Irrigation Project]([invalid url, do not cite])). The NGT’s actions offer hope, but community involvement and stricter oversight are crucial for lasting change, as highlighted in the passage’s acknowledgment of skepticism.

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(India CSR)