The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Research goes ‘down the drain’

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Friday, Aug 03, 2007
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Research goes ‘down the drain’

Correspondent

Major controversy surrounds a drain passing through the CRRI

Drain water damaging crop and it turns worse during monsoon
CRRI moves High Court seeking its intervention

CUTTACK: A drain passing through the premier rice research centre of the country here has snowballed into a major controversy between the Central Rice Research Institute (CRRI) and the Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC).

Vexed with the “nonchalant attitude” of the CMC, the institute moved the High Court seeking its intervention.

Its counsel has expressed the apprehension that if the matter is not shorted out soon, the premier institute may be shifted elsewhere.

Seed of contention

Scientists of the CRRI are lamenting that a major portion of their research is “going down the drain.”

Over 80 per cent of the CRRI’s crop area remains inundated by sewerage and muck-filled drain water for at least 30 days in a year. A branch channel originating from the heart of the city passes through the institute and it remains choked round the year.

During monsoon, when the Mahanadi would be in spate, the drain overflows, flooding the research fields. “During rainy season, the toxic waste water from the drain inundates the research fields, making it impossible to carry on any experiments,” rues CRRI Director M.P. Pandey.

Toxic and contaminated water remains stagnant for nearly three to four weeks, annihilating the experiments done in the paddy fields, Dr. Pandey adds.

Research hit

Every year, nearly Rs. 15 crores is spent here on research alone. But, since the last few years, research has been severely affected due to the problem,” he says.

“We have made several pleas to the State government, the district administration and the local civic authorities to either divert it or upgrade the existing earthen drain to high-wall concrete drain for the smooth flow of sewage. But nothing has been done yet despite our willingness to share the financial burden,” says an administrative officer of the institute.

According to a report prepared by the institute, over 90 per cent of the crop was damaged in the year 1999 as the drain water inundated over 175 acres of land for nearly 45 days.

In 2001, over 90 per cent of the crop was damaged while in 2003 and 2006 over 80 per cent was damaged.

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