Efforts on to save Subernarekha, Kharkhai rivers

Jamshedpur: Under an initiative taken by Jamshedpur (East) MLA Saryu Roy, representatives of socio-political outfits and environmental activists on Sunday came together to clean and conserve the Subernarekha and Kharkhai rivers.
Pollution, depletion of the water level, and water hyacinth are some of the problems facing the two rivers, commonly called the lifelines of the Steel City, said Roy.
The meeting was held to elicit the views of the residents prior to drafting a long-term roadmap to save rivers.
The MLA said, “Untreated industrial and domestic waste has adversely affected the two rivers. It is high time that we, as a society, join the movement to save rivers.”
Announcing a sit-in on June 5, the World Environment Day, Roy said the two rivers require fresh water on an immediate basis to clean the widespread hyacinth.
Further, he said, a water treatment plant is the need of the hour to stop waste water from flowing directlyinto the rivers.
He urged the state government to persuade Odisha to release water into Kharkhai and Subernarekha on a regular basis to address the issue of insufficient water in the two rivers.
In 2004, the ‘Damodar Bachao’ movement was launched to clean the river and stop the power plants’ waste from flowing into the river. “Damodar has remained clean of industrial waste due to the joint efforts of the individuals, the industrial bodies, and the government. Similar movement to clean and conserve the two rivers are needed,” the MLA said.
Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee special officer Sanjay Kumar said the notified area is working towards setting up a 32MLD capacity treatment plant to clean the waste water before it is released into the river.