Why Are Endangered Gharial Hatchlings Vanishing In Satkosia Gorge?

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

A number of Gharial hatchlings have been swept away by floodwaters in Mahanadi in Odisha's Satkosia Gorge, media reports said. The reports said that out of 160 Gharial hatchlings bred in captivity in Gharial Conservation and Research Centre at Tikarpadain in Angul district in the past five years, a very few have have been left. Environmentalists have expressed their concern over the lack of preparedness by the wildlife officials in Angul division to save the hatchlings from gushing waters of Mahanadi during monsoon. Gharial hatchlings being swept away during floods in Mahanadi, the largest river in Odisha, does not occur occasionally, rather this is a regular phenomenon during rainy season.

Flood Factor Overlooked:

Gharial hatchlings are very small and measure nearly 40 centimeters after coming out of their eggs. They are always vulnerable to gushing waters of Mahanadi that overwhelm the sandy beds of the river where hatchlings take shelter after coming out the eggs. The irony is that the wildlife staff of Angul division become active to search for the lost hatchlings after they were swept away by floods. Environmentalists alleged that the wildlife staff never tried to relocate the Gharial hatchlings from Mahanadi's sandy beds to more safer places before monsoon. Therefore, breeding of the endangered species is always replete with danger, they reasoned.

Mugger, Illegal Fishing Challenges:

It is a known fact that Muggers pose severe threat to the fish-eating Gharials in river Mahanadi. In addition to this, illegal sand mining and fishing also have serious threat to the survival of the hatchlings. Although the Satkosia Gorge has been declared as a no-fishing zone, illegal fishing and sand mining activities in upstream locations of river Mahanadi have jeopardized the habitat.

Measures To Safeguard Gharials:

• The wildlife division of Angul must take proactive measures to protect the hatchlings before they are swept away by surging waters of Mahanadi.
• The department must ensure that there are enough makeshift enclosures at Tikarpada to house the hatchlings during floods. This measure must be taken much before the onset of monsoon. The hatching site at Baladamara is prone to be washed away during monsoon, therefore the wildlife staff must be prepared to arrange alternative sites as safe habitats for the Gharials .
• Community participation is always encouraging for conservation of endangered species. The wildlife staff, as a good measure, should engage the local fishing community in rescue operations during floods in Mahanadi.
• Enforcement of stricter rules for protection of habitat should be the utmost task of the wildlife division to discourage illegal sand mining upstream.

Media Advocacy:

Media advocacy is one of the most important tenets of conservation policies in most parts of the world as the target audience could be educated on a particular issue. This works incredibly well on wildlife topics. As media plays an important role on awareness on the merits of conservation of biodiversity, it is advisable for the wildlife division in Angul to grab the opportunity to save environmental disaster in the industrial district of Odisha. This is high time that the wildlife wing of Angul must take fruitful measures for survival of Gharials in Satkosia Gorge. The challenge for wildlife staff is, no doubt great, but they have to rise to the occasion and face it.   

Felling Of Trees In Chhendipada Will Bring Environmental Disaster To Angul District

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Large scale felling of Sal trees from reserved forests in Chhendipada block in Angul district has sparked a debate among nature lovers as well as general public in Odisha whether environmental depredation should be allowed for the sake of opencast coalmines. The Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (MCL) has started its expansion of coalmine activities in Chhendipada region as huge deposits of coal, otherwise known as Black Diamond, is found beneath its surface.

Environmental Cost:

Environmentalists, nature lovers as well as general public in Odisha are concerned over the colossal loss of forest, particularly the endangered species of Sal in Chhendipada region. Media reports said the forest cover in Chhendipada not only includes Sal species but a number of herbal plants are also available which contributes to biodiversity of the region. Mahua and Kendu trees are abundantly available in Chendipada forest ranges that ensures livelihoods benefits for tribal people since ages. People of Chhendipada block will, in all probability, face displacement scourge like their counterparts in Talcher in the days to come. The displacement will mostly hard hit the sections who are marginalized in the society. The coalmine projects have displaced a large number of families from different villages in Talcher. But, unfortunately, a good percentage of oustees are yet to get compensation as jobs or financial benefit, despite losing their homestead land other landed properties. The people of Chhendipada will also face such fate soon, local environmentalists fear.

Extensive mining operations particularly through opencast method is responsible for erosion of soil. This leads to air and water pollution in Chhendipada region as the people of Talcher have already experienced. Water bodies including Kukurpeta minor irrigation project in Chhendipada region will be contaminated due to extensive mining. Talcher region has already witnessed air and water contamination due to opencast mining projects. People in the area struggle to get a few buckets of potable water throughout the year and scarcity of water prevails during rainy season also.

Environmentalists have alleged that there are lacunae in Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) as the general public have not been taken into confidence. They are not properly consulted by the authorities  before allowing several mining projects in Chhendipada. It is often argued that afforestation would make up the loss of forests in Chhendipada region, but this could never match the the effectiveness of natural forest that existed with herbal species. Scientific studies have shown that trees act like natural air filters and protect the humanity from environmental pollution. But, this will be a thing of the past in Chhendipada region due to large scale felling of tress and in most cases complete wiping out of natural forest from the region.

Call To Action:

Ø  Public hearings in Chhendipada must be mandatory and the EIA has to be transparent. Local voices should not be crushed for industrial development.

Ø  Eco friendly species must be included in plantation programmes to counter the bad effects of environmental pollution. As the livelihood security of a large number of tribal communities in the region have been jeopardized following large scale felling of trees like Mohua and Kendu, it is obligatory on the part of MCL to take up afforestation projects in which such native species are included.

Ø  Angul district administration must ensure that District Mineral Fund (DMF) is allocated for fulfillment of needs of the affected families in Chhendipada region due to extensive felling of trees for mining operations. Initiation of skill development programmes must be included in rehabilitation packages for those who have lost their home and hearth for mining.

Coal Mining Projects in Talcher:

The MCL has a number of coalmining projects in Talcher and such activities have started in the area way back in 1929. Earlier, there were underground mines, but opencast mines have come to be a part of modern day trend. The mining company has opted in favour of opencast mining activity because this operation is less risky as compared to subterranean mining activities. Due to sheer depth, such mining activities were hazardous as loss of life could not be avoided in most situations. Waters of Brahmani, the second largest river in Odisha, along with Nandira and other rivulets in Talcher region are contaminated following excavation of coal and release of industrial effluents into the rivers. Villagers living all along the banks of Brahmani alleged that water of the river has become unfit to bath even, let alone use it for drinking. They further alleged that most people of their villages have contracted skin diseases by bathing in the river. Fishermen community is the worst hit as they don't get enough fish catch to sustain their livelihood. Presence of effluents in Brahmani water has adversely affected fish and other aquatic creatures. The fishing community has moved to other areas in search of employment due to dwindling fish reserve in Brahmani. 

Displacement Of Adivasis From Satkosia Serves Whose Interest, Ask Environmentalists

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

A large number of families belonging to Tulka, Bhurkundi, Gopalpur and Asanbahal villages in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary have been relocated by the forest department of Odisha to convert the sanctuary to a safe habitat for tigers. The process of relocation is going on amid protests by groups of villagers in Satkosia region who allege that the rehabilitation package is not adequate as compensation. The villagers alleged that providing Rs 20 lakh as relocation compensation per family is gross undervaluation of their homestead land and other landed properties.

The relocation process has divided the villagers in Satkosia into two groups-one, who have given their concurrence to leave home and hearth from the sanctuary and settle elsewhere and the second group, not willing to accept the compensation package arguing that the relocation is uncalled for when there is  no tiger in the so-called Satkosia Tiger Reserve. The second group also alleged that the relocation process lacked transparency. Worthwhile to mention here that in 1976 Satkosia was declared a wildlife sanctuary. It was upgraded to a tiger reserve in 2007. There are nearly one hundred villages in Satkosia inhabited by Scheduled Tribes and forest dwellers.

Villagers in Satkosia alleged that the wildlife officials have enlisted names of those families who have mostly migrated to metro cities like Hyderabad and Chennai in search of employment. Social activists who are working in Satkosia region alleged that the forest officials have wittingly enlisted the names of those people who stay in the cities for jobs and do not want to come to their villages. The forest officials have cunningly enlisted names of those persons who work outside because they know that there will be little opposition from them as they want to stay in the cities to get employment opportunities. Reports said  a meeting convened by Block Development Officer (BDO), Angul, to discuss about relocation at Purunakote Panchayat recently ended in a fiasco as neither Sarpanch nor Ward Members attended it. The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and officials from Angul Block had to return from the meeting  empty-handed as groups of villagers, for and against the proposition,  indulged in wordy duel. However, local media reports said that majority of villagers in Purunakote agreed to leave their homes and settle elsewhere due to relocation with a compensation package.     

Socio-Economic Impact

The socio-economic consequences of displacement have always been painful for the people of Satkosia. The erstwhile Raiguda villagers who are now settled in New Raiguda following relocation have been confronting with lack of basic facilities even years after their settlement in the new colony. Villagers of New Raiguda alleged that most of them lack livelihood opportunities and said the local forest wing is little concerned over their plight. They said the forest officials had promised them better livelihood opportunities after relocation, but this didn’t turn out to be true.

Satkosia: Shifting Entrance To Baliput Will Hamper Angul's Interest

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The idea behind shifting of entrance of Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary, from Pampasar in Angul district to Baliput in Cuttack district, will have disastrous consequences on the economy of Angul district. Social activists alleged that this action will adversely affect local businesses in and around Pampasar in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary. Income sources directly related to tourism In Angul district will also be affected due to diversion of tourist traffic to Cuttack district following the shifting of entrance of the sanctuary from Pampasar to Baliput, the social activists alleged. 

Undermining  Angul Interest:

The economic impact will be huge. Nature lovers and tourists will no loger come to Angul as Pampasar entrance of Satkosia Tiger Reserve will be shut down.This will reduce the importance of Angul district which has been the gateway to Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary since long. Small time traders in Karatapata, Pampasar, Jagannathpur and Tikarpada areas who rely mostly on tourists for their business will incur huge loss facing permanent closure of businesses due to absence of tourists to the area. Closure of Pampasar gate will adversely affect hospitality as well as transport sectors in Angul district that will be crippled throwing a great number of people out of business and livelihood.

The tiger reserve is endowed with endangered species of flora and fauna and widely acclaimed as one of the finest biodiversity regions in the country which is rich in nature's bounty. Closure of the age-old entry point of Satkosia at Pampasar will also impact on conservation of biodiversity in Angul wildlife division due to administrative incoherence between two districts. Local environmentalists maintained shifting of the main gate to Baliput in Cuttack district will be an act of underestimating the role of local communities in Satkosia region in Angul district who have tried their best to preserve the biodiversity of Satkosia Tiger Reserve since long. Villagers in Satkosia in Angul district have taken a number of initiatives through their communities to save the ecosystem in the sanctuary. Closure of the gateway at Pampasar will alienate local people as stakeholders from conservation activities. This will spell doom for community-driven endeavours to protect the biodiversity in Satkosia. 

Sources said that efforts are underway to construct a bridge over the gorge connecting Narsinghpur-Baliput road to Badmul for facilitating safari trekking in Satkosia. Although this proposed bridge project has evoked widespread protests from different quarters since it lacked concurrence from National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), the top brasses of wildlife wing in Odisha have been trying their best get through the project at any cost.

Environmentalists like Biswajit Mohanty has alleged that the bridge will be harmful to Satkosia Gorge and disturb the natural habitat of Gharial and other aquatic species. Heavy dose of tourism is always harmful for conservation of nature any where in the world including Satkosia, environmentalists opined. The Tiger Reserve which came into being in 1976 spreads over 988 sqkm in Angul, Cuttack, Boudh and Nayagarh districts in Odisha. The sanctuary is a home to a number of elephants and other endangered species including Gharials.

Eco Tourism Fails In Satkosia Due To Bureaucratic Negligence

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Community based conservation efforts to protect biodiversity in Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Angul district is now a thing of the past. Wildlife officials are no longer needing the cooperation of villagers living in Tikarpada, Purunakote and Jagannathpur for conservation of flora and fauna in Satkosia wildlife sanctuary. Members of Satkosia Praja Suraksha Samiti have alleged that the wildlife officials are responsible for the death of Eco Development Committees (EDCs) which played key role for promotion of eco tourism in the Tiger Reserve. Commercialization of the natural habitats in Satkosia is the new catchword for the officials who undermine peoples' initiatives for conservation of ecology. They do not mind exploiting the natural habitat for money.

Social activists working in Satkosia region said community-driven endeavours to protect environment through EDCs have stopped. The Nature camps at Chhotkei and Tikarpada which were once thriving with the cooperation of villagers in Satkosia,are no loger attracting tourists due to poor management, the activists alleged. The EDCs in Tarava and Purunakote have now become defunct due to non-coperation by the wildlife staff who undermine the sincerity of villagers in conservation of biodiversity in Satkosia. The social activists alleged that eco-tourism has failed to take off as villagers in Satkosia are no longer treated as stakeholders by wildlife officials for maintaining biodiversity of the region.

The social activists further alleged that the villagers are never encouraged by Angul wildlife wing to be the part and parcel of conservation of nature and boost eco tourism in the sanctuary. Commercialization has creeped into the the minds of top brasses of wildlife department, the activists alleged. Money to the tune of crores are being spent to build road and other facilities all along river Mahanadi from Baliput in Cuttack district via Majhipada, Kadalikhol to Baghamunda under Angul wildlife division for safari trekking in the Tiger Reserve. Satkosia Praja Suraksha Samiti alleged Angul wildlife division is keen to oust villagers from Satkosia on the pretext of tiger conservation, when there is no tiger left in the so-called Tiger Reserve.

Inadequate Funding Mars Tribal Development Programme In Angul District

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

The Special Development Council (SDC), which was established by government of Odisha in 2017 for initiating all round development of Adivasi communities in the state, has allegedly failed to take off. For instance, there has been no significant improvement of Konds and Gonds and other Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities in the industry-rich Angul district. The regions like Athamallik, Pallahara and Kishorenagar have significant number of Adivasi and other tribal communities. According to the census of 2011, the scheduled Tribe (ST) constitutes nearly 22.85 percent of the total population of Odisha.

The SDC was set up in Odisha for all round development of tribal communities providing them good education and livelihood opportunities through skill development programmes and other initiatives based on their avocation. Reports said nearly Rs 3 crore was allotted to Angul district by SDC to initiate measures in the field of education and livelihood programmes for tribals in the financial year 2023-24, but till date nearly Rs 18 lakh has been spent.  

This speaks volumes about the actual intention and the sincerity of the bureaucrats responsible for carrying out measures for improvement of the condition of tribal population in Angul district. The schemes are implemented through self help groups and Mission Shakti. But, there are allegations that misallocation of fund has come in the way for proper implementation of the projects aimed at improvement of the status of tribals on different sectors.

SDC Objectives:

One of the major objectives of SDC in Angul district is to consistently work for betterment of socio-economic status of the Adivasis. The SDC has to ensure that they get basic facilities in education, healthcare and livelihood sectors so that they can be brought into the national mainstream. The other important work of the SDC is to preserve and protect tribal dialects, traditions  and their places of worship which they held in high esteem. The most important objective of SDC is to encourage the tribals in decision making process so that their voices can be heard in the power corridors of the state. The tribals lack basic facilities like road connectivity and potable water in most villages they reside located in the remotest corners of the state. Although efforts are on to empower women tribal groups by including them in self help groups and other income generating activities under Mission Shakti, a lot more has to be done through awareness programmes as the tribal communities have little knowledge about various welfare schemes implemented for their benefit.

Social activists working for bringing the tribal women into mainstream alleged that the skill development programmes through which vocational activities are conducted are not up to the mark. They alleged that trainers with adequate knowledge of vocational activities must be roped in by the administration to deliver the goods. The trainers must focus on small scale industries, livestock, agriculture and terracotta which are not alien to tribals or Adivasis of the region. The dropout rates among Adivasi children are very high in regions like Athamallik, Pallahara and Kishorenagar block in Angul district. Therefore, it is the responsibility of SDC to ensure that the tribal children are properly educated to acquire self confidence and achieve their goals in life. Preservation of tribal culture should be the prime goal of the SDC as festivals play a great role in societal bonding. However, financial support to cultural organizations in the tribal dominated regions in the district are allegedly not sufficient. A lot more has to be done for preservation of tribal culture, the activists added.

Gharial Hatchlings Decreasing At Tikarpada Conservation Unit In Angul Wildlife Division

By SANTOSH MOHANTY

Low survival rate of Gharial hatchlings in Gharial Research and Conservation Unit at Tikarpada under Satkosia Wildlife Division in Angul district has worried nature lovers as well as environmentalists in Odisha. Sources said that the survival rate has declined to as low as ten percent. The major threat is floods in river Mahanadi, the largest in Odisha, in the monsoon. The hatchlings are mostly swept away by floods during rainy season. Gharial hatchlings are often get stuck in fishing nets used by fishermen communities living on the banks of river Mahanadi. In addition to this threat, growing number of Muggers in Mahanadi all along the seven-mile stretch of Satkosia gorge, has also jeopardized the survival chances of Gharial hatchlings. Muggers are known to be predators of Gharial hatchlings.

The Gharial Research and Conservation Unit has been facing management difficulties ever since it was established at Tikarpada in 1975. It has always been a difficult task for the wildlife staff to take adequate measures for the conservation of Gharial hatchlings. The unit was almost in limbo for years due to inadequate allotment of funds. However, conservation efforts are on a full swing since 2020 and results are showing, but a lot more has to be done to increase the survival rate of the hatchlings. The Angul wildlife division has been trying its best to improve breeding of the rare species of crocodile family by bringing male and female Gharials to the conservation unit at Tikarpada from Nandankanal Zoological Park in Bhubaneswar. Although over 150 hatchlings have been released to Mahanadi in the past five years, there is no definite data how much of them actually survived in the process. Reports said in May 2025, nearly 29 Gharials babies came out of their eggs at a nesting site called Baladamara, near Satkosia gorge. But, the distressing news is that nearly half of the haltchlings were carried away by gushing water as Mahanadi was in spate following pre-monsoon showers in the state in that month.

Habitat In Danger:

Contamination of Mahanadi river water and fishing activities are directly responsible for the decline in number of Gharials, social activists working in Satkosia region said and added that this has impacted on the ecosystem of the gorge. Although the wildlife division has put a ban on fishing in the gorge, this has not been strictly effective due to a number of reasons. The wildlife staff are not adequately equipped to handle illegal fishing activities in Satkosia gorge. As the Gharials do not get enough fish as their food, they die early, the social activists said. Irregular awareness campaigns for promotion of the endangered species have also adversely affected Gharial breeding. Earlier, the wildlife division was conducting community awareness programmes involving people from Angul, Cuttack, Boudh, Nayagarh and  Sonepur districts to bring down tussle between Gharial and humans. Although eco-tourism has been widely acclaimed as one of the best funding strategies for arranging resources for conservation, sustainable management could reduce disturbances in natural habitats. But, it is alleged that the nature camp at Tikarpada is poorly managed and plays a role in disturbing the natural habitat for Gharials.

A comprehensive plan of action has to be initiated for relocation of Muggers from Satkosia Gorge to increase the survival rate of Gharials which are endangered species. The wildlife division must adopt state of the art technology to constantly track and monitor the movement of Gharials through GPS system. Services of wildlife experts should be roped in for studies relating to Satkosia ecology and availbality of fish, the staple food of Gharials. It is high time that predators like Muggers in Satkosia gorge must be identified and relocated elsewhere to increase the chances of survival of Gharials. Community engagement has been paying rich dividends in habitat conservation throughout the world. Therefore, the wildlife officials should spearhead a movement that will attract like minded persons to come under a banner for taking awareness drive to next level.