By Bizodisha Bureau, September 16, 2016 : Green activists have warned adverse impact on the eco-system if the flow of water in Mahanadi River slow down due to construction of projects on the upstream by Chhattisgarh government.

“Slowing down of water flow in River Mahanadi will have serious impact on the whole eco-system of Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary, Satkosia Tiger Reserve, Mahanadi Elephant Reserve and Gharial Research and Conservation Unit (GRACU),” the Citizen Action Forum and Foundation Ecological Security said in a memorandum to the Chief Minister.

Meeting chief minister Naveen Patnaik here, they urged him to raise the ecology issue at the tripartite meeting on Mahanadi water scheduled to be held on September 17 at New Delhi.

Apart from affecting people in 15 districts of Odisha, the slowing down of water would have its adverse impact on the mangrove forests at Bhitarkania National Park, Mahanadi Delta region and also Gahirmatha, the world’s biggest rookery for the rare Olive Ridley Turtles.

The two bodies also demanded cancellation of all environment clearances to the projects, construction by Chhattisgarh Government on the upstream of Mahanadi.

As River Mahanadi flows through the rare ecosystem of the country – Satkosia Gorge Sanctuary and the state government should not forget to raise the issue at the tripartite meeting, they said.

Satkosia also houses a tiger reserve which is spread over four districts – Angul, Cuttack, Nayagarh and Boudh through which the Mahanadi river flows, they pointed out.