Meera Bhardwaj:
Have the mugger crocodiles in Kali River adapted to surviving in polluted waters at Dandeli? According to local activists and forest officials, if treated effluents are released during the daytime, untreated effluents are let out quietly during the night.
It is high time the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board took action and tested the water quality on a regular basis, they stress.
Although the smell of the effluents that is released from West Coast Paper Mills Ltd was not all pervading when Green Minute visited the spot, the scenario changes depending on the river water level.
However, the company claimed the effluents were treated and then only released to the Kali River. Many crocodiles were seen motionless and basking in the sun while some were moving back and forth in the black waters.
At Dandeli, the river water is neither clear nor clean and looks very black despite the water level being high. Local people said that when the water levels are low, the effluent smell is unbearable and it emanated a foul smell and disturbed them a lot.
Since many villages are literally on the river bank, we could see that they would have to bear the stench and stink if untreated effluents are released from the paper mill into the Kali River. Below in this picture, one can see the dark effluents gnawing away the trees in the river.
It is amazing how the crocodiles have persisted in these effluent waters. According to reptile experts, crocs are a resilient species and can adapt to varying conditions even when treated or untreated effluents are released into the waters. But no long term scientific studies have been done till date on the effect on crocodiles in Kali River.
Added to this, what about the effect on other floral and faunal species in this biodiversity hotspot and that too when this river traverses a tiger reserve? Well, that’s is a million-dollar question?
Naturalists and activists say the foul smell of the effluents released from West Coast Paper Mills Ltd can sometimes be felt till Ganeshgudi. They add, “It is surprising how the crocs have adapted to surviving in these conditions. However, scientific studies are needed to determine the effect of effluents not only on crocodiles but other aquatic species found in the Kali River.”
Rahul Bavaji, former honorary Wildlife Warden, Kali Tiger Reserve & wildlife activist says the more worrying factor here is the habitat loss. The ramp (beneath) built to watch the crocodiles in the crocodile park, used to be a big nesting hole and the crocs used to come here for breeding. Earlier, we could see the crocs laying eggs in this big muddy hole near the Dandelappa Temple but now the situation has completely changed.”
Bavaji adds, “There are two ways one can deduce about this unsolved problem. One theory is crocodiles are more where the effluents are being released and they are even feeding on the pulp. Another theory is due to the effluent release into the Kali River, fishes become drowsy and it is easier for the crocs to prey upon them. But action is needed before the situation gets out of hand.”
There is a rough estimate about the crocodile population and activists say there are about 300-400 in the Kali River. Further, their population is increasing. Local forest officials say the Kali River has a varying population of hundreds of crocodiles and they can be viewed from the Crocodile Park at Dandeli.
Another problem, activists cite is the crocodiles moving towards the river banks and resulting in conflicts with people living nearby. In fact, when Green Minute visited a banana plantation near the river bank, a nine-foot crocodile suddenly jumped from the farm land towards the river – demonstrating the fact that crocs are sheltering and breeding very near to humans. Incidents of conflict and crocodile attacks have been reported in the last few years at Dandeli.
On their part, the West Coast Paper Mills Ltd stress that effluents are being treated before its release into the Kali River. The company stressed that the treated effluent is fit for cultivation and they were transporting the treated water to the fields.
In fact, the treated effluent is being used by farmers for watering their crops while the waste generated by the paper mill is used as a manure by the farmers.
“All efforts are made to completely treat the effluents by following all the standard procedures and then only, it is released into the Kali River,” says Raju Rosaiah, West Coast Paper Mills Ltd.
However, forest sources say although treatment is done during the daytime, during the night time, effluents are surreptitiously let off in the Kali River.
Apart from this, with rising population of crocs, all efforts are made to mitigate croc-human conflicts as many villages were located near the river bank, a forest official said.
Till date, no action has been taken by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to check and monitor the water quality of the Kali River at Dandeli, activists added.
(PHOTO CREDIT: ALL PHOTOS BY MEERA BHARDWAJ @ DANDELI EXCEPT THE SECOND IMAGE BY RAHUL BAVAJI)