Microplastics, oil and grease harming Puri's water: PCB report

Time of India

2 days ago

Bhubaneswar: Plastic waste dumped by tourists into the sea, oil and grease from marine vessels, and coastal erosion due to unregulated development are all contributing to Puri's water quality index (WQI) dropping to poor category, the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) said in a new report.
Puri's WQI score slipped from 51 in 2023 to 37 in 2024, the recently released coastal health status report (2022-2024) revealed, calling for corrective measures.
Experts analysing the report pointed out that measures like sewage treatment and ecosystem restoration programmes should be taken up.
"Its (Puri) WQI is slightly below the permissible limit, which is why it is under the poor category. But it is not alarming and can in no way affect bathing.
But measures should be taken up at the earliest," said chief environmental scientist (SPCB) Niranjan Mallick.
The study focused on the entire 480 km of coastal stretch through a network of 91 designated coastal monitoring stations and 58 identified coastal outfall locations. The study covered three distinct hydrological phases — pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon, it said.
"There was temporal variation in the contribution of key water quality parameters to the estuarine sea ecosystem condition in Puri district over three years.
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In 2022, there was a moderate level of pollutants and heavy metals (Pb, Fe, Mn) in the water, indicating a balanced condition. In 2023, parameters like DO and pH became less prominent, indicating deterioration of baseline water quality. But in 2024, faecal coliform and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) became prominent, indicating a marked increase in organic and microbial pollution," the govt report said.
The in-depth coastal health report also included the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) status of Olive Ridley turtles as vulnerable, and Irrawaddy and humpback dolphins as endangered. "Untreated sewage discharge from urban centres and peri-urban zones, especially during the peak pilgrimage season, is hugely responsible," it further said.
Additionally, it said agricultural run-off from the Daya and Bhargavi river basins introduces excessive nitrates and phosphates. The study specifically pointed out major anthropogenic factors in Puri.