Bhubaneswar, 3 December (H.S.) : In a significant move to enforce accountability, the Odisha government has announced that departmental officials will be held directly responsible if river water within their jurisdiction is found polluted. Forest, Environment & Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singh Khuntia informed the State Assembly of the decision on Wednesday.

In a written reply, the Minister stated that river water quality is tested once every three months, and strict action has been mandated against officers who fail to ensure continuous monitoring. Officials who do not conduct regular water testing will face a penalty of losing one month’s salary.

Khuntia admitted that despite ongoing efforts, river water pollution remains a serious concern in several areas. “We cannot say river water is clean everywhere. Waste from processing units continues to enter rivers. Continuous testing has been instructed, and if departmental officers fail in their duty, one month’s salary will be withheld,” he said.

According to the Minister, pollution caused by industrial discharge, solid waste and untreated sewage continues to affect multiple river stretches across the state.

A day earlier, the government had confirmed that river water at 16 locations across Odisha remains polluted, based on the latest assessments. The affected stretches include the Kathajodi in Cuttack, Daya river and Gangua nullah in Bhubaneswar, Kushabhadra near Bhingarapur in Gop, and the Brahmani river and Guradi nullah in Rourkela.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda