Bhubaneswar: Around 100 acres of wetlands are gradually being lost amid garbage and waste in Bhubaneswar, raising concerns over the city’s river systems and groundwater recharge, said social leader Bipin Mohanty, who has been campaigning for the rejuvenation of the Gangua river.

Speaking at the third edition of the Earth Again Conference 2026, organised by Sambad and Ama Odisha, on Saturday, Mohanty questioned when the capital city’s environmental situation would change.

Addressing the session ‘Flowing Futures’ on River Systems at the MKCG Auditorium of Utkal University, Mohanty said Bhubaneswar does not have large-scale industries, yet its rivers and drainage channels are facing pollution.

The session was moderated by Prof. Shreerup Goswami of the Department of Geology, Utkal University.

Mohanty attributed a major part of the pollution to untreated domestic wastewater entering rivers and drains. He said sewage treatment plants are functioning at only around 15 per cent capacity, resulting in household waste being discharged directly into rivers and drainage channels.

He also stressed the importance of preserving wetlands located along the city’s river systems. According to him, rivers may overflow during heavy rains, but drainage channels do not experience flooding in the same manner because wetlands along the river system temporarily hold rainwater.

“These wetlands act as important water-holding areas during the rainy season. If these areas disappear and rainwater is not retained there, groundwater levels will not rise and recharge will suffer,” he said.

Mohanty described the wetlands and river system as a lifeline for Bhubaneswar, warning that their degradation could create serious problems for the city’s water security.

He stressed that protecting the remaining wetlands and restoring the Gangua river system are essential not only for preventing pollution and flooding but also for maintaining groundwater recharge and ensuring adequate water availability for drinking and other needs.