Latest News
Who Is Taking the Mahanadi’s Sand? Profits, Broken Banks and a River Running Short
Illegal sand mining along the Mahanadi is putting pressure on a river already struggling with declining sediment flows. Despite thousands of enforcement cases and crores of rupees in fines, unauthorised extraction continues, affecting riverbanks, groundwater recharge and the stability of bridges and embankments. Dams upstream have also reduced the…
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Diwali & AQI: What the Numbers Say About Bhubaneswar and Cuttack
Diwali celebrations brought a sharp rise in air pollution across Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, with the capital’s…
Why Odisha’s Fish Are Moving: Warming Seas, Cyclones and a Changing Catch
Odisha’s marine fish catch fell by 15 per cent in 2025, raising concerns among fishing communities already…
Biodiversity
Chilika’s Winter Guests Are Coming Back: What the Bird Census Will Tell Us This Year
Every winter, Chilika Lake welcomes lakhs of migratory birds travelling along the Central Asian Flyway. The January 2026 census recorded more than 11.32 lakh birds across 196 species, with Nalabana witnessing a notable increase in numbers.…
Before the Arribada: What Really Happens at Gahirmatha and Rushikulya
Olive ridley turtles return to Odisha’s coast each year to nest in extraordinary numbers, making Gahirmatha, Rushikulya and the Devi river mouth some of the region’s most important nesting sites. But the 2026 season brought an unexpected…
Odisha’s Threatened Wildlife: Species, Habitats and How We Can Help
Odisha is home to diverse wildlife, from tigers, elephants and Indian gaur in its forests to Irrawaddy dolphins in Chilika Lagoon and olive ridley turtles along its coast. However, habitat loss, poaching, pollution and human-wildlife…
Why a Dead Tree Is Still Alive With Ecological Activity
Dead trees continue to support forest ecosystems long after they stop growing. Standing trunks and fallen logs provide shelter, food and breeding sites for insects, birds, fungi and other organisms. As decomposers break down the wood,…
How Scientists Know Whether a River Is Healthy
A river can look clean and still be unhealthy. Scientists assess river health by measuring dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, nutrients and other water-quality indicators, while also studying aquatic organisms and river habitats. Because…
