Natural Resources : Orissa

Orissa is endowed with plenty of natural resources including forests, rivers and minerals.


Rivers

There are four groups of rivers flowing through Orissa into the Bay of Bengal. These are:

1. Rivers having source outside the state – the Subarnarekha, the Brahmani and the Mahanadi
2. Rivers having source inside the state – the Budhabalanga, the Baitarini, the Salandi, and the Rushikulya
3. Rivers having source inside the state but flow through other states – Bahudu, the Vansadhara, and the Nagavali
4. Rivers having a source inside Orissa, but tributary to rivers which flow through other states – the Machkund, the Sileru, the Kolab, and the Indravati.

Apart from these important rivers, there are so many small rivers flowing through the state. The two lakes i.e. Chilka and Ansupa and several waterfalls are sources of attractions for numerous visitors.


Wildlife

Orissa covers a total forest area of 58,136.23 Sq. Kms. These un-spoilt natural landscapes offer natural habitat to the state’s incredible wildlife. There are many wildlife sanctuaries in Orissa. The Similipal Tiger Reserve is a vast expanse of lush green forest with waterfalls, inhabited by tigers, elephants, and other wildlife. The Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary has been protecting estuarine crocodiles since 1975.


Minerals

The State of Orissa is endowed with vast mineral deposits like coal, iron-ore, manganese-ore, bauxite, chromites, etc. According to All India Mineral Resources Estimates, the mineral deposits of Orissa in respect of chromites, nickel, cobalt, bauxite, and iron-ore were about 98.4%, 95.1%, 77.5%, 52.7% and 33.4% respectively of the total deposits of India. The total deposit of minerals is given below.

Mineral Reserves in Orissa (in million tonne)

• Bauxite 1733
• Base Metal 9
• Chromite 183
• Chinaclay 311
• Coal 49406
• Dolomite 889
• Fireclay 178
• Graphite 2.2
• Iron ore 4200
• Kyanite & Sillimanite 1.4
• Limestone 1609
• Manganese ore 119
• Mineral sands 82
• Pyrophyllite 8.6
• Nickel ore 270
• Quartz & Quartzite 93
• Tale / Steatite 0.8
• Tin ore 0.01
• Vanadiferrous 4