B gASSESSMENT OF AIR AND WATER QUALITY UNDER DOMINANT LANDUSES IN MID HILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2019-11
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Assessment of Air and Water Quality under Dominant Land Uses in
Mid Hills of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted during the years 2017 and 2018 in the Department of
Environmental Science, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
The study was undertaken to identify the impacts of dominant land uses namely urban, peri urban, agriculture and
forest on air and water quality. The impact was studied during pre and post monsoon season for air quality and under
three seasons for water quality. The study was conducted throughout the mid hill conditions by taking six locations
which were considered as replications. Accordingly, there were eight and twelve treatment combinations in air and
water quality monitoring experiments which were replicated six times under Randomized Block Design (factorial).
Geospatial mapping of air and water quality status under different land uses was done using ERDAS software. Survey
was also conducted to identify the pollution causing practices in mid hills. The study pointed out that the air quality
parameters like PM10, VOCs, SO2 and NO2 were significantly influenced by land uses of mid hills which ranged from
61.0 to 93.0 µg m-3, 1.20 to 6.80 µg m-3, 1.45 to 7.57 µg m-3 and 11.68 to 40.43 µg m-3, respectively. However, all the
parameters were within the permissible limits. Similarly, land uses also exerted significant influence on surface and
ground water quality. The physical parameters like pH, EC, TDS, Turbidity ranged from 6.45 to 6.77, 0.246 to 0.453
dSm-1, 64.0 to 229.17 mg l-1, 2.95 to 6.98 NTU respectively. The chemical parameters like BOD, COD, DO, Ca, Mg,
NO3-, Cl-ranged from 0.67 to 3.27 mg l-1, 14.2 to 21.6 mg l-1, 2.48 to 5.75 mg l-1, 32.33 to 139.50 mg l-1, 3.13 to 12.67
mg l-1, 0.64 to 3.67 mg l-1, 8.12 to 32.67 mg l-1, respectively. The trace elements like Cd, Cr, Pb, Zn, As ranged from
0.00 to 0.036 mg l-1, 0.001to 0.059 mg l-1, 0.009 to 0.375 mg l-1, 0.002 to 0.325 mg l-1, 0.00 to 0.005 mg l-1
respectively. The physical-chemical parameters of water quality were within the permissible limits prescribed by BIS
and CPCB except for calcium, chromium and lead. The air quality index was in the range of 0-50 and considered
good. The water quality index computed by considering nine quality parameters was in the range 26-50 under forest
land use and was in good category. Whereas, this index was in the range of 51-75 under urban, peri urban and
agriculture land use and was in poor category. The water quality index was in the descending qualityorder of: forest>
peri urban > urban> agriculture. The air and water quality also varied with the seasons in the region.The deterioration
of water quality was more in monsoon season. In mid hills unscientific disposal of waste water and release of
untreated sewage was identified as pollution causing practice in surface water sources under urban and peri urban land
use. Injudicious use of chemicals was major pollution causing practice under agriculture land use. The increased
vehicular activity, road expansion and construction activities in case of urban and peri urban, forest fires and burning
of residues under forest and agriculture land use were the major air pollution causing practices in mid hills. The study
inferred that dominant land uses of mid hills have started impacting air and water quality due to various wrong
practices. However, the effects were more pronounced in case of surface water quality therefore, in order to maintain
the quality of these important natural resources within the safe limits there is urgent need to promote eco friendly
practices while managing the land uses of this region.
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