ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF URBANIZATION IN SOLAN DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2021-01
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Environmental implications of urbanization in Solan District of Himachal Pradesh” was
conducted during the year 2018 and 2019 by considering all the urban areas viz., Arki, Baddi, Nalagarh, Parwanoo and Solan of the district.
The impacts of urbanization on water quality, waste generation its methane and energy emission potential, built-up land footprint,
biocapacity and ecological deficit was assessed. The seasonal variation in surface and ground water quality under five selected urban areas
was evaluated during summer and winter months. To communicate water quality effectively the water quality index was calculated by
using 13 parameters. The seasonal quantification and characterization of the urban solid waste was done by considering three sectors
namely residential, commercial and institutional in each selected urban areas. Urban solid waste potential to emit methane, produce energy
and waste footprint was assessed using standard methodology. The urban sustainability in the district was assessed through ecological
impact analysis by calculating built-up-land footprint, biocapacity and ecological deficit. The study pointed out that the urbanization has
impacted surface water quality however, ground water quality was still in good condition. In surface sources, all water quality parameters
except Pb, Cr, Cd were within the permissible limits. Concentration of heavy metals Pb, Cr, Cd ranged from 0.04 to 0.28 mg l-1, 0.034 to
0.063 mg l-1, 0.002 to 0.008 mg l-1 and were above the permissible limits. Surface water quality index of Parwanoo, Baddi and Nalagarh
was 69, 62, 57 respectively and was categorized as poor. Whereas water quality of Arki (33) and Solan (46) was rated as good. Urban area
wise quantity of waste generated varied from 0.896 to 19.527 t day-1. Per capita solid waste generation ranged from 0.217 to 0.408 kg
capita-1 day-1 and followed the order: Solan (0.408 kg capita-1 day-1) > Baddi (0.368 kg capita-1 day-1) > Nalagarh (0.254 kg capita-1 day-1) >
Parwanoo (0.248 kg capita-1 day-1) > Arki (0.217 kg capita-1 day-1) which was less than the national average. The methane emission in
different urban areas varied from 0.016 to 0.319 Gg yr-1 and followed the order Solan (0.319 Gg yr-1) > Baddi (0.232 Gg yr-1) > Nalagarh
(0.053 Gg yr-1) > Parwanoo (0.045 Gg yr-1) > Arki (0.016 Gg yr-1) which was much less than the national average. Urban area wise energy
potential ranged from 11327.52 KJ kg-1 to 14893.83 KJ kg-1and followed the order: Baddi (14893.83 KJ kg-1) > Parwanoo (13980.41 KJ kg-
1) > Solan (13377.34 KJ kg-1) > Nalagarh (12468.85 KJ kg-1) > Arki (11327.52 KJ kg-1) and is suitable for energy recovery. The waste
footprint varied from 0.002 to 0.035 ha and followed the trend: Solan (0.035 ha) > Baddi (0.025 ha) > Nalagarh (0.006 ha) > Parwanoo
(0.005 ha) > Arki (0.002 ha). The built-upland footprint ranged from 398.604 to 2289.978 gha. Per capita built-upland footprint ranged
from 0.035 to 0.221 gha capita-1 and followed the order: Parwanoo (0.223 gha capita-1) > Arki (0.110 gha capita-1) > Baddi (0.055 gha
capita-1) > Nalagarh (0.043 gha capita-1) > Solan (0.035 gha capita-1).The built-upland biocapacity varied from 350.771 to 2015.181 gha.
Urban area wise built-upland biocapacity varied from 0.031 to 0.195 gha capita-1 and followed the trend: Parwanoo (0.195 gha capita-1) >
Arki (0.098 gha capita-1) > Baddi (0.048 gha capita-1) > Nalagarh (0.037 gha capita-1) > Solan (0.031 gha capita-1). The ecological deficit
ranged from and 47.832 to 276.645 gha. Per capita ecological deficit ranged from 0.004 to 0.027 gha capita-1 and followed the sequence:
Parwanoo (0.027 gha capita-1) > Arki (0.013 gha capita-1) > Baddi (0.007 gha capita-1) > Nalagarh (0.005 gha capita-1) > Solan (0.004 gha
capita-1). The values of built-upland footprint, biocapacity was less than the national average. The present rate of urban solid waste to the
tune of 3.01% annually demands 0.58 ha, 9.02 ha, 2.06 ha, 1.74 ha, 12.67 ha land for Arki, Baddi, Nalagarh, Parwanoo and Solan
respectively, which is further projected to increase to 0.61 ha, 10.60 ha, 2.21 ha, 2.12 ha, 15.52 ha for Arki, Baddi, Nalagarh, Parwanoo and
Solan during 2025 which may lead to unsustainability. Hence, the current pattern of urbanization is unsustainable as indicated by
ecological deficit. Therefore, the current day urbanization calls for a pattern of sustainable development through route of urban renewal and
adoption of environment friendly measures.