ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS OF URBANIZATION IN KANGRA DISTRICT OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2021-07
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation entitled “Environmental implications of urbanization in Kangra District of
Himachal Pradesh” was conducted during the year 2019 and 2020 by considering the varying degree of urbanization in
Municipal Corporation, Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats of Kangra district. The impacts of urbanization on
surface and ground water quality, urban solid waste generation and ecosystem services like water supply, soil carbon
sequestration status, water quality index and waste footprint were assessed. The urban area wise seasonal variation in surface
and ground water quality was evaluated during monsoon and post monsoon months. To communicate water quality
effectively the water quality index was calculated by using 13 parameters. The urban area wise quantification and
characterization of the waste was done by considering three sectors namely residential, commercial and institutional.
Attitudinal behavior of urban habitants towards ecosystem services was also assessed by undertaking the standard survey
with pretested questionnaire. Soil carbon stock in urban settings was also worked out in reference to countryside areas to
assess the impact of urbanization on carbon sequestration in soils. The study pointed out that urbanization has started
impacting surface and ground water quality by unveiling seasonal variations although within the permissible limits. Per
capita urban solid waste was highest in Municipal Corporation (0.275 kg capita-1 day -1) followed by Municipal Council
(0.233 kg capita-1 day -1) and Nagar Panchayat (0.169 kg capita-1 day -1), although it was less than the national average. The
waste footprint varied from 0.001 to 0.027 ha and followed the trend: Municipal Corporation (0.026 ha) > Nagar Panchayat
(0.005 ha) > Municipal Council (0.001 ha). Urban solid waste generation was significantly higher in summer season as
compared to winter season in all the three urban areas. The surface water quality of Municipal Corporation, Municipal
Council and Nagar Panchayat was rated as good and excellent respectively. Surface water quality index followed order:
Nagar Panchayat (25.65) > Municipal Corporation (23.88) > Municipal Council (19.86). The ground water quality of
Municipal Corporation, Nagar Panchayat and Municipal Council was rated as good and excellent respectively. Ground water
quality index followed order: Municipal Corporation (26.47) > Nagar Panchayat (25.64) > Municipal Council (20.36).
During soil carbon stock assessment highest carbon stock was recorded in Municipal Corporation (26.48 Mg C ha-1) which
was significantly higher than Municipal Council (23.84 Mg C ha-1) and Nagar Panchayat (22.24 Mg C ha-1). Interestingly,
attitudinal behavior of the urban dwellers towards payment of ecosystem services was reluctant and were not having
awareness about the benefits they were drawing free of cost from the nature. Further, upon investigating the water sources of
all the urban areas of district Kangra from past 3 decades; it was noticed that the urbanization has severely impacted the
surface and ground water resources. The total number of water sources decreased from 524 to 436 by 2020, i.e., an absolute
decline of 88 water sources since 1990. The increasing urbanization in the district has been projected to enhance water
requirement resulting increase from 24.47 MLD in 2021 to 41.61 MLD in 2051.Thus 1.7 times more water is required to
meet the demand of urban population of Kangra district in 2051. Hence, urbanization has started impacting the ecosystem
services and subsequently, there rises an urgent need to educate the urban dwellers regarding value of ecosystem services, so
that policymakers and planners may undertake conservation to ensure judicious use of resources for sustainable urbanization
in the region.