AGGARWAL, R KBHARDWAJ, ANUJA2021-08-072021-08-072021-07https://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810171528ABSTRACT The present investigation entitled “Assessment of soil, water and air quality status in roads of Shivalik foothills in Himachal Pradesh” was conducted during the year 2018-2019 in the Department of Environmental Science, Dr. YSP University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh. The study aimed to determine the impact of road activities (national highway, state highway and link road) on air, soil and water quality, noise pollution and on the socio-economic conditions of the natives, to assess effect of dust accumulation on leaves as well as air pollution tolerance index of plants growing along the road. To undertake present study three sites (NH, SH and Link Road) were taken for study which further divided into two segments in each road. The observations on different parameters at each site was recorded during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon season. The socio-economic impact of vehicular activities on the natives was observed on the basis of pre-tested questionnaire. The study revealed that SO2, NO2, VOCs and PM10 ranged from 6.16 to 7.86, 32.55 to 44.47, 3.04 to 6.54 and 71.61 to 115.21 μg m-3, respectively. The concentration of PM10 at NH was above the permissible limits. The soil surface pH varied from 7.00 to 7.42, EC from 0.32 to 0.75 dS m-1, OC from 0.37 to 1.48 per cent, respectively. Available NPK content in the soil ranged from 271.79 to 290.99, 26.43 to 40.10 and 184.93 to 212.73.64 kg ha-1, respectively. The concentration of heavy metals Cd, Cr, Pb, As, Cu, Ni and Hg ranged from 0.003 to 0.030, 0.013 to 0.043, 0.27 to 2.47, 0.013 to 0.03, 0.10 to 0.43, 0.013 to 0.047 and 0.22 to 0.84 mg kg-1, respectively. The mean values for the total microbial counts of the sampling site ranged as 35 x 106 CFU/g to 149 x 106 CFU/g, respectively. The surface water pH varied from 6.91 to 7.35, EC from 0.17 to 0.29 dS m-1, TDS from 140.12 to 175.54 mg l-1, turbidity from 2.34 to 3.87 NTU, respectively. BOD and COD ranged from 2.25 to 2.89 and 13.49 to 20.19 mg l-1, respectively. The concentration of chloride and nitrate in the surface water ranged from 14.36 to 30.15 and 3.12 to 4.89 mg l-1, respectively. The heavy metal concentrations, viz. Cd, Cr, Pb, As, Cu and Ni ranged from 0.004 to 0.021, 0.019 to 0.048, 0.021 to 0.049, 0.018 to 0.056, 0.021 to 0.054 and 0.014 to 0.029 mg l-1, respectively. The equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) varied from 45.42 dB (A) to 82.80 dB (A) and noise pollution level (Lnp) varied from 50.91 dB (A) to 86.67 dB (A). Leaf dust was accumulated maximum on the leaves of Dalbergia sisso. The APTI of the selected plant species ranged from 8.23 to 10.76 during premonsoon and 9.03 to 11.09 during post-monsoon. API was in order of Mangifera indica with highest API grade (6) and it was excellent among plants followed by Dalbergia sisso (5) in very good and Ficus palmata (3) in moderate. The road activities significantly affected the natives as NH and SH are connecting routes between tourist places so there was positive as well as negative effects, employment generation and financial upliftment are the key factors considered as benefits whereas, traffic congestion and noise pollution during peak tourist season are the main concern of the nativesEnglishThesis