EPISODAL POLLUTION STUDIES

Groundwater Contamination at Sahibabad Industrial Area

The news item "Effluent Poison Water at 200 ft. in Ghaziabad, Delhi is not safe either" was appeared in the "Times of India" dated 13 th July 2000, which states that the bore well sunk at the depth of about 240 ft. within a beverage unit premises at Sahibabad site IV Industrial Area is yielding groundwater from blood red to lighter shades and the bore wells of some other units in the vicinity also started sweeping reddish water. There are apprehensions that Delhi's water might be affected due to travel of underground water from Ghaziabad area towards Delhi. To ascertain the facts and to decipher the extent of groundwater pollution and its possible source, an investigation was undertaken by CPCB in and around Sahibabad Industrial Area as well as at border belt of Delhi-Ghaziabad to investigate the apprehension of contamination of Delhi's groundwater as a result of underground water travel.

During the investigation, 26 groundwater samples were collected within and around the Sahibabad Industrial Area, while eight groundwater samples were collected from Delhi-Ghaziabad border belt and analysed for various physico-chemical parameters including major/minor constituents, trace metals and bacteriological parameters. Some samples have also been analysed for the pesticides.

The results indicate high electrical conductivity and total dissolved solids. Chlorides in the samples ranged between 34 mg/l to 1741 mg/l depicting higher salinity. Total hardness has been violated in 50% of the groundwater samples collected from the area, while total alkalinity was well within the limit except two samples collected from Ramprastha and Rajinder Nagar. The groundwater depicted absence of total coliforms in five samples and fecal coliforms in 18 samples out of 26 groundwater samples analysed. The total coliforms have been found maximum in hand pump water collected from Sector - 3, Rajinder Nagar. Majority of coliform contamination has been observed in groundwater samples drawn from hand pumps, i.e. from shallow depth aquifer.

The trace metal contents in groundwater samples have been found well within the BIS permissible limits except presence of elevated levels of iron in nine samples, mostly drawn from hand pumps. The organo-chlorine and organo-phosphorus pesticides have been analysed in seven samples, out of which total BHC has been observed in four samples, Dieldrin in two samples, and total DDT and total Endosulphan in one sample each.

The colour of groundwater has been found offensive in five samples. Out of the two samples collected from the premises of M/s Moon Beverages, Sahibabad Industrial Area, one bore well sample was having intense reddish yellow colour with 461 Hazen unit colour intensity against maximum permissible colour intensity of 25 Hazen unit. On the other hand, groundwater samples collected from other tubewells from same premises and sunk at same depth has not depicted any coloured substance in water. It suggests that the presence of coloured substance in water is location specific and not widespread throughout the area.

The physico-chemical characteristsics of groundwater samples collected from Delhi-Ghaziabad Border area indicate overall good groundwater quality confirming the drinking water permissible limits, except one sample collected from Rajput Dhaba, Delhi Border. Total coliforms were found in five samples and fecal coliforms in two samples. The samples drawn from border belt have not depicted any trace metals and pesticides contamination. At may therefore, be concluded that the report regarding alleged effects on Delhi's water quality due to reported contamination at Sahibabad Industrial Area has no substance.

Oil slick in Bay of Bengal

An oil spill in the coastal sea of Bay of Bengal at 10 nautical miles off Hughli river mouth occurred due to sinking of a Fillipino ship "Prime value" on July 26, 2000. Reportedly, a spill amount of about 300 tons of fuel oil formed a slick of 20 m wide and 3 miles long. Immediately after the event a study was undertaken jointly by CPCB and West Bengal Pollution Control Board to assess the impact on coastal ecosystem. The assessment, however, revealed that there was no adverse impact on the coastal ecosystem.

Environmental Study of Cyclone Affected Areas in Orissa

Natural calamity tends to cause huge loss of life, property and environmental degradation of which some are irreparable. In October 1999, unprecedented cyclone has hit Orissa Coast resulting in large damage to the environment of the State. A study was undertaken to assess the main affected components of environment like water and soil. The study revealed the following facts:

• The surface water quality was grossly affected, particularly in Ganjam District. The coliforms level was high.
• The surface water sources are major source of water use in rural Orissa. Although, the disinfection was practiced in post - cyclone period, still a large population was affected due to poor water quality.
• The open dug-well were also found contaminated due to flood and cyclone. Such dug-wells are also used as drinking water source. People were advised to use the water either after disinfection or boiling.
• The soil quality was found to be not affected significantly.
• It was recommended that sufficient safe drinking water need to be provided in such areas to avoid any epidemic.