Contamination of Urban India Environment by Hazardous Industries  Kausalya Ramachandran Senior Scientist D. Sai Kiran Research Associate M. Kalpana and M. Purnendu Project Associates CRIDA (ICAR), Santoshnagar, Hyderabad - 500059 Abstract Rapid industrialization, urbanization and development of transport network have added impetus to economic development at the cost of environment. Although such development is integral to economic growth problem lies in their unfettered proliferation in India, leading to severe environmental degradation particularly since 1970. Metropolitan region often act as nodes for concentration of economic and political power resulting in rapid changes in land use / land cover in their neighborhood indicating environmental degradation. Sectoral shift in land use, i.e., from agriculture to urbanization or industrial use are significant indicating decimating role of agriculture in the region and hardship to rural people. Ill-planned industrialization has caused large-scale contamination of natural resources, viz., surface and ground water and soils. Scattered location of hazardous chemical industries in urban areas and meager availability of proper waste management system in Hyderabad, Banglaore, Chennai and Delhi, are primary cause of non-point source pollution in these urban centres. ARCGIS was used in tandem with satellite data (IRS - 1D - LISS III& PAN merged data) to map location of hazardous industries in these urban areas and estimate the spread and direction of flow of contaminants. The pattern and extent of contamination of soil and water was mapped and quantified to facilitate undertaking of remediation plans. Introduction Industrialization has provided livelihood and opportunities to millions in urban India. However, it has also brought in its wake problem of waste disposal, contamination of environment – air, soil, surface water bodies and ground water aquifer etc. which have resulted in contamination hazard imperiling human beings, livestock and plant life. Lack of proper planning in siting of industrial units, inadequate development of infrastructure, and lack of waste management facility etc., have precipitated this debacle, turning most of them into environmental flashpoints. Urgent measures for amelioration, waste management, recycling, waste minimisation, punitive action against defaulters etc., would facilitate halting of damage to ensure recovery (Biswas, 1997). To achieve this objective, an inventory of contaminated sites around hazardous chemical industries was prepared. Firstly, hazardous industries and their locations were listed. Subsequently, the study areas were prioritized based on extent of contamination. Later these sites were studied using satellite data from IRS –1D LISS-III & PAN for assessing change in NDVI. ARCGIS was employed to overlay and analyze soil, geology, drainage pattern, water bodies, ground water aquifers, slope, etc. to estimate pollution hazard and extent of contamination. This strategy facilitated the environmental audit besides assisting in physical and fiscal planning for initiating ameliorative measures. Industries producing inorganic chemicals, fertilizers, dyes, paints, pharmaceuticals and battery were identified as hazardous as their waste is non-degradable and tedious to recycle (GPCB & CPCB 1997). Concentration of these industries in various parts of India, were identified based on the lists provided by various State Pollution Control Board. The present study illustrates the methodology of environmental audit of four metropolitan areas in India – Hyderabad, Banglore, Chennai and Delhi using satellite data and GIS. Study Areas An area of 3062 km2 around Bangalore extending between 12° 55’ - 13° 15’ N and 77° 15’ - 77° 45’ E as depicted by SOI toposheet no. 57G/ 6, 8, 57H/5, 6, 10,12, 13 and 14 was studied. The region comprises of shallow gravelly soils with steep slope inducing severe erosion and also deep well-drained soils (100 cm) suitable for agriculture which makes it highly vulnerable to serious ground water contamination. Around Chennai over 3041 km2 extending from 12° 30’- 13° 15’ N and 79° 45’- 800 30’E (SOI toposheet no. 66C/4, 8, 66D/1,2 and 57P/13) was studied. The region has predominantly alluvial soils with large patches of red, black and laterite soil which are fertile and highly valuable for paddy cultivation; chemical contamination of the region would have severe repercussions. An area of 2760 km2 lying between 77° 00’-77° 30’ E and 280 15’ – 29° 00’ N (SOI topo sheet no. 53H/1, 2, 3 and 6) around Delhi was studied. Alluvial soil and shallow water table owing to R. Yamuna make the region highly vulnerable to widespread chemical contamination. Around Hyderabad an area of 2934 km2 extending between 78° - 78° 45’ E and 17° 15’ - 17° 45’ N (SOI toposheet no. 56 K/2, 6, 7 and 11) was studied. The study area belongs to Deccan plateau and its undulating terrain with red and mixed red soils spotted with numerous water bodies is invaluable to the rural and urban areas and vulnerable to contamination hazard (Kausalya Ramachandran, 2001).
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