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Veerji Tikoo , R. K. Verma , Amita Fotedar , B. K. Fotedar

Abstract

Chemical analysis of water flowing in Bichlari Nala was carried out for Ca, Mg, K, Na, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn and Pb. The analysis revealed all cations are below the permissible limits except Fe, Mn and Ni, which are above permissible limits and hence toxic for human consumption. As far as agricultural use of this water is concerned, no element is in higher concentration and hence is non-hazardous for crops. Bicarbonates, sulphates and nitrates, total hardness values are all within safer levels. Turbidity values are higher because of higher rate of erosion in the catchment areas. pH of all the samples is within the permissible limits. SAR (Sodium Absorption Ratio), SSP (Sodium Soluble Percentage) and RSC (Residual Sodium Carbonate) values are too low to cause any type of soil hazard. Proper hygienic filtration and disinfection with chlorine/bromine is recommended to render the waters fit for human consumption. Besides disinfection, vetiver grass needs to be grown abundantly in and around Banihal town and steep hills existing on both the banks of Bichlari stream. This will check fast erosion by binding the soil together and also will screen many of the cations including Fe, Ni and Mn to enter into the solution of the waters. Last, but not the least, is to create mass awareness among the residents of all the villages existing in the areas between Banihal and Ramban towns for maintaining a good sanitation throughout. Deforestation in the catchment areas of Bichlari Nala should be stopped forthwith with strong hands to protect mass wastage, landslides and contamination in waters.

Keywords

Water Quality, Assessment, Bichlari Nala, Jammu & Kashmir

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Amita Fotedar ¹, Bashir Ahmad Loan ², B. K. Fotedar ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, Jammu, J&K, IN
2 Postgraduate Department of Geology, University of Jammu, Jammu, J& K, IN
3 Karam Chand Teachers Training Institute and Academy of Education, Talab-Khatikan, Jammu, IN

Abstract

Twenty water samples of Chenab river in J&K State were subjected to chemical analysis for elements Si, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn and Fe. Out of these elements Si, Mn, Ni, Pb and Fe were found to be above permissible limits. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and pH were present below the recommended permissible limits, and hence the waters can be regarded non-toxic for domestic use. High Pb values in waters can be linked with bad sanitation existing on both the banks of the Chenab river and hence the mass awareness programmes are necessary for maintaining good sanitation throughout the belt to lower down the Pb values of the waters. Adequate forestation in the watershed areas and vetiver grass technology on the high repose slopes are also needed to lower down the high values of Si, Mn, Ni, Pb and Fe of the Chenab water. Vetiver grass will also control higher turbidity values of waters of the Chenab.

Keywords

Chenab River, Water Quality Assessment, Sanitation, Domestic Use, Permissible Limit.

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Amita Fotedar ¹, Anil Kumar Raina ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Jammu University, Jammu, J&K, IN

Abstract

Two major notorious landslides occur in the Bani-Basholi road in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir State. Among many other causes such as deforestation, high relief and brittle nature of rocks, the main cause of landslides revealed from the field investigation, was great water ingress present in rocks in the form of springs, nallas and snow cover by way of glaciers on top cliffs. Great water ingress is also confirmed by chemical analysis and also by thin section studies of sediments of both the landslides. The problem gets compounded during excessive rains when phyllite-slaty and quartzitic rocks develop shear joints, resulting in breaking apart big rock blocks from the main mass turning into huge scree material and finally getting accumulated on the road. For mitigation of the landslides restraining structures and shaft work at vulnerable points in the crown portion is needed. Trees with long ischolar_mains in the watersheds and also vetiver grass should be grown in the whole belt from Bani to Kardoo as a soil binder to check mass wastage. Breast walls with weep holes along roadside from Bani to Kardoo are very much needed. Besides these measures for the two slides, a special method for the proper disposal of runoff in case of Kardoo landslide, where ingress of water is many times more than Bani, is suggested. Runoff in this method is disposed off by digging wells radially and correcting the same to the horizontal tunnels (Tunaki model).

Keywords

Environmental Degradation, Bani Landslide, Kardoo Landslide, Kathua District, J & K State.

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Amita Fotedar ¹, R. K. Verma ², B. K. Fotedar ³

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Jammu University, Jammu, J&K, IN
2 Govt. Gandhi Memorial Science College, Canal Road, Jammu, J&K, IN
3 Modern Academy, Mohalla Dalpatiyan, Jammu-180 001, J&K, IN

Abstract

The waters of Shivkhori stream, Raunra Tawi khad and Thanna Tawi khad stream of Kalakot area, Rajouri district, J&K state were subjected to analysis by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry for elements Si, Al, Fe, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Mn, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr. All the elements except Si and Al were present within permissible limits in all the samples according to Bureau of Indian Standards and WHO. Aluminium is objectionable in four out of the 15 samples analysed, and silicon is present more than the permissible limits in all the samples. A good afforestation programme together with adopting Vetiver technology in the watershed areas of the region will screen out many of the elements including Al and Si not to enter the solution of the waters. Nitrates, sulphates, chlorides, bicarbonates, TDS and total hardness (TH) are all within the prescribed limits, and hence with respect to all these parameters, the waters are safe to be used for human consumption and also for agricultural use. SAR and SSP values of all the samples are within the prescribed limits, and hence the waters cannot be considered to create any harm as far as agricultural use is concerned. The waters of all the three streams are recommended to be subjected to chlorine/bromine disinfection to render the same safe for human consumption. Last, but not the least, attention needs to be paid towards bad sanitation prevailing near the banks of all the streams, which needs to be improved upon.

Keywords

Physico-Chemical Studies, Streams, Jammu Himalayas, Geological Sucession, Murree, SAR.

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