There has been necessary to assess the cumulative effects of pollution Sources on river rather only assessment of each human activity and project in isolation. Based on availability of data and time constraint, study of three valued environmental components river water quality, river flow and fluid plain was carried out. This study aims for assessing the cumulative impacts of point Source discharges in river Ganga catchment from Haridwar to Garhmukteshwar (160 km) on these valued environmental components by using different methods such as for water quality, water quality modeling software QUAL2K, and for river flow, modified tenant and flow duration curve shifting methods for the assessment of environmental flow in river stretch. While for flood plain valued environmental component, qualitative method (matrix method) have been used for assessment of cumulative impact of various activities on flood plain VEC. The result shown that QUAL2K model simulation for future prediction during non-monsoon period River stretch will be affected due to severe degradation of water quality at various sites. Environmental flow assessment using hydrological methods (modified tennat method and flow duration curve shifting method) revealed that in months of lean flow river flows do not meet the requirement of minimal flow required to maintain the river environment in desirable state. Impacts on flood plain valued ecosystem component as another VEC shows that river flood plain was also severely affected.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. STUDY AREA
3. METHODOLOGY
4. CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT
4.1 River flow Valued Environmental Component
4.2 Methodologies for assessment of environmental flows requirement
4.3 Cumulative Impact Assessment Method for Flood Plain VEC
5. RESULT
5.1 Environmental flow assessment of river Ganga from Haridwar to Garhmukteshwar
5.1.1 Modified Tennat Methodor Tessman method
5.2 Flow Duration Curve Shifting Method
5.3 Cumulative impact on river flow Valued Environmental Component
5.4 Cumulative Impacts on Flood Plain VEC
5.5 Cumulative impacts on water quality valued environmental component
6. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Focus
This study aims to assess the cumulative impacts of point source discharges on the river Ganga, specifically focusing on three valued environmental components (VECs): water quality, river flow, and the flood plain. The research addresses how rapid urbanization and industrialization negatively affect these components within the 160 km stretch between Haridwar and Garhmukteshwar.
- Assessment of water quality changes using the QUAL2K modeling software.
- Evaluation of environmental flow requirements via hydrological methods (Modified Tennat and Flow Duration Curve Shifting).
- Qualitative impact assessment on flood plain VECs using a matrix-based methodology.
- Analysis of the catchment's anthropogenic pressures, including industrial waste and urban pollution.
- Comparison of current river flow data against required environmental standards to identify deficits.
Excerpt from the Book
INTRODUCTION
The three major Indian rivers namely the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra originate from Himalayas of which Ganga basin covers the largest catchment areain India, the basin lies between East longitudes 73° 30’ and 89° 0’ and North latitudes of 22° 30’ to 31° 30’India (Status Paper, 2009). It constitute 26% of the country's land mass (8, 61,404 Sq. km) and support about 43% of its population or 448.3 million (Census, 2001). Cumulative impacts are “impacts on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency (federal or non-federal) or person undertake such other actions”(Council of Environmental Quality, 1997). Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor, but collectively significant, action taking place over a period of time.”Incremental impact of the action refers to the direct and indirect effects (impacts) of the proposed the action on resources, ecosystems, and human communities; also inferred is that such incremental effects from considering alternatives should also be addressed (Power, 1996). Cumulative effects can occur in various ways: physical-chemical transport, nibbling loss, spatial and temporal crowding, andgrowth-inducing potential etc.Valued Ecosystem Component (VEC) is an important component in CEs which meansany component or resource of the environment that is considered important by the proponent, public, scientists and government involved in the assessment process like indicator and thresholds values of Indicators (Canter and Atkinson, 2009). A cumulative effect assessment requires large number of variables and qualitative analysis mainly but has greater uncertainty associated with it. Due to rapid urbanization and faster industrialization, the abstraction of water from surface as well as ground together with waste water disposed in the river treated as well as untreated leads to the serious problem of pollution in the river Ganga. Though the individual impact of cities and industries are seen immediately near the stretch of river Ganga, their cumulative impacts needs to be studied and analyses. A number of studies regarding pollution aspects of river Ganga and its tributaries have been carried out by different workers from, Wildlife Institute of India (2012), Kota, S.K., 2012, Prasanta, K., 2013 etc.
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: Defines the scope of the Ganga river basin and the significance of assessing cumulative environmental impacts from urbanization and industrialization.
STUDY AREA: Details the specific 160 km stretch of the river Ganga between Bhimgauda barrage and Garhmukteshwar, including geographical data and population statistics.
METHODOLOGY: Outlines the steps for identifying key environmental issues, selecting Valued Ecosystem Components, and establishing the framework for cumulative impact assessment.
CUMULATIVE IMPACT ASSESSMENT: Explains the scientific approach to modeling water quality and selecting hydrological methods to evaluate river flow and flood plain conditions.
RESULT: Presents findings from the QUAL2K water quality simulations, the application of the Modified Tennat Method, and the matrix analysis of flood plain impacts.
CONCLUSION: Summarizes the findings, noting that current river conditions will likely degrade by 2034 and that existing flows do not meet environmental requirements.
Keywords
environmental component, river Ganga, cumulative impacts, VEC, QUAL2K, hydrological methods, Modified Tennat Method, Flow Duration Curve, water quality, flood plain, industrial waste, environmental flow, river discharge, urbanization, pollution assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research?
The research focuses on the cumulative impact assessment of point source discharges on the river Ganga within the stretch from Haridwar to Garhmukteshwar, evaluating how human activities affect water quality, flow, and flood plains.
What are the key environmental components analyzed in this study?
The study examines three specific Valued Ecosystem Components (VECs): river water quality, river flow, and the physical integrity of the flood plain.
What is the core objective of the work?
The primary objective is to assess the cumulative environmental effects of human activities and industrial projects in the Ganga catchment, rather than evaluating individual impacts in isolation.
Which scientific methods are employed for this assessment?
The study uses the QUAL2K software for water quality modeling, the Modified Tennat Method and Flow Duration Curve Shifting for environmental flow, and a matrix method for qualitative flood plain assessment.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body details the methodology, study area characteristics, application of modeling software, comparison of hydrological flow data, and the qualitative assessment of human activity impacts on the flood plain.
Which keywords define this publication?
Key terms include environmental component, river Ganga, cumulative impacts, VEC, QUAL2K, hydrological methods, and river discharge.
What is the significance of the "lean flow" months identified in the study?
The study highlights that during the lean flow months (December to March), the actual discharge at the Garhmukteshwar outlet fails to meet the minimum required environmental flow established by the hydrological models.
How does the study evaluate the impact of urbanization on the flood plain?
The impact is evaluated using a matrix method that maps various human activities (such as waste disposal and mining) against components of the flood plain to identify qualitative connections and cumulative effects.
What projection does the author make regarding the river's water quality by 2034?
Based on the QUAL2K simulation, the author concludes that water quality will significantly degrade by 2034, with BOD levels exceeding 3 and DO levels dropping below 6, making the water unsuitable for bathing.
- Citar trabajo
- Prabhakar Shukla (Autor), 2014, Cumulative Impact Assessment on River Ganga from Hardiwar to Garhmukteshwar with Focus on Point Source Discharges, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/283774
