EVALUATION OF MICROBIAL LOAD AND SELECTED HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATION IN THE RIVER BEAS (PUNJAB) INDIA

Aim: To analyse the heavy metal contamination and microbial load in upstream (Talwara), midstream (Urmar Tanda) and downstream (Harike Pattan) stretches of the river Beas in Punjab. Methodology: Month-wise samples were collected in triplicate during the period of May to December, 2019. Heavy metal parameters such as Arsenic, Cadmium, Nickel, Lead and Zinc were analysed by Atomic Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry following standard protocol. Microbial load in water samples was calculated in terms of Total Plate Count, Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform as per following standard protocol. Statistical analysis involved calculating Analysis of Variance at 5% significant level (p<0.05). Results: The study revealed that heavy metal parameters like Arsenic, Cadmium, Nickel, Lead and Zinc ranged in mgl from 0.0 to 0.009, 0.0 to 0.02, 0.0 to 0.004, 0.0 to 0.001, and 0.0 to 0.036 respectively. Total Plate Count ranged from 0.32 4 5 -1 -1 x10 to 3.2 x10 cfu ml whereas, Total Coliforms and Faecal Coliforms ranged from 4.0 to 1100 MPN 100 ml and 0.0 to -1 460 MPN 100 ml respectively. The mean concentrations of analysed metals were recorded in the order of Zinc > Cadmium > Arsenic >Nickel >Lead; and most of them were under the permissible limits; however, the presence of faecal coliforms in the water is alarmingly high at Harike Pattan. Interpretation: This investigation revealed that the river Beas water is suitable for supporting aquatic life, bathing, irrigation and other purposes. The microbial load and the heavy metal parameters need to be monitored regularly, so that their adverse effects on living beings or aquatic organisms may be minimized. River stretch near Harike Pattan and Urmar Tanda being an important habitat of endangered freshwater Dolphin (Platanista gangetica minor), Smooth-Coated Otter (Lutrogale perspicilliata) and Ghariyal (Gavialis gangeticus) is more vulnerable to the toxic levels of heavy metals and contamination of faecal coliform.

Assessing Land Use and Land Cover Change in River Beas Floodplain, Punjab

Floodplains are the most fragile ecosystems of the world which attracted the humans since the dawn of civilizations. Due to their resource enrichment, these remained center of attraction to fulfill the socio-economic needs of people. As a result, the natural land cover of these floodplains are under the influence of human induced activities. River Beas Floodplain of Punjab has also witnessed such changes. Human intervention in these landscapes has depleted natural wealth and has altered its land use. Construction of upstream dam and artificial embankments and diversion of water through canals further paved the ways for intensification of land use changes. The outcome of these human actions is that wetlands, barren land, and river channels has reduced. On the other hand, agriculture and settlements recorded a sharp increase in recent decades. The growth of agricultural area and human settlements are putting pressure on the natural resources and depleting the human environment relationship in the floodplain. This study utilized multi-temporal satellite data from Landsat for the classification of land use and land cover.

Water Quality Assessment of River Beas During Winter Season in Himachal Pradesh, India.

Present investigation was carried out in 256 km stretch of river Beas in Himachal Pradesh for analysis of important physical, chemical and biological water quality parameters during winter season. Parameters such as temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, alkalinity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total hardness, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, cadmium, copper, iron, lead, chloride, fluoride, nitrate, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), Colliform and Escherichia coli were analyzed from six sampling stations i.e. Beaskund , Shamshi, Pandohdam, Dharampur, Nadaun and Pongdam in the study area. The analysis of data reveals that turbidity, cadmium and lead, were found to be higher than the acceptable limit prescribed by Bureau of Indian standards (BIS), 2012 for drinking water in India. Colliform and E.coli were present in all the sampling stations of river Beas except at SS-1 and SS-2. All the other physicochemical parameters excepting pH at SS-5 (8.98±0.057) were within the limit prescribed by World Health Organization (WHO), 2011 and BIS, 2012 for drinking water in India.