Potential environmental pollution hazards by coal based power plant at Jhansi (UP) India

Coal, a fossil fuel, is the largest source of energy for the generation of electricity in India. In order to study the potential environmental hazards by coal based power plants, particulate matters were collected using Stack Monitoring Kit and gaseous pollutants by Automatic Flue Gas Analyzer. The morphological and chemical properties, mineralogical composition and particle size distributions have been determined by SEM–EDX, XRD and CILAS. The data revealed the presence of particulate matters, SO₂, NOx in the range of 236–315, 162–238, 173–222 mg/Nm³ respectively. The emission of CO₂ was in the range of 43,004–60,115 Nm³/h with an average of 52,830 Nm³/h. Among the elements, Fe > Mn > Al > Zn > B > Ni > Cr > Cu were present in substantially higher proportion than Pb > Mo > Cd > Se > As > Hg. It was found that most of the elements were concentrated on fly ash surface rather than coal, bottom ash and pond ash. This variation may be attributed to the fineness of fly ash particles with large surface ratio to mass. Mineralogical studies of coal and fly ash by X-ray diffraction revealed the presence of mullite, quartz, cristobalite and maghemite. Presence of mullite and quartz found in fly ash indicate the conversion of complex minerals to mullite and quartz at high temperature. Transfer Coefficient was calculated to determine the ratio of the enrichment of trace elements in fly or bottom ash with respect to coal and pond ash.     

Geochemistry of groundwater,Burdwan District,West Bengal,India

Hydrogeochemical investigations are carried out in the different blocks of Burdwan district, West Bengal, India in order to assess its suitability for drinking as well as irrigation water purpose. Altogether 49 representative groundwater samples are collected from bore wells and the water chemistry of various ions viz. Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, CO₃²⁻, HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ are carried out. The chemical relationships in Piper and Gibbs diagram suggest that the groundwater mainly belongs to alkali type and Cl⁻ group and are controlled by rock dominance. A comparison of groundwater quality in relation to drinking water quality standards proves that most of the water samples are suitable for drinking water purpose whereas groundwater in some areas of the district has high salinity and high sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), indicating unsuitability for irrigation water and needs adequate drainage.     

Study of subsurface geology in locating arsenic-free groundwater in Bengal delta,West Bengal,India

Over a large area of the Bengal delta in West Bengal, India, arsenic distribution patterns in groundwater were studied. One hundred and ten boreholes at different target locations were made, subsurface sediments were logged and analysed, and arsenic values in sediments vis-à-vis groundwater were compared. The study elucidates the subsurface geology of the western part of Bengal delta and characterises the sediments that were intersected in different boreholes with contrasting values of arsenic in groundwater. It reveals an existence of multiple aquifers stacked over each other. Depending on the color and nature of aquifer-sands and their overlying clay beds six aquifer types (Type-1 to Type-6) are classified and described. Sediment-arsenic for all the varieties of aquifer sands are near similar but the groundwater-arsenic of these six aquifers varies widely. Type-2 and Type-5 aquifers host arsenic-contaminated groundwater whereas the other four aquifers are arsenic-free. Type-2 and Type-5 aquifers are capped by a grey to dark grey soft organic matter-rich clay unit which makes these aquifers semi-confined to leaky-confined. These contribute in releasing arsenic from the sediments. The results of this study are employed in a proposed georemedial measure against this hazardous toxic element.     

Geochemical evolution of groundwater in southern Bengal Basin: The example of Rajarhat and adjoining areas,West Bengal,India

Detailed geochemical analysis of groundwater beneath 1223 km² area in southern Bengal Basin along with statistical analysis on the chemical data was attempted, to develop a better understanding of the geochemical processes that control the groundwater evolution in the deltaic aquifer of the region. Groundwater is categorized into three types: ‘excellent’, ‘good’ and ‘poor’ and seven hydrochemical facies are assigned to three broad types: ‘fresh’, ‘mixed’ and ‘brackish’ waters. The ‘fresh’ water type dominated with sodium indicates active flushing of the aquifer, whereas chloride-rich ‘brackish’ groundwater represents freshening of modified connate water. The ‘mixed’ type groundwater has possibly evolved due to hydraulic mixing of ‘fresh’ and ‘brackish’ waters. Enrichment of major ions in groundwater is due to weathering of feldspathic and ferro-magnesian minerals by percolating water. The groundwater of Rajarhat New Town (RNT) and adjacent areas in the north and southeast is contaminated with arsenic. Current-pumping may induce more arsenic to flow into the aquifers of RNT and Kolkata cities. Future large-scale pumping of groundwater beneath RNT can modify the hydrological system, which may transport arsenic and low quality water from adjacent aquifers to presently unpolluted aquifer.     

Deeper groundwater chemistry and geochemical modeling of the arsenic affected western Bengal basin,West Bengal,India

A regional scale hydrogeochemical study of a ∼21,000-km² area in the western Bengal basin shows the presence of hydrochemically distinct water bodies in the main semiconfined aquifer and deeper isolated aquifers. Spatial trends of solutes and geochemical modeling indicate that carbonate dissolution, silicate weathering, and cation exchange control the major-ion chemistry of groundwater and river water. The main aquifer water has also evolved by mixing with seawater from the Bay of Bengal and connate water. The isolated aquifers contain diagenetically altered water of probable marine origin. The postoxic main aquifer water exhibits overlapping redox zones (metal-reducing, sulfidic and methanogenic), indicative of partial redox equilibrium, with the possibility of oxidation in micro-scale environments. The redox processes are depth-dependent and hydrostratigraphically variable. Elevated dissolved As in the groundwater is possibly related to Fe(III) reduction, but is strongly influenced by coupled Fe–S–C redox cycles. Arsenic does not show good correlations with most solutes, suggesting involvement of multiple processes in As mobilization. The main river in the area, the Bhagirathi–Hoogly, is chemically distinctive from other streams in the vicinity and probably has little or no influence on deep groundwater chemistry. Arsenic in water of smaller streams (Jalangi and Ichamati) is probably introduced by groundwater discharge during the dry season.     

Palaeocurrent and environmental implications from anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS): a case study from Talchir and Barakar formations,Raniganj Basin,West Bengal,India

Oriented cylindrical cores of rock samples were collected from the Talchir and Barakar formations of the Lower Gondwana Supergroup of the Raniganj Basin exposed in and around Kalyaneshwari and Maithon areas. The cores (2.54 cm diameter and 2.2 cm height) were studied in the low field anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) measurement to determine the nature of magnetic fabrics, to correlate it with the sedimentological characteristics and to determine the palaeocurrent patterns. The results derived from the statistical parameters (especially the q-factor), the shapes of the susceptibility ellipsoids and directional data of the AMS indicate that the magnetic fabrics within the studied units are primary (depositional) and are correlatable form the palaeoenvironmental features. The orientation of the maximum (K₁), intermediate (K₂) and minimum (K₃) susceptibility axes is dispersed on the lower hemisphere equal area diagram rather than strong clusters which is not because of secondary (tectonic) influence but due to the moderate to high-energy environment of deposition of the sediments in the studied units. Based on the q-factor (which is 0.581 for Barakar Formation and 0.565 for Talchir Formation which are both <?0.7), it is suggested the AMS indicates that the imbrication of the K₁ axis is the indicator of palaeocurrent. Also, the magnetic foliation (average value?=?1.255) exceeds the magnetic lineation (average value?=?1.107) and the shape parameter exceeds 0 in most cases pointing towards an oblate fabric. The palaeocurrent in the present study as indicated by the K₁ axis imbrication is very similar in both the units under study and is due SW. However, apart from this precise palaeocurrent direction, there exists a certain degree of randomness of the susceptibility axes which are very clear indication of corresponding depositional environments.     

Implementing Vetiver grass-based riverbank protection programmes in rural West Bengal,India

The largely impoverished rural communities of India are unable to bear the costs involved in creating and maintaining substantial structural measures for riverbank protection. The monsoonal nature of the country’s streams and an agrarian economy based on intensive cultivation further heighten the risk posed by annual peak flows and shifting stream courses. Mitigating this requires urgent, sustainable and cost-effective means of conserving valuable farmlands and stabilising channel boundaries. Towards this, riverbank erosion mitigation using Vetiver grass has been a recent development in the country and has been experimented with in a few areas. In this article, we examine how such riparian buffers are created through riverbank modification, planted and nurtured and the effectiveness of the grass in mitigating erosion, taking a small case study from rural West Bengal as an example. We especially focus on the government policies and frameworks and local stakeholder involvements that facilitate such an undertaking, with particular emphasis on the organisational workflow and the ground-level perception of such endeavours, as these are crucial to the success and effectiveness of such schemes. The marked successes achieved through the use of the Vetiver grass in abating erosion and the hindrances encountered in implementing such mitigation projects are outlined, along with the importance of such community-based approaches to river management and monitoring. This case study can be a microcosm for similar such endeavours, particularly in the rural global south.

     

Analysis of eve-teasing potential zones using geospatial technologies and AHP: a study in Midnapore town,West Bengal,India

GeoJournal - Application of geospatial technologies in criminological study is most relevant in present day context. Crime mapping with the help of Geographical Information System is being a very...     

Rapid erosion of the coast of Sagar island, West Bengal - India

The coastal zone of the Sagar island has been studied. The island has been subjected to erosion by natural processes and to a little extent by anthropogenic activities over a long period. Major landforms identified in the coastal area of the Sagar island are the mud flats/salt marshes, sandy beaches/dunes and mangroves. The foreshore sediments are characterized by silty, slightly sandy mud, slightly silty sand and silty sand. Samples 500 m inland from high waterline are silty slightly sandy mud, and by clayey slightly sandy mud. The extent of coastline changes are made by comparing the topographic maps of 1967 and satellite imageries of 1996, 1998 and 1999. Between 1967 and 1999 about 29.8 km² of the island has been eroded and the accreted area is only 6.03 km². Between 1996 and 1998 the area underwent erosion of 13.64 km² while accretion was 0.48 km². From 1998 to 1999, 3.26 km² additional area was eroded with meager accretion. Erosion from 1997 to 1999 was estimated at 0.74 km² /year; however, from 1996 to 1999, the erosion rate was calculated as 5.47 km²/year. The areas severely affected by erosion are the northeastern, southwestern and southeastern faces of the island. As a consequence of coastal erosion, the mud flats/salt marshes, sandy beaches/dunes and mangroves have been eroded considerably. Deposition is experienced mainly on the western and southern part of the island. The island is built primarily by silt and clay, which can more easily be eroded by the waves, tides and cyclonic activities than a sandy coast. Historic sea level rises accompanied by land subsidence lead to differing rates of erosion at several pockets, thus periodically establishing new erosion planes.     

Regional hydrostratigraphy and groundwater flow modeling in the arsenic-affected areas of the western Bengal basin, West Bengal, India

The first documented interpretation of the regional-scale hydrostratigraphy and groundwater flow is presented for a ～21,000-km² area of the arsenic-affected districts of West Bengal [Murshidabad, Nadia, North 24 Parganas and South 24 Parganas (including Calcutta)], India. A hydrostratigraphic model demonstrates the presence of a continuous, semi-confined sand aquifer underlain by a thick clay aquitard. The aquifer thickens toward the east and south. In the south, discontinuous clay layers locally divide the near-surface aquifer into several deeper, laterally connected, confined aquifers. Eight 22-layer model scenarios of regional groundwater flow were developed based on the observed topography, seasonal conditions, and inferred hydrostratigraphy. The models suggest the existence of seasonally variable, regional, north–south flow across the basin prior to the onset of extensive pumping in the 1970s. Pumping has severely distorted the flow pattern, inducing high vertical hydraulic gradients across wide cones of depression. Pumping has also increased total recharge (including irrigational return flow), inflow from rivers, and sea water intrusion. Consequently, downward flow of arsenic contaminated shallow groundwater appears to have resulted in contamination of previously safe aquifers by a combination of mechanical mixing and changes in chemical equilibrium.     

Palynological evidence for Jurassic strata in the Panagarh area, West Bengal, India

The Rajmahal Traps were discovered in the Panagarh area, West Bengal, during the exploration for coal resources. A Gondwana succession was found beneath the traps, consisting of the Early Cretaceous Intratrappean Rajmahal Formation, the Early Triassic Panchet Formation and the Late Permian coal-bearing Raniganj Formation. The present palynological study was aimed at confirming the age of the Panchet Formation. As a result of this study it has been found that Jurassic sediments are also included in the Panchet Formation. The study has revealed that the Panchet Formation, defined on a lithological basis, is a time-transgressive unit extending from the Early Triassic to the Late Jurassic, with a phase of non-deposition between the Middle Triassic and Middle Jurassic.     

Geologic framework and isotope tracing of the arsenious Quaternary Aquifer of the southwestern North Bengal Plain,West Bengal,India

The aim of the paper is to understand the geological control of groundwater, the recharge sources, the relative age of groundwater and the interaction between surface water and groundwater of the southwestern part of North Bengal Plain in the alluvium filled gap between the Rajmahal hills on the west and the Garo hills on the east. The area is covered by Quaternary alluvia of two different ages, viz. the Older Alluvium and the Newer Alluvium. The Older Alluvium of Pleistocene age is made up of argillaceous bed reddish brown in color and interspread with ‘kankar’ and laterite debris and the Newer Alluvium is dark, loosely compacted and has a high moisture content. A hydrostarigraphic model of the top 120 m geological column has been built by direct field observation, constructing Fence diagram, lithofacies and isotope analyses. The model indicates an oscillating environment of deposition of sediments from bottom to top with oxidizing at the bottom followed by reducing and then oxidizing environment at the top. The hydrogeochemistry of groundwater also suggests a predominantly reducing condition of the aquifer with high HCO₃ ⁻, low SO₄ ²⁻ and NO₃ ⁻ concentrations. The shallow groundwater at places contains heavy metals such as copper, cadmium, manganese, iron, chromium and arsenic. The δ¹⁸O and tritium values of groundwater are within the range of monsoon precipitation composition which indicates that groundwater is probably recharged primarily from precipitation. The plots of δ¹⁸O and δD show slight deviation from the Local Mean Water Lines suggesting that some evaporation of rainfall occurs prior to or during infiltration. Therefore groundwater occurs under unconfined condition. Lithofacies analysis indicates that the sediments below the depth of 40 m are the potential water bearing formation. Depletion or enrichment of δ¹⁸O and δD with depth was not observed and tritium content is also similar at various depths indicating possibility of mixing of groundwater from various depths due to pumping which may lead to contamination of the deeper aquifer by heavy metals and arsenic.     

A laboratory batch study on arsenic sorption and desorption on guava orchard soils of Baruipur,West Bengal,India

Groundwater contaminated with arsenic (As), when extensively used for irrigation, causes potentially long term detrimental effects to surface soils. Such contamination can also directly affect human health when irrigated crops, such as rice, vegetable and fruits, are used for human consumption. Therefore, an understanding of the sorption and desorption behavior of As in surface soils is of high importance, because these processes regulate the bioavailability of As in the soil environment. In this study, we have collected soils from guava orchards of Baruipur, West Bengal, and characterized soil chemistry and batch sorption and desorption behavior in the laboratory. The sorption and desorption behavior of As in the soils were examined using the Langmuir and Freundlich sorption equation. Regression analysis of the soil chemical characteristics and sorption equation parameters were also performed. The results suggest that the sorption behavior of arsenate is highly dependent on soil characteristics, specifically organic carbon, clay and Al₂O₃ content of the soils. Whereas desorption behavior is critically influenced by the presence of high concentrations of amorphous and/or crystalline Fe₂O₃ in the soils. Retention of the significant portion of As in the soils (~ 84% of the total) suggests that As in the orchard soils may not be highly bioavailable to plants for uptake. However, more detailed studies will be required to ascertain the role of individual soil components on the As sorption and desorption processes.     

Political ecology of groundwater: the contrasting case of water-abundant West Bengal and water-scarce Gujarat, India

Three apparently disparate themes (groundwater, farmers and politics) interweave in this account of how groundwater-related policies in India have very little to do with the scarcity, depletion or quality of groundwater, and more to do with rural politics manifested, among other things, in terms of the presence or absence of farmer lobbies. Examples from two states of India, the water-abundant state of West Bengal and water-scarce state of Gujarat, were investigated using readily available data, analysis of the literature, interviews and fieldwork. In the case of West Bengal, although there is no pressing groundwater crisis, the government of West Bengal (GOWB) was able to successfully implement strict groundwater regulations along with a drastic increase in electricity tariff. More importantly, GOWB was able to implement these without any form of visible farmer protest, though these measures negatively affected farmer incomes. On the other hand, in Gujarat, where there is a real and grave groundwater crisis, the government of Gujarat has neither been able to implement strict groundwater regulations, nor has it been able to increase electricity tariff substantially. Thus, through the lens of ‘political ecology’ the contrasting case of these two Indian states is explained.

Hydrochemical framework of the aquifer in and around East Kolkata Wetlands,West Bengal,India

The area lies between Hugli river in the northwest and Bidyadhari river in the east and includes the East Kolkata Wetlands. The East Kolkata Wetlands is included in the List of Wetlands of International Importance (“Ramsar List”), as per the Convention on Wetlands signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. This wetland has been declared as a Ramsar site on the 19th August 2002 (Ramsar site no. 1208) and therefore has acquired an international status. The area is a part of the lower deltaic plain of the Bhagirathi–Ganga river system and is generally flat in nature. The sub-surface geology of the area is completely blanketed by the Quaternary fluviatile sediments comprising a succession of clay, silty clay, sand and sand mixed with occasional gravel. The Quaternary aquifer is sandwiched between two clay sequences. The confined aquifer is made up of moderately well sorted sand and reflects fluviatile environment of deposition. The regional groundwater flow direction is from east to west. Detailed geochemical investigations of 40 groundwater samples along with statistical analysis (for example, correlation and principal component analysis) on these chemical data reveal: (i) four types of groundwater quality, for example, good, poor, very poor and water unsuitable for drinking purpose, (ii) four hydrochemical facies which may be assigned to three broad types such as “fresh”, “blended”, and “brackish” waters, (iii) the evolution of the “blended” water is possibly due to hydraulic mixing of “fresh” and “brackish” waters within the aquifer matrix and/or in well mixing, and (iv) absence of Na–Cl facies indicates continuous flushing of the aquifer.     

Temporal variations in arsenic concentration in the groundwater of Murshidabad District,West Bengal,India

Systematic investigations on seasonal variations in arsenic (As) concentrations in groundwater in both space and time are scarce for most parts of West Bengal (India). Hence, this study has been undertaken to investigate the extent of As pollution and its temporal variability in parts of Murshidabad district (West Bengal, India). Water samples from 35 wells were collected during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons and analyzed for various elements. Based on the Indian permissible limit for As (50 μg/L) in the drinking water, water samples were classified into contaminated and uncontaminated category. 18 wells were reported as uncontaminated (on average 12 μg/L As) and 12 wells were found contaminated (129 μg/L As) throughout the year, while 5 wells could be classified as either contaminated or uncontaminated depending on when they were sampled. Although the number of wells that alternate between the contaminated and uncontaminated classification is relatively small (14%), distinct seasonal variation in As concentrations occur in all wells. This suggests that investigations conducted within the study area for the purpose of assessing the health risk posed by As in groundwater should not rely on a single round of water samples. In comparison to other areas, As is mainly released to the groundwater due to reductive dissolution of Fe-oxyhydroxides, a process, which is probably enhanced by anthropogenic input of organic carbon. The seasonal variation in As concentrations appear to be caused mainly by dilution effects during monsoon and post-monsoon. The relatively high concentrations of Mn (mean 0.9 mg/L), well above the WHO limit (0.4 mg/L), also cause great concern and necessitate further investigations.     

Geospatial modelling of flood susceptibility pattern in a subtropical area of West Bengal,India

Flood hazards are the most destructive among all natural disasters and are a constant threat to human’s life and property. Effective disaster risk reduction strategies can be improved by geospatial approach in the way of producing information and knowledge that are useful to plan truly effective actions for the protection from floods. This research aims to develop a quantified predictive model of flood susceptibility in the Ghatal and Tamluk subdivision of Medinipur district of West Bengal, India, by means of empirically selected and weighted spatial predictors of flood. The weighted prediction model is used to quantify the spatial associations between individual geospatial factors within the flood inundated study area. Yule’s coefficient and distance distribution analysis are used to assign weights to individual geo-factors, and finally weighted spatial predictors are integrated to a multi-class index overlay analysis to derive the spatially explicit predictive model of flood susceptibility. The resultant susceptibility model reveals that approximately 32.35 and 52.99% of the total study areas (3261.45 km²) are under the category of high-to-moderate flood susceptible zone. Quantitative results of this study could be integrated into the policy process in the formulation of local and national government plans for the future flood mitigation management and also to develop appropriate infrastructure in order to protect the lives and properties of the common people of the Medinipur district.     

Crustal density model across West Bengal basin,India: An integrated interpretation of seismic and gravity data

An integrated interpretation of the seismic refraction and wide-angle reflection data, geological and structural details, bore-hole litholog information and gravity particulars along Beliator-Burdwan-Bangaon deep seismic sounding (DSS) profile in West Bengal basin has helped in getting a crustal density model. This model is consistent with all available surface and bore-hole geophysical data that can realistically explain the trend, shape and magnitude of gravity data across the West Bengal basin. The present exercise pointed out that the thick sedimentary column (with thickening trend towards east), conspicuous lateral variations in the Moho configuration (with a prominent 40 km wide domal feature covering the eastern part of the stable shelf and trie western segment of the deep basinal part) coupled with the structural trends in the basement, mid and lower crustal columns have combinedly contributed to the gravity effect and as such the prominent lateral variations in the Bouguer gravity anomalies could be mainly attributed to regionally extending causative factors. The synthesis clearly points out the need to take proper care in selecting the density values as direct conversion of velocities into densities, adapting well-known conversion formulae, does not always hold good specially in the eastern part of the West Bengal basin where a huge thickness of sediments (velocities ranging between 4 to 5 km/sec) of high density 2.6 to 2.8 g/cm³ are sandwiched between younger sediments and the crystalline basement.