Nullah destroying biodiversity, ecology

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 21

Indicating that the pollution levels in Buddha Nullah continue to be a threat to ecology, biodiversity and health of people, a Sri Lankan student, who carried out a research study at Desh Bhagat University, as part of his PhD, has found that toxicity of the nullah waters is a danger to its catchment area and beyond. The finding was part of a comparative study of pollution in Buddha Nullah here and the Kelani river in Sri Lanka. The study was carried out by Ravindra Gunavardana, a PhD student at Desh Bhagat University.

Heavy metals beyond limit at Walligpur Kalan village

The student found presence of heavy metals, including arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, thallium and lead, in the nullah. In fact, the presence of arsenic was double the amount of maximum permissible limit at Walligpur Kalan. Even cadmium was much above the permissible limits. It is causing several problems, including destruction of biodiversity besides several health problems.

Not just the heavy metals, even the pH levels were much higher. Electrical conductivity (EC) was several times above the permissible limits, which is extremely harmful for living organisms. Nullah water even failed in the measure of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), indicating low oxygen supply in water. Total dissolved solids (TDS), total solid (TS), total suspended solid (TSS), etc, were several times above the permissible limits for water. These are making water toxic and turning possibility of life impossible as a result of which there are no fish in the nullah.

Industry largely responsible

Gunavardana finds the major cause of pollution is industry. There are around 1,100 polluting industries in Ludhiana. Release of domestic waste and solid waste are aggravating the pollution levels. The pollution in Buddha Nullah is playing direct and indirect role in groundwater pollution. Groundwater in most of the industrial estates and few residential areas is unfit for drinking. Even soil has been contaminated. Toxic water of the nullah has not only destroyed ecology and biodiversity in the catchment area, but also causing health problems, including cancer.

Professor’s take

Col DS Grewal, Professor and former Dean, Desh Bhagat University, under whose supervision this study was carried out, said he himself had gone to Sri Lanka for the comparison of the pollution levels. Dr Grewal said while industry was the major source of pollution both in Buddha Nullah and the Kelani river of Sri Lanka, steps were being taken there to curb pollution. He said the industry that was polluting water in Kerala was closed. Even treated waste water is not released into the river, he said.