Abstract:
Ludhiana is one of the biggest city of Punjab occupying central place and has a dubious distinction of being one of the most polluted settlement of the country due to rapid growth of industrialization. Out of about 25,000 industries (large. medium and small scale), 631 are highly polluting and others are marginally polluting. The only surface water feature flowing in the area is the Buda which serves as a favourite site for dumping of industrial effluents and household waste.The area has been demarcated into three zones viz. Industrial zone, Mixed use zone and Residential zone.
The effluents, surface water, groundwater and soil samples of the area are tested for physico-chemical properties and trace element concentrations. The groundwater regime parameters such as depth to water table, subsurface geological correlation, fence diagramme and soil parameters such as grain size distribution and clay mineralogy is also worked out. This has helped in establishing relationship between the soil-water determinant and extent of pollution.
The quality of groundwater and soil has deteriorated up to different levels in different zones depending upon the density and nature of industries, type of soil and condition of groundwater. The distribution of major pollutants in the groundwater of various localities demarcates three distinct zones on the extent of pollution. Similarly the distribution of aquifers , conditions of groundwater regime and the nature of soil zones help in marking the 'Contamination Risk Zones' for groundwater pollution.
