Indian Journal of Waste Management

 The present study was undertaken to determine the efficacy of Lemna minor (duckweed) in stabilisation of untreated mixed wastewater. It was observed that Lemna can efficiently remove dissolved solids and organic matter in a microcosm operated under sunlight. The removal of BOD5 and COD was of the order of 50% and 75%, respectively. Microscopic examination of the roots confirmed the role of roots in entrapment of suspended solids and organic matter over the roots. The DO levels in wastewater increased to about three times during the treatment. The biomass, chlorophyll a and b, and carotenoid content had significant increase, and ratio of chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b was almost constant. No biochemical or physiological stress of wastewater over Lemna could be reported during the study. The study concluded that Lemna minor can be used for stabilisation of low strength mixed wastewater, particularly for remote and small communities.

Keywords: Lemna Minor; Rhizoremediation; Wastewater Stabilisation; Chlorophyll.

The present study was intended to calculate Water Quality Index (WQI) of a Mula River Rahuri, Ahmednagar District in order to ascertain the quality of water for public uses and other purposes. This paper deals with the study on the influence of environmental parameters on the water quality of reservoir. Water Quality Index, indicating the water quality in terms of index number, offers a useful representation of overall quality of water for public as well as in the pollution abatement programmes and in water quality management. In this study Water Quality Index was determined on the basis of various physico-chemical parameters like pH, Electrical Conductivity, Total dissolved Solids, Total Hardness, dissolved oxygen, calcium, Magnesium, Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand.

Keywords: Reservoir; Physico-Chemical Parameters; Drinking Water Quality.

Household waste is an environmental and public health problem, especially for the large cities in any country. People around the world are aware of the impact of improper waste disposal practices, but the negative attitude of implementation gives rise to chaotic situations. The aim of the present study is to know the awareness, attitude and practice of students towards household management in Kashmir valley. A well designed and validated questionnaire based on the literature available on the topic was used to collect the information from a sample of 400 students selected randomly from different Universities of Kashmir valley. The data collected was analyzed using appropriate statistical tools with the help of statistical software SPSS version 20. The results obtained from this study reveal that both students male as well as female are aware about household waste management. It is observed that shortage of storage bins, inefficient collection and large stray dog population has severely damaged the environmental condition of the valley. Further, acute absence of waste segregation at the source all types of materials are being disposed along with municipal solid waste which make waste handling very risky especially dumping and disposal points. The lack of governance, unplanned urban settlement and encroachments, inadequate infrastructures for waste collection, transportation and management are the major constrains in designing a suitable waste management plan for the valley. It is concluded that there is an urgent need of giving mass awareness of solid waste and e-waste disposal practices.

Keywords: Environment; Waste Management; Awareness; Practice; E-Waste; Kashmir. 

A Watershed is an ideal unit for management of resources like land and water for mitigation of the impact of natural disasters for achieving sustainable development. It provides a powerful study and management unit, which integrates ecological, geographical, geological, and cultural aspects of the land. GIS technique is used to estimate the morphological characteristics of watershed. Delineation of watershed using GIS is mainly based on the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data. The study area, watershed, 8.04 Km2 , is located in Sangamner Tehsil of Ahmednagar district and lying between 740 20’ 36’’ E to 740 23’ 6’’ E longitude and 190 21’ 34’’ N to 190 23’ 56’’ N latitude. The average annual rainfall is 379 mm. Various operations were done to prepare contour and drainage maps. Areal, linear and relief aspects of watershed were estimated. The parameters worked out includes Stream order, Stream length ratio, Bifurcation ratio, Basin length, Length of overland flow, Form factor, Circulatory ratio, Elongation ratio, Stream frequency, Drainage density, Constant of channel maintenance, Maximum relief, Relative relief, Relief ratio and Ruggedness number. 4th order stream is trunk order. Total lengths of streams and total numbers of streams in each order are decreasing with increasing order. Bifurcation ratio for the watershed is 3.166. The form factor for the area is 0.424. From the value of elongation ratio 0.734, it is observed that the watershed is less elongated. The drainage density value for the basin area is 2.024Km/Km2 that is basin is poorly drained. The study will be useful for the planning of watershed harvesting and groundwater recharge projects on watershed basis.

Keywords: Watershed; Morphometric Analysis; GIS; Karpri-Kalu; Linear; Areal; Relief Aspects. 

Kashmir is one of the most preferred destination of national and international tourists. However, considering the description of the valley, which is primarily a mountainous region and hence an entirely sensitive area, significantly negative impacts are produced by even the slightest negative aspects attached with tourism industry operating therein. Present development at the cost of future is not acceptable; thus the tradeoff between environment and economy is one of the biggest aspects of sustainable tourism. This study focuses on biophysical carrying capacity which deals with the extent to which the natural environment is able to tolerate external interference and with creating a systematic balance between the negative effects of tourist influx against its socio-economic benefits. The outcomes of the analysis show that the valley has a tremendous potential to absorb tourism, but at the same time the results propose that for increasing human welfare we have to set environment at priority and limit tourism to the carrying capacity of the region; promote sustainable tourism.

Keywords: Tradeoff; Carrying Capacity; Natural Habit; Sustainable Tourism; Regression; R-square.