Unregulated mining causes pollution of air, land and water. Mining effluents are the main source of degradation of water bodies in their vicinity. Aim: The present study was designed to determine the change in the water quality on account of mining activity and its effect on the growth and development of the fishes. Settings and Design: Water bodies in four mining areas were selected for the study. Upstream site of the river was taken as a measure of uncontaminated water as compared to down stream site which had influx of mining effluents from the surrounding mines. Methods and Material: Catch sampling method was used to compare the parameters in the upstream and downstream sites of eight study sites. Water samples were evaluated for physicochemical parameter and heavy metals. Fishes from these sites were examined for body length, width and weight. Gills, liver and muscle tissues of these fishes were examined for heavy metals. Statistical analysis used: The statistical significance of associations between various qualitative parameters was evaluated through Fisher’s exact test. Results: The study showed degradation of water quality because of the influx of mining effluents in the downstream sites. Physicochemical parameters significantly altered were turbidity, total suspended solids and sulphates in the downstream sites. The metals detected were iron, copper, zinc, manganese, cadmium and nickel. Examination of the fishes revealed decrease in the body weight of the fishes in the downstream site as compared to the upstream site.

Conclusions: We attribute the impaired growth of fishes to the synergistic effect of change in water quality and increase in heavy metal concentration in the downstream region on account of mining effluents. 

Keywards: Mining Effluents; Heavy Metals; Impaired Growth in Fishes.