Water quality scenario in Damodar river basin

The Damodar river basin before the planned construction of the DVC dams in the basin was known for its flood fury causing innumerable misery to the people living in the basin. After the construction of the dams, industrial expansion and consequently population growth has been accelerated. This has brought innumerable misery to the people of the basin by degradation of the environment. The natural resource, water has been effected most. The main source of pollution are Coal mines & allied industries, Thermal power stations, Integrated iron and steel plants, Chemical plants and other small industries. In order to boost up industrial productivity with a bid to cut the production cost, old and obsolete technology without can: for environment has been utilised at places. The environment has thus suffered the most with water taking the major brunt. The various studies undertaken on the surface water quality of the basin has revealed presence of high content of metals, chemicals, dissolved & suspended solids, and other undesirable impurities which have not only deteriorated the quality of water to a great extent but also have put the human health, animal life and the aquatic life at risk Although the major damage done to the environment is irreversible, as one cannot get back to the same pre industrial environment back but sincere efforts could be made to recover whatever we can and prevent further deterioration by better management and use of modem technologies and prevent further deterioration of water quality in the basin.