The Scenario of Groundwater Pollution after Implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge: An Agricultural Economic Perspective
G. Arun Prasath *
School of Agriculture and Animal Sciences, Gandhigram Rural Institute (GRI - DTBU), Dindigul - 624302, Tamil Nadu, India.
D. Velmurugan
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608002, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.
S. Ravichandran
Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar – 608002, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Groundwater pollution is hard to remediate in the Noyyal river region even after the implementation of Zero Liquid Discharge process. Hence, to study the status and extent of groundwater pollution in the Noyyal river region, Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu was purposively selected and classified into 3 regions based on the distance from the river and 120 farms were selected. Tools of analysis viz., Cost benefit analysis, Resource use efficiency and decomposition analysis were undertaken to study the status of groundwater pollution and its effect on agriculture. The results showed that intensity and severity of pollution is high in the region closer to Noyyal river (less than 1 km). Income from agriculture is also low in that region due to the use of polluted groundwater for irrigation. The study revealed that Zero Liquid Discharge ensures stoppage of industrial effluents into the river and hence, river pollution is stopped. Similarly, a suitable policy is required to revamp groundwater. Hence, the suggested policy includes water storage structures like tanks, lakes, ponds etc are to be used for groundwater recharge purpose alone.
Keywords: Groundwater, pollution, agriculture, irrigation, Noyyal river, industrial effluents, groundwater