Externalities of groundwater contamination due to pollution and effects on human and animal health in Karnataka
2006
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Details
Title
Externalities of groundwater contamination due to pollution and effects on human and animal health in Karnataka
Keywords
Subject(s)
Issue Date
Mar 08 2006
Publication Type
Conference Paper/ Presentation
DOI and Other Identifiers
10.22004/ag.econ.43622
Record Identifier
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/43622
PURL Identifier
http://purl.umn.edu/43622
Total Pages
31
Note
In this study, negative externality due to distillery pollution on agriculture in Kabini
command in Nanjanagudu taluk, Mysore District is estimated. The spent wash let in lagoons
enables settling heavy metals to infiltrate soils, gradually affecting soil and health. The
distillery opened during 1985 and farmers apparently began experiencing the negative
externalities due to pollution from 1995. The groundwater extracted for irrigation was the
first victim of distillery pollution rendering it unfit even for irrigation purposes. Paddy,
sugarcane, Banana, Jowar, Mulberry, Coconut, Ragi are the major crops being grown in this
command area.
For this study, all the 35 distillery pollution affected farmers in the Distillery Dffluent
Polluted Villages (DEPA, comprising Geekalli, Goluru) are selected. As a control, 35 farmers
who were located in Devarasanahalli in the Kabini command area, but who are away from the
distillery pollution area are studied.
The major effect of groundwater pollution is the downward shift in sugarcane area due to
pollution to the tune of 60 percent in DEPA. Area under paddy did not alter after pollution.
Thus, farmers considered paddy to be the only crop which can tolerate / withstand, pollution
levels. Crop diversity in terms of area under crops like tomato, ragi, jower, cucumber and
banana increased in DEPA as the farmers shifted from sugarcane. In the control village,
major crops grown are paddy and sugarcane due to assured supply of good quality of water
through out year, and these occupied 20 and 50 per cent of the area respectively.
Series Statement
Presented at V Annual IWMI-TATA partner meet, March 8 2006