Laxmi Rawat

The impacts of tourism on the environment of Mussoorie, Garhwal Himalaya, India

Mussoorie, a hill resort in the Garhwal Himalaya reveals the changing trends and impacts of tourist activity on its environment. This study was carried out during 1993–1994 and it showed that while Mussoorie had a permanent residential population of 25400 during the winter months, in the peak tourist season of May and June the population exceeded 200000 per month. Because of this huge influx of tourists the demand for lodges/hotels and other related infra-structure and super-structure facilities and amenities in the area was enormous, and it imposed a great stress on the natural environment.The data collected showed that from 1958 to 1988 the number of tourists had increased gradually but that from 1989 tourism in the town escalated following the political disturbances in the Kashmir Valley. The main purpose of the tourism was recreation (80%). It was recorded that the greatest number (60%) of the tourists were middle aged, 53% of the tourists worked in professional services. The majority of the tourists preferred to use the indigenous hotels and about 96% of the tourists used a private vehicle rather than public transport.The installation of modern tourist related facilities and infra-structure has led to the aesthetic degradation of the landscape. Tourist facility development is often disorderly and scattered. To reduce the traffic to Mussoorie town it is suggested that some nearby places like Dhanolti and Park estate should be developed for tourism.

Effect of Two Waves of Ultrasonic on Waste Water Treatment

In the area of water purification, ultra sonication offers the possibility of an efficient removal of pollutants and germs. Ultrasound treatment is one of several technologies that promote hydrolysis – the rate-limiting stage during wastewater treatment. The basic principal of ultrasound is based on the destruction of both bacterial cells and difficultto-degrade organics. In wastewater, various substances and agents collect in the form of aggregates and flakes, including bacteria, viruses, cellulose and starch. Wastewater is composed largely of the substances responsible for the offensive, pathogenic and toxic materials. In the present research work we found that the ultrasonic treatment is very effective for the waste water purification. The bacterial populations in sludge were decreased according to the frequency (35 KHz and 130 KHz) and time period (5, 10, 20 and 30 min). As the frequency and time period increase the bacterial population was decreased. It was also observed that 130 KHz frequency was more effective than 35 KHz. This technique would play a major role in sustainable development in a large scale of water purification.

Physico-Chemical Properties of Before and After Anaerobic Digestion of Jatropha Seed Cake and Mixed With Pure Cow Dung

In this study, the biogas production potential of Jatropha seed cake (JSC) was assessed in the laboratory. The physico-chemical analysis data Total solids (TS%), Volatile solids (VS%), Organic carbon (OC%), Total nitrogen (N%), Total phosphorus (P%), Total potassium (K%), Moisture content (MC%) of the cakes confirmed that JSC is feasible of anaerobic digesters. By blending, JSC with cow dung in different ratios, the feedstock of the biogas digesters was prepared. From the nine treatments to analyze the changes in physico-chemical parameters of the fresh and digested slurry of moisture content is highest after digestion Treatment control-2, 15.8% and lowest before digestion (12.2%). But before digestion, Treatment control-2, TS is 98.2% and VS is 93.12% higher than after digestion. The organic nutrients content Treatment control-2 is C%, 27.37%, N% 2.67 and K % 1.98 of BD is higher than AD but P% 1.078% thus the phosphorous content had increased during the digestion process.

Physico-chemical Analysis of Surface and Ground Water in Selected Sites of Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India

Hydrochemical study of surface and ground water were performed for determining its suitability for drinking, industrial and agricultural purposes. In this study, the evaluation of various physico-chemical parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, bicarbonate and alkali metals (Na, K, Ca and Mg) of the surface and ground water has been carried out in selected sites of Dehradun using advanced analytical techniques. All results were compared with the standard limits as per WHO guidelines for drinking water and were accessed stastitiscally. The deterioraton in the quality of the water could be accounted to rapid urbo-industralization activities, increase in population with change of life style, excess use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides in soil to meet the increasing demand in the market, destroyed the water quality of ecologically rich state of Uttarakhand, India.

Bioremediation of Polluted Soil Obtained from Tarai Bhavan Region of Uttrakhand, India

The rapid industrialization in Tarai Bhavan region of Udham Singh Nagar, Uttarakhand has exposed the soil and water industrial effluent rich in pesticides like chlorophenols that are adversely affecting the ecosystem and disturbing the food chain. Soil is the basic requirement to sustain life on this earth for the living being including human beings, animals, planet or microorganisms (like bacteria and fungi). Bioremediation to remove pollutants is economic than the equivalent physico-chemical methods. It offers the potential to treat contaminated soil and ground water at the site without excavation. It requires lesser input and preserves the frame. The most attractive feature of bioremediation is the reduced impact on the ecosystems. In this study, both the microorganisms of bacteria and fungi P. fluorescence and P. chrysosporium were inoculated in fresh minimal salt medium containing 0, 10, 50, 100, 200 and 500 ppm of pentachlorophenol (PCP) concentrations in separate flask for few hours (4, 8, 16 and 32) and their potentiality to degrade PCP was assessed and found to be fruitful.

Development of Biomass Expansion Factor (BEF) and Estimation of Carbon Pool in Ailanthus excelsa Roxb Plantation

The article presents biomass and carbon stock for Ailanthus excelsa plantation in Dehradun Forest Division, Uttarakhand, India. Destructive sampling was used to calculate the biomass and carbon content of A. excelsa and Biomass Expansion Factor (BEF) was also developed for the species. The total biomass of A. excelsa was calculated as 126.07 t ha-1 with above ground biomass (AGB) 102.96 t ha-1 and below ground biomass (BGB) 23.11 t ha-1. Carbon content in A. excels was 58.52 t ha-1 i.e. 48.3 t ha-1 in AGB and 10.22 t ha-1 in BGB and soil organic carbon (SOC) was 46.27 t ha-1. Total carbon content (t ha-1) in different tree components were in the order: 40.27 (bole)>10.22 (root)>5.36 (branch)>1.61 (bark)>0.73 (leaf)>0.33 (twig). BEF value calculated for the species was 1.23.

Floristic Diversity of Karwapani Wetland of Doon Valley, Uttarakhand,India

Karwapani swamp forest is situated near Manak Sidh temple nearby Shimla road and is about 15 Km north of Dehra Dun occupying an area of about 3-4 Sq Km. It forms the typical habitat, where water oozes out at places known as ‘Oogals’ which form perennial streams. The floristic diversity study revealed that total 60 plant species belonging to 41 families were recorded in the study area. Out of this, 11 tree, 26 shrub and 23 herb species have been recorded respectively. The present status of Karwapani wetland forest states that it is under threat which needs to be investigated and conserved through proper and sustainable management practices. (