Environmental impact assessment on water quality deterioration caused by the decreased Ganges outflow and saline water intrusion in south-western Bangladesh

This paper deals with an environmental impact assessment of low water flow in the River Ganges during a dry period at the Khulna and Mongla port areas in south-western Bangladesh. Large-scale surface water withdrawal in India after commissioning the Farakka Barrage causes a drastic fall in the Gange...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental geology (Berlin) 2000-12, Vol.40 (1-2), p.31-40
Main Authors: MOKHLESUR RAHMAN, Md, MUHAMMAD QUMRUL HASSAN, MOHAMMAD SAIFUL ISLAM, SHAMSAD, S. Z. K. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bangladesh, Ganga R
Bangladesh, Ganges R
Bangladesh, Khulna
Bangladesh, Mongla
Earth sciences
Earth, ocean, space
Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics
Exact sciences and technology
Freshwater
Hydrology
Hydrology. Hydrogeology
India
Pollution, environment geology
Water resources
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Summary:This paper deals with an environmental impact assessment of low water flow in the River Ganges during a dry period at the Khulna and Mongla port areas in south-western Bangladesh. Large-scale surface water withdrawal in India after commissioning the Farakka Barrage causes a drastic fall in the Ganges low-flow condition within the Bangladesh territory during every dry period. The average lowest discharge in the Ganges is 552 m super(3)/s, which is about 73% less than that in the pre-Farakka time. This has caused the deterioration of both surface and groundwater quality of the study area. Salinity is the principal cause of water quality degradation in the area. Present observation shows that the surface water of the area is sulphate-chloride dominated, which signifies high salinity whereas the groundwater is categorized as of medium to high salinity. To maintain the Rupsa River's maximum salinity below 1000 mu S/cm the discharge in the Ganges should be similar to 1500 m super(3)/s, whereas that at Garai basin is similar to 10 m super(3)/s. If this present situation continues it will be a crippling blow to the environment of the area in the long term. An integrated multidisciplinary approach to hydrogeological research is urgently required to salvage the area from further deterioration.
ISSN:0943-0105
1432-0495
DOI:10.1007/s002540000152