Hudiara Drain

Introduction

Hudiara Drain, which is a natural stormwater channel, originates from Batala in Gurdaspur District, India, and enters into Pakistan at village Laloo. After flowing for nearly 55 km inside Pakistan, it joins the River Ravi. All along its route in India and Pakistan, wastewater, sewage, and industrial

pollutants are discharged into the drain without any proper prior treatment. As a result, organic wastes and toxic chemicals have badly affected aquatic life both in this drain and in the River Ravi.
Farmers living near the drain frequently use its water for irrigation. Preliminary investigations have revealed that this water has high concentrations of metals. Long-term irrigation from Hudiara Drain may have resulted in the accumulation of higher concentrations of metals in the surface soil. This would be toxic to soil fauna and flora and may be introduced into the food chain. Most local people have contact with drain water on an almost daily basis. These factors mean that it is necessary to assess pollution levels in Hudiara Drain, its contribution to the total pollution load of the River Ravi, its impact on the health of local community and the effect of irrigation on soil quality.

• The pollution status of Hudiara Drain

• Different sources of pollution both in Pakistan and across the border

• How much the Hudiara Drain contributes to the total pollution load of the River Ravi.

• The impact on soil quality of irrigation water from the drain

• The effect of drain water on the health of the local community

• The extent to which environmental awareness and hygiene consciousness can be generated in people living near the drain through organising workshops etc.

Project activities

Sampling locations
The extent of pollution already in the drain before it flows over the border into Pakistan will be assessed from samples taken near Laloo village.
The pollution load from industrial units and human settlements in Pakistan will be assessed from samples taken downstream of Sattokatla Drain.
The total pollution load from Hudiara Drain will be measured from samples taken just before it joins the River Ravi.

Soil sampling
Survey of the sample villages Thether (case) and Penghali (control) to assess the effect of drain pollution on the health of people living nearby.

Epidemiological study
Survey of the sample village Thether (Case) regarding the status of health, prevalent diseases and the availability of medical and civic facilities

Free medical and eye camp
A free medical and eye camp will be organised

Tests
Water: Temperature, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, Electrical Conductivity, Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand, Dissolved Oxygen, pH, Fecal Coliform Counts, Chlorides and Heavy Metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Li, Mn and Pb).
Soil: Electrical conductivity, pH, metal concentrations (copper, cadmium, chromium, lead, zinc, manganese, mercury), soluble ions and texture. Blood: Lead levels.

Significant findings
Generally drain water has a higher concentration of metals at sampling point one.
In most samples, drain water properties, such as biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS) exceed the permissible .

limits for industrial effluents devised by National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS).In all samples, dissolved oxygen (DO) was less than 1.0mg/l. On average, blood lead levels are higher in individuals from Thether village compared with Penghali.
The occurrences of skin, eye, joint pains and other abdominal diseases are greater in Thether village than in Penghali.

Funding Agency: United Nation Development Programme (UNDP)
Executing organisation: World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Department-Punjab and Soil Survey of Pakistan
Starting date: December 1, 1999
Location: 55-km stretch of Hudiara Drain from point of entry into Pakistan
Project duration: Two years

For further information please contact:

Hammad Naqi Khan, Director EPU
hnaqi@wwf.org.pk