Ramachandran, Kausalya 
  
tropical evergreen forest and rainfed agriculture is predominant in this region with small scattered pockets of irrigated 
agriculture. 
1.2 Genesis of environmental contamination 
In 1987, an agro-chemical industry named the Hindustan Agrochemical Limited (HACL) was setup in Bichhri village, 
which commenced production of a dye intermediate, H-acid (8 amino 1 napthol 3 - 6 disulphonic acid). As the earth 
excavated storage facility were unsuitable for the storage of highly corrosive H - Acid, an organic non-bio-degradable 
chemical with pH of 1.5 - 2.0, it soon percolated downward and contaminated the soil and groundwater, resulting in 
severe coloration of groundwater with acrid taste and odour, turning it unsuitable for human consumption, domestic 
use, livestock watering and irrigation. Several health-related problems, viz., eruption of skin diseases, respiratory 
problems among people and increased livestock mortality, had been attributed to H-acid contamination of groundwater 
and fodder. 
To get a comprehensive view of status of contamination of groundwater and soil and its impact on agricultural 
production and consequent changes in land use since 1988, satellite data from Indian Remote Sensing Satellite, IRS-1A 
and 1B LISS-II sensor, were analysed using ERDAS Imagine (Ver. 8.3) Digital Interpretation Software. The 
information was mapped and superimposed over maps of soil and groundwater contamination on ARC / INFO GIS 
platform (Cowen et al 1995, Hofman & Kobus, 1996) . 
1.3. Ecological and socio-economic consequence 
The environmental impact of H-acid contamination was severe in 1992 leading to popular unrest necessitating 
intervention by civil authorities. Incidents such as two cases of infant mortality, increased incidence of health-related 
problems, lack of drinking water in the vicinity and higher livestock mortality, all triggered a social unrest in Bichhri in 
1990-92. Since then, however, the situation has been steadily improving due to a gradual fall in H-acid conc. through 
various hydrological cycles leading to leaching of H-acid from soil surface to lower levels of soil profile and fall in H- 
acid conc. in groundwater due to hydrological dilution. Although groundwater is still severely coloured, the H-acid 
conc. is falling and agricultural activity is regaining. 
2. MATERIAL AND METHODS 
To assess the impact of H-acid contamination on agriculture and environment, satellite data were analysed for detection 
of change in land use / land cover pattern using visual interpretation and digital technique with ERDAS - Ver.8.3 
(ERDAS 1997). For apriori information on land use pattern, LANDSAT-5 TM data was taken; Standard FCC 
comprising of Band 2 (0.52 - 0.60 um), Band 3 (0.63-0.69um) and Band 4 (0.76-0.90um) was visually interpreted and 
mapped providing baseline information on Bichhri, prior to the occurrence of HACL disaster. For assessment of post- 
disaster scenario, digital data of Indian Remote Sensing Satellite - IRS-1A LISS-II of 1992 and IRS-1B LISS-II of 
1998, were digitally analysed using ERDAS Imagine. IRS Geocoded image on 1:50,000 scale with a spatial resolution 
of 36.75 m comprising of Band 2 (0.52-0.59um), Band 3 (0.62-0.69um) and Band 4 (0.77-0.89um), were found 
suitable for the study of land use / land cover changes in the region (NRSA 1987). An overlay of land use / land cover 
in the following pattern - 1998 over 1992 and 1992 over 1986 - indicated changes in land use owing to contamination 
of groundwater and soils. These maps besides other theme maps viz., land use / land cover, hydro-geomorphology, 
groundwater potential, soil types, land capability and H-acid conc. in soils and groundwater, were used in ARC / INFO 
GIS for creation, overlay and analysis of various aspects of pollution (ESRI 1993). 
Contaminated groundwater were analysed for 14 - 16 physico-chemical parameters to determine their quality for human 
consumption, livestock and irrigation, while soil was assessed for suitability for agriculture (Anon. 1991, CPCB 1998). 
To assess the degree of contamination, soil quality was compared with standards for agricultural soils given by FAO 
(1983), German (Grenzwerte, 1994) and Dutch governments of 1993. Groundwater quality was assessed for drinking 
purpose and compared with Drinking Water Standard of India (Anon. 1991) and the German standard 
(Bundesgesetzblatt, 1990); while irrigation water quality was compared with standard given by FAO (1973, 1986) and 
USDA (1954). Significantly, it was noted that although water quality for both purposes was not poor, the occurrence of 
H-acid in it, made it unsuitable for any use. 
  
1226 International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Vol. XXXIII, Part B7. Amsterdam 2000.