Sanction Date: | 20.03.2025 | |||
Project Category | MG | |||
Year | 2024-2025 | |||
Project Duration | 3 Years | |||
BTA : | WRM | |||
Project Site/ State/ Districts/ Villages Covered: |
Ladakh and J&K |
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Organization/ Implementation Agency: | Department of Environmental Science, University of Kashmir, Srinagar. | |||
Project Partners: | S.No. | Name | ||
1. | Ladakh Pollution Control Committee, UT of Ladakh | |||
2. | Wular Conservation and Management Authority, Govt. of Jammu and Kashmir | |||
3. | Mool Sustainability research and Training Centre, Ganderbal Kashmir (NGO). | |||
Lead Proponent: | Dr. Sami Ullah Bhatt |
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Project Brief Description: | Microplastic pollution is emerging as a significant environmental challenge in the Himalaya including the Union Territories of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh, particularly due to increased anthropogenic activities like improper waste management and a surge in tourism. These regions, renowned for their natural beauty and pristine environments, are now facing contamination issues that were once considered distant. Human negligence in managing solid waste, coupled with inadequate infrastructure, has allowed microplastics to infiltrate various parts of the environment, including water bodies, sediments, and even the air we breathe. Research has revealed alarming levels of microplastic contamination in the Jhelum River, where concentrations range between 600 to 2,500 particles per cubic meter. Similarly, lake sediments in these regions have been found to contain an average of 606 particles per kilogram, with the majority being microplastic fibres. The distribution of microplastics is influenced by several key factors. Proximity to waste disposal sites, natural topography, and atmospheric transportation all play crucial roles. Weather patterns such as western disturbances might exacerbate the problem, transporting microplastics over long distances, including into previously untouched glacial landscapes. These once pristine environments are now highly vulnerable to the cumulative impacts of pollution and climate change. This presents serious environmental and health risks, as aquatic organisms can ingest microplastics, which can then enter the food chain, potentially impacting human health. Despite growing awareness of the issue, significant gaps remain in research and policy. Current waste management systems are insufficient, and stricter regulations are urgently needed to tackle the growing microplastic crisis. This research project aims to address these challenges by employing a multi-disciplinary approach, combining geological, geochemical, environmental, and geospatial technologies. Through this approach, we hope to gain a comprehensive understanding of the distribution, sources, and transportation pathways of microplastics in the sensitive regions of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Our study will focus on two mountainous watersheds in the Kashmir and Trans-Himalayan Ladakh, where we will collect samples from water, soil, sediments, and glaciers. Sampling will follow internationally recognized protocols to avoid contamination. We will utilize a variety of advanced analytical methods, including sieving, wet peroxide digestion, density separation, microscopy, FTIR-ATR and Raman spectroscopy, to process and analyse the samples. A key component of the project is identifying microplastic "hotspots" using advanced GIS technology. The Getis-Ord Gi* statistic will allow us to conduct a hotspot analysis, helping to pinpoint areas where microplastic pollution is most concentrated. Additionally, we plan to use stable water isotopes and back trajectory modeling (such as the HYSPLIT model) to trace the origins of both precipitation and microplastics. This will enable us to track the movement of microplastics across various landscapes, including aquatic, terrestrial, and atmospheric environments. By modeling the back-trajectories of air masses in the region, we aim to further understand how microplastics are transported and deposited. Ultimately, this research will provide crucial insights into the scale and impact of microplastic pollution, guiding future policies and waste management strategies in these ecologically fragile regions. | |||
Beneficiaries/ Stakeholders: |
The primary beneficiaries of the project are the indigenous communities living in Chamoli, Pithoragarh, and Uttarkashi. These communities heavily rely on surface and groundwater sources for their drinking water needs, which are often compromised during disasters.
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Activity Chart |
Total Grants (in Rs.) | Rs. 23,946,620/- (Rupees Two Crore Thirty-Nine Lakh Forty-Six Thousand Six Hundred Twenty Only) |
Project Objectives | Quantifiable Deliverables | Monitoring Indicators |
• To characterize emerging contaminants in various environmental compartments. • To assess the Sources and transport of geogenic contaminants in the Himalaya. • To evaluate the Impact of microplastics on snow and glacier melt on selected glaciers in the western Himalaya. • To model the short- and long-range transport of microplastics. • To identify the hotspots of emerging contaminants and science solutions for the management of microplastic contamination. |
• Comprehensive data on the occurrence and types of emergent contaminants in Ladakh Himalayan region. • Enhanced understanding of the transport dynamics of microplastics in the Ladakh Himalayan region. • Insights into the effects microplastics on glacier dynamics and melting processes. • Visual representation of contamination hotspots for targeted interventions. • Increased community awareness and engagement in addressing microplastic pollution. • Standardized protocols for contaminant monitoring and data collection. • Scientific reports on the impact of microplastics on snow and glacier melt. |
• No. of Datasets created, in addition to the Baseline Datasets. • No. of sampling sites analyzed. • Types and concentrations of contaminants detected. • Identification of major geogenic pollutant sources and their contribution rates. • Stakeholders/ User engagement statistics. • No. of Knowledge Products, inclusive of research papers, technical reports, policy briefs, etc. |
S.No. | Name (Sanctioned) | Salary (Sanctioned) |
1. | 02 SRF | @ Rs.42,000/- + 18% HRA |
2. | 02 JRF | @ Rs.37,000/- + 18% HRA |
S.No. | Name of Equipment (Sanctioned) | Cost (in INR) |
1. | Electrical Resistivity Tomography 1 No. @4986500/-, Spectroradiometer 1 No @5000000/-, Microplastic Automation Preparation 1 No. @2000000/-, Upright Research Fluorescense Microscope 01 No. @3000000/-, 02 Hard disks @7500/-. | 1,50,01,500 /- |