Environmental Restoration around the Rihand Dam

Environmental restoration is not simply a practical matter. The topic carries with it immense of metaphysical and aesthetic interest. In the same way that the science of ecology and cultural phenomenon of environmental politics are inseparable, restoration of the environment is inextricably tied to and informed by several areas of discourse: ecology, cultural ecology, human ecology, environmental history and environmental ethics. The multi-disciplinary scope of the literature review undertaken for this work allowed for the reconceptualization of key terms and ideas of critical importance to restoration The Vast stretches of Renukoot, Singrauli, Sonbhadra region were once covered with natural forests, hills and grassland with various natural resources. The tribal dwelling populations were small and interspersed. Before 1950, this area was a normal town enjoying the natural environment, traditional systems of culture and living with pollution free environment. The changes in status of environmental and development of Sonbhadra began during 1950 with the construction of two dams Rihand and Obra. Since then a number of establishment like Hindalco Aluminimum Plant (1962), Kannoria Chemicals (1964). A cement factory (1970) Followed by a number of coal, stone, mining projects and power generation units established scenario of the region and impacted human socio-cultural environment very significantly. The Renukoot, Singrauli Sonbhadra region is now not only of India‟s most energy centers as well as also in Asia. Eleven open-cast coal mining sites, are occupying nearly 200 squares K.M., or about 10% of India‟s installed generation capacity. Chloro-alkali industry, Kannoria chemicals, thermal power plants and coal mines are responsible for discharge of various metals, especially Hg into Rihand dam with their effluents. The Rihand dam is a one of the Asia‟s Largest Anthropogenic reservoir developed in Mirzapur later on in. Total area of reservoir is approximately 457Sq. K.m. The capacity of the reservoir is 46,600 ha. Water of Rihand Dam is used for irrigation, drinking, fish culture, bathing, generation of power 300 M.W. electricity and industrial purpose. The whole industrial belt in Singrauli region lies practically in the close vicinity of Rihand dam, regularly discharging their effluents into the reservoir. Coal fly ash and ash slurry released from thermal power plants and coal mines serious threat to aquatic ecosystem due to presence of various pollutants (Rai and Tripathi 2006). From this research investigation the following major points have been concluded The quality of environmental health of Rihand dam with its surrounding is continuously degrading very fast.  The environmental restoration in an around the Rihand dam is exactly improper. The parameters sets for environmental restoration have not been covered by the pollution creating agencies. The environmental restoration its objective policies is not having proper implementation. Similarly the environmental restoration have not taken the proper activation. Thus the environmental restoration catchment and command area in Rihand dam is bad condition.  Thus, the environmental health of Rihand dam is facing very serious conditions due to improper environmental restoration.