Impact on Surface Water Bodies on Construction and Operation

Various construction activities impact water bodies, but their impact is experienced in the short term, i.e., limited to the construction stage only. Table 16.1 shows construction activities and probable impacts on water, land, and soil resources, and Table 16.2 shows SW impact zones during the construction stage. Construction of roads and muck disposal causes the washing away of soil and muck in rivers during rain. Improper site activities that have adverse impacts on the natural drainage system are discussed. Generally, construction activities, such as earth excavation, earth filling, and removal of existing vegetation, cause significant soil erosion in the plant and township areas. Control of erosion during land leveling is briefly explained. References may be made to field manuals or textbooks on the control of soil erosion. The construction phase leads to the mushrooming of various allied activities to meet the demands of the immigrant labor population in the project vicinity. Negative impacts due to anthropogenic pressure of construction workers are temporary and are of a short-run nature, as most workers leave the area after completion of the project work. However, small-scale industrial and business activities and human habitation take place in the vicinity (semi-urbanization), leading to an increase in the water demand. Changes in land use and land cover (LULC) in plant, township, vicinity area, and waste disposal sites may have positive or negative impacts on the quantity and quality of SW bodies during the operation stage ( Bhadbhade et al., 2017 ). Operation and Management activities, related impacts, and impact zones are identified and shown in Tables 16.3 and 16.4 . Two case studies on the impact of (a) mines on SW bodies and (b) industrial effluents, ash ponds, and water withdrawal from the Hasdeo River (for industrial use) in Korba district have been recently carried out. These case studies are presented to illustrate various adverse impacts mainly relating to (a) water quality of the Hasdeo River, Ahiran River, and various nalas, and (b) conflict between water allocation to industries and that for agriculture. The study on coal mines exemplifies the life of coal mines and the impacts due to mine closure in the future. The transition approach from a coal-based economy to a sector-based economy is also briefly discussed in this chapter.