ABSTRACT
Thirty locations in the rapidly expanding residential and commercial area of the Paschim Medinipur region in eastern India provided groundwater samples in January and May of 2020. These times of sampling occurred both before and after the region's industrial activity was shut down and agricultural activity was cut back as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see how much of an impact reduced human activity had on groundwater quality. Samples taken before the monsoons showed that fluoride levels in about 17 percent of the wells that had been impacted by high fluoride concentration levels after the monsoons had returned to safe levels for human consumption. Ion exchange processes, seasonal monsoon rainwater infiltration diluting ion concentrations including geogenic fluoride, and a decrease in anthropogenic sources during the lockdown are likely to have contributed to this. Groundwater samples taken after the monsoon season showed that 73%, 60%, and 50%, respectively, had fluoride concentrations above the allowable limit, as calculated using the total hazard index for fluoride in children, adult women, and adult men. Nitrate pollution was found to have decreased by 33.4% between the pre-and post-monsoon periods. Prior to the onset of the monsoon season, the chemical facies of the aquifers was found to have reverted from the Na-HCO3-Cl & Na-Cl to the Ca-HCO3 variety. The groundwater chemistry of this region is affected by a number of factors, including weathering of plagioclase minerals, carbonate dissolution, reverse ion exchange, & anthropogenic inputs, as shown by a number of geogenic indicators (such as molar ratios, inter-ionic relations, and graphical tools). Saturation index evaluations of post-monsoon and pre-monsoon samples corroborated these results. Groundwater pollution from Na+, K+, Cl-, NO3, and F-ions was greatly reduced during the COVID-19 lockdown as a result of the suspension of industrial and agricultural activities. Evidence suggests that the COVID-19 lockdown was accompanied by an increase in the concentration of HCO3 ions in the groundwater supply. Conclusions show that reducing human-caused pollution inputs has the potential to improve groundwater quality. Copyright © 2022, Anka Publishers. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Pandemics are not the unique features of modern civilization;epidemics/pandemics can be traced back to ancient civilization. History is replete with such pandemics. Coronavirus first originated in Hubei province, China, in November 2019 and then manifested in Wuhan but within a very short span of time it has spread like wildfire all over the world and its impact has been multifaceted. It is indeed an indication of the fact that we live in a truly globalized world. Due to the outbreak of Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), people lost their lives but due to the consequent lockdown, people lost their livelihood, and the economy is shattered. Global GDP and trade experienced a huge contraction during the period of pandemic and the improvements to date are not worth mentioning. Actually, pandemic acts like a serial killer and its aftermath is devastating on human lives and the global economy. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Betel cultivation is very popular in West Bengal. The spread of COVID-19 affected betel cultivation but super cyclone 'amphan' devastated the majority of betel orchards of Bengal. The betel cultivation also fetches significant foreign exchange through export. The present investigation was conducted on 51 representative betel farmers of Fingha Dhaowri village under Raskhali panchayat of Bishnupur Block I of South 24 Parganas. The farmers were interviewed in mediated approach using semi-structured open-ended questionnaire, advocating participatory rural appraisal (PRA) mode. The study revealed some important enjoinder for furtherance of cultivation. In Bishnupur block of South 24 Parganas, 359 out of 360 barejas were reconstructed. The construction of a baroj measuring 10 decimal costs between Rs. 0.8 to 1.5 lakh including first year maintenance. The farmers prefer traditional baroj over shade-net structure. The farmers got assistance from Krishak Bandhu Krishi Sahayak scheme of state and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in addition to state government disaster relief fund. In new construction, farmers followed good agricultural practises along with COVID advisory with female farmers participation upto 60%. Harvesting is resumed and the farmers of focal group are selling 100 leaves pack @ Rs. 50/- with a 68% loss. The study revealed lack of knowledge of the farmers about post-harvest management but techniques could be adopted by them if the profitability aspects are discussed properly. The low input organic farming is advantageous to start export though the selected farmers sell leaves in domestic market only. The post-amphan betel cultivation could be directed to a positive path and rejuvenation of the baroj may be possible if the farmers' adopt organic farming, apply low cost scientific management practices and industrial skill development in a community based approach. The holistic implementation of this smart package in betel farming may uplift the rural economy of Bengal.