Exploring Change of River Morphology and Water Quality in the Stone Mine Areas of Dwarka River Basin, Eastern India

Abstract

AbstractIn developing countries, growing construction works encourage stone quarry and crushing activities. The middle catchment of east India’s Dwarka River basin has a total of 239 quarrying and 982 crushing units, which produces huge stone dust affecting not only air but also river morphology and water quality. The present study aims to ascertain the impact of stone dust on river morphology change and water quality. The study identified growing channel bed aggradations (average: 0.02–0.52 m) due to stone dust. A multi-parametric approach based on machine learning methods like Fuzzy Inference System and Random Forest Algorithm incorporating eleven relevant parameters identified river bed accretion susceptibility due to stone dust. In all the cases 6–17% area is identified as highly susceptible zones. Sediment load is abnormally enhanced exceeding the carrying capacity of the river. River bed mining is identified as the major reason behind the loitering of the thalweg axis of the rivers. Degradation of water quality due to admixing of stone dust is as high as beyond drinkability and irrigability.KeywordsStone crushingStone dustRiver bed accretionAccretion susceptibilityRiver bed miningThalweg shiftingWater quality