Economic Impact of Industrial Water Pollution on Agriculture and Rural Households in Bhavani River Basin of Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Aim: To study the impact of industrial water pollution on Agriculture and rural households in Bhavani River basin of Tamil Nadu. Study Design: Multistage random sampling. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted in the Sathyamangalam block of Erode district of Tamil Nadu during September 2021 to December 2021. Methodology: Erode district of Tamil Nadu has been purposively selected due to high intensity of industrial units. In the second stage, Sathyamangalam block of Erode district, was selected based on the extent of external effects on land and water. In total, 360 respondents are selected as a sample, constituting ten persons in each affected and unaffected village. Both primary and secondary data were collected for the present study. Results and Conclusion: The industrial water pollution in Bhavani River basin of Tamil Nadu leads to changes in agricultural pattern, reduction in farm income, decline in agricultural activities and most of the rural households were shifted to non-farming activities in this study area. In order to overcome these issues, it is suggested to develop alternative sources of water for irrigation.