Geoenvironmental Appraisal of Haryana

Haryana primarily an agricultural State is rapidly transforming into an industrial State. Most part of the area in the State is occupied by vast stretches of Quaternary Alluvial plains separating the rocks of Delhi Supergroup in the south and west and Siwalik in the northeast. Various geomorphic landforms have been identified. Central Alluvial Plains occupy about ninety five percent of the total area of the State while the hard rocks are exposed only in five percent of the total area. Based on geological, geomorphological set up and geochemical studies, it has been possible to conclude that the potential environmental hazards distinctly differ in each land form. Two types of environmental hazards, viz., natural hazards and biotic or anthropogenic hazards have been recognised. The natural hazards, viz., salinity, salt efflorescence, sand remobilisation, bad land and water logging mainly affect the Central Alluvial Plains, while biotic or anthropogenic hazards, viz., mining, quarrying, wastage disposal, leakage from canals and excess drawal of water affect all the geomorphic landforms. Effective management controls have been suggested to mitigate the natural hazards and proper planning measures to control biotic hazards.