Anthropogenic activities in Maheshwaram watershed have deteriorated water, air and soil quality during the last ten years due to rapid urbanisation and industrial development. Maheshwaram watershed experienced drastic changes in land use pattern, being very close to the Hyderabad city. Base-line data was collected during post monsoon season (October-November) of 2010 in Maheshwaram watershed to assess the impacts of change in land use, urbanisation and industrialisation on air, water and soil quality for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Air samples were analysed for Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM). Groundwater samples were analysed for pH; EC; TDS; TH; cations, anions and heavy metals viz., Fe, Mn, Al, Si, V, Cr, As, Sr, Rb, Se, Ba, Li, B, Be, Co, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Pb using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Analysed data were compared with the National and International Standards and subjected to Factor Analysis (FA) for six chemical variables to assess and characterise hydro-chemical processes. A comparison of the results of groundwater samples with WHO and BIS guidelines show that most of the groundwater samples are heavily contaminated with heavy metals like lead, chromium, nickel, barium, aluminium, boron and selenium, which was quantified and presented in the form of spatial variation diagrams prepared using ArcGIS. 9.3.1. Similarly the results of air samples compared with the Central Pollution Control Board, Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India guidelines show that most of the air samples for residential, rural and industrial areas are contaminated by SPM and RSPM.

Maheshwaram watershed is situated in Ranga

Maheshwaram watershed is situated in Ranga Reddy district of at a distance of about 30 km south of Hyderabad. The watershed has an area of 53 km 2 and has hard rock aquifers with semi-arid climate. The study area has been expanding at a fast pace and now has the distinction of being one of the fastest growing urban centers, facing the problem of groundwater depletion and quality deterioration due to the absence of perennial source of surface water and also due to over exploitation. Human activities involving industrial and agricultural development and the inadequate management of land and water resources have, directly or indirectly resulted in the degradation of environment viz. water and soil.In the present study chemical analysis of groundwater samples of the study area, collected in pre-and post-monsoon has been carried out. The analysed data is utilized to characterize the hydro chemical process dominant in the area. Various classification methods such as Piper, Back and Hanshaw, Wilcox, U.S. Salinity Laboratory are employed to critically study the geochemical characteristics of groundwater.

Soil contamination by heavy metals has been a major concern for last few decades due to increase in urbanization and industrialization. The main objective of this research was to identify the heavy metal contaminated zones in the study area. Twenty five soil samples collected throughout the agriculture, residential and industrial areas were analysed by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF) for trace metals and major oxides. These metals can affect the quality of soil and infiltrate through the soil, thereby causing groundwater pollution. Based on the chemical analysis of major oxides (

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