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environmental threats in the areas surrounding the paper mill. The industry under study only

treats the effluent chemically but biological treatment of the effluent was not carried out. The
so called treated effluent is canalized to a soaking field from where the effluent joins the

river water. The effluent severely affected the aquatic plants and terrestrial plants growing
near and of the crop fields located on the river bank. Nagarajan et al., (2020) reported the

discharge of huge amount of various heavy metals in the environment is a potential
threat to human health due to these metals accumulating and biomagnifying through the

food chain and other sources. The present study deals with the effluent of JK Paper mill and

its impact on the crop plants cultivated on both the sides of the effluent canal and effluent
soaking sites on way to joining the river water at Jaykaypur and the crop field inhabiting

organisms.

MATERIALS & METHODS
Location of the industry and collection of samples:

JK Paper Ltd is located at latitude 19.247ºN and longitude 83.409 º E, the ET (effluent
treatment) plant is located at latitude 19.248ºN and longitude 83.413º E and the effluent

canal (Photo-1 & 2) originating from the industry travels around 825.4mts and joins the
River Nagavalli at 19.252ºN and longitude 83.420º E. The industry generates effluents to the

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tune of 23,744 M /day. Samples were collected from the meeting point of the effluent of the
industry joining the river, 500mts downstream effluent meeting side and third point was just
opposite to the meeting point of the river nearer to the crop fields, from where the river

water is used for irrigation. Crop leaf samples and algal scum available in the crop fields

were collected for analysis. Effluent samples were collected in plastic containers and plant
leaf samples were collected in air tight plastic zipper bags and brought in cold

containers to the laboratory for analysis.

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