Abstract:
Saltern located close to the residential areas causes several socio-economic
and environmental issues in the surroundings. This study investigated salt
production methods, and socioeconomic and environmental impacts on the
surrounding areas in Kinniya saltern. Thirty-one salt farmers and 100
households in the vicinity of saltern, living in <10m, up to 50m,100m, and
150m distance from the saltern were interviewed through a structured
questionnaire during August to October 2023. The results showed that 87%
and 13% of salt farmers used 3-step and 2-step traditional methods,
respectively despite the 4-step recommended method to produce salt. The
impacts on environment were identified as; salty well water, land salinity,
corrosion of fence wire, corrosion of fence metal and damage to fence walls
by 69%, 100%, 71%, 9% and 5% of the respondents, respectively. The
impacts on socio-economic aspects were identified as; corrosion of
household equipment, corrosion and colour changing of vehicles, damage to
house walls, damage to wall paint of houses, damage to roofing wood, short
term crop loss, long term crop loss and health effects by 57%, 50%, 40%,
44%, 15%, 95%, 5% and 43% of the respondents, respectively. The distance
between the house and the saltern was significantly associated with effects
on household equipment (p<0.05), buildings (p<0.05), and health (p<0.001).
It is concluded that corrosion/damage of household equipment and buildings,
short-term crop losses, salinity in lands and well water and health effects
were the major socioeconomic and environmental impacts. It is
recommended that relevant authorities should take measures to minimize the
impacts and to also stop further expansion of the impacts to the surrounding
areas
