SEASONAL VARIABILITY IN SURFACE WATER QUALITY AND HEAVY METAL CONTAMINATION IN THE DOWNSTREAM MAHANADI RIVER: IMPLICATIONS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH
The River Mahanadi is a critical source of drinking water, irrigation, and agricultural production in Odisha. However, rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and intensive agricultural practices have raised concerns regarding seasonal deterioration of water quality and the accumulation of toxic metals in edible crop...