STUDY ON THE BIOLOGICAL OXYGEN DEMAND AND PRIMARY PRODUCTIVITY
OF KUNTHI PUZHA AND THUTHA PUZHA WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR
SEASONAL FLUCTUATION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF WORK DONE ON THE MINOR RESEARCH PROJECT
SUBMITTED TO
UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION
BY
K.S.KRISHNA PRABHA
MES KEVEEYAM COLLEGE, VaLANCHERY
KERALA, INDIA
2014
The mere existence of earth depends on the availability of fresh water.
Fresh water ecosystems provide nutrient rich food, water and other resources to man. They are
the homes to diverse organisms. Rivers all over the world are deteriorating
rapidly due to
anthropogenic interferences. Many of the rivers no longer provide the goods and services they
used to provide some years back. Kerala, the land of rivers, has a cultural history that is closely
intertwined with the river valley social life. Silent Valley is the only vestige of near virgin forest
in the whole of Western Ghats. It is estimated to have a continuous record of not less than 50
million years of evolution. Kunthipuzha originating from the Silent valley is considered as a least
polluted river in Kerala based on the studies conducted in the upstream. Studies on
anthropogenic stress are not conducted much on the down streams where the human
settlement starts. Thuthapuzha, one of the tributaries of Bharathapuzha River which is the
second largest river in Kerala state. At Karivanoor it joins with the Bharatapuzha River. The
paucity of studies on the down streams has been the motivation to undertake the work.
In the present work, Kunthi River starting from Sairandhri to
Thiruvegappura of Thutha River after which the river merges with the Bharathapuzha was
selected as the study area. Sairandhri, Mannarkkad, Pulamanthole and Thiruvegappura were
the collection sites. The total distance from Ist station to the last is about 93.66 Km. The
approximate distance between the stations are 31.22Km. Water samples were collected
seasonally and analysed.
Kunthi river is considered as the least polluted river in the state mainly
due to the 15 Km upstream which runs entirely through the evergreen forest of Silent valley
completely untouched by human. The river Thutha is also free from high pollution because it
flows mainly through the rural areas away from major towns. The current study reveals that
only at Pulamanthole the river exceeded the normal BIS value of BOD. This may be the
influence of the sewage and other wastes from the town along which it flows. The primary
production and Chlorophyll a concentration was also high in this station in tune with the high
BOD and nutrient content of the river. The TC was also highest in the area. The influx of workers
from outside state contributes much to make such a situation in the river. The dumping of
chicken wastes to the river is also customary in the area. Unless and until strong measures are
undertaken the river, which is considered to be the least polluted, will regress to a polluted
one.
This is the only tributary of Bharathapuzha which supplies water
throughout the year. It is the sole source of water for drinking, irrigation, bathing and other
activities for thousands of people residing on its bank. Information on environment should form
an integrated part of the school curriculum so as to enable children to understand the inter
dependence of various components of the system of which they form a part. Mass media could
be used for publicizing the facts and providing information of the environment. In the era of
water scarcity and in the light that the scarceness of water is to increase in the eras to come,
the conservation of any fresh water source is the utmost importance and urgent need of the
hour.