The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Ecosystem of major rivers degrading: study

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 03, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

Ecosystem of major rivers degrading: study

Staff Reporter

KOCHI: The ecosystem of major river systems of the State is degrading at an alarming rate, according to a study.

The health status of Bharathapuzha, Periyar, Kallada, Pampa and Kabani was alarming and manifested by the decline in the fish biodiversity, according to the study carried out by a team of researchers of the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat).

The study team was led by B. Madhusoodana Kurup, Professor of the School of Industrial Fisheries of the university, and researchers T.G. Manojkumar and K.V. Radhakrishnan. The health status was assessed with the help of tools like Index of Biotic Integrity, Habitat Quality scoring and Diversity Indices.

The Index of Biotic Integrity reveals the relationship between the habitat and fish community structure. The Habitat Quality scoring revealed the ecosystem status of the rivers computed on the basis of 56 geo-biological, chemical and physical properties of the river system.

For a healthy river system, the Habitat Quality score should be at least 50 for considering it as under good health category, said a communication issued by the researchers.

Chalakkudy was the only river that qualified for the Habitat Quality status among the major rivers with a score of 57. The scores of Bharathapuzha and Kabani were 39 and 34. The score for Pampa, Kallada and Periyar was between 40 and 45, according to the communication.

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