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2019
This is a study of the widespread denial of the damaging impacts of intense industrial pollution at Eloor, Kerala, which has been named one of the world's most toxic hotspots by Greenpeace in the 1990s. It examines the history of the region and of governance there, and of environmental struggles there.
Hydrobiologia, 2000
On the south west coast of India, there is an extensive estuarine system of backwaters, of which Vembanad Lake is the largest. The backwaters of Kerala support as much biological productivity and diversity as tropical rain forests. They are responsible for the rich fisheries potential of Kerala. Cochin backwaters situated at the tip of the northern Vembanad lake is a tropical positive estuarine system extending between 9° 40′ and 10° 12′N and 76° 10' and 76° 30′ E with its northern boundary at Azheekode and southern boundary at Thannirmukham bund. The lake has a length of 80 km and the width varies between 500 and 4000 m. A channel, about 450 m wide at Cochin gut and another at Azheekode, make permanent connections with the Arabian Sea. The depth of the estuary varies considerably. While the shipping channels are maintained at a depth of 10–13 m, the major portion of the estuary has a depth range of 2–7 m. Water from two major rivers viz., Periyar and Muvattupuzha drain into this estuary. During south west monsoon, the estuary is virtually converted into a freshwater basin even in areas around barmouth where salt water penetration occurs below 5 m depth only. The major hydrological variable in the Cochin backwaters is salinity, similar to the situations encountered in estuaries with a gradual declension of salinity from 30 at the entrance of the estuary to 0.2 at the point of entry of the rivers. Salinity gradient in the Cochin backwaters supports diverse species of flora and fauna depending on their capacity to tolerate oligohaline, mesohaline or marine conditions. Low lying swamps and tidal creeks, dominated by sparse patches of mangroves with their nutrient rich physical environment, support larvae and juveniles of many economically important species. Backwaters also act as nursery grounds of commercially important prawns and fishes. The fields around the backwater are suitable for aquaculture. These areas support traditional, seasonal and perennial prawn fishery. The changes in the hydrology controlled by the seasons play an important role in regulating the migrant fauna of the estuary. The Cochin backwater supports a well established endemic fauna. The nutrients and pollutants introduced into the estuary control to a great extent the distribution and abundance of less tolerant species in ecologically sensitive areas in the backwaters. Cochin backwaters, widely regarded as one of the polluted estuaries in India, receive contaminated freshwater inputs and discharges of effluents and partially treated sewage from many points throughout its tidally mixed zone. Recently, changes brought about in the estuary like reclamation and consequent shrinkage of the backwaters and the discharge of pollutants have made an adverse impact on the potential of aquatic ecosystems that used to support high levels of bioproductivity and biodiversity. The construction of Thannirmukham bund and Thottapally spillway to prevent salt water penetration into the paddy fields during pre-monsoon has led to serious ecological problems by interrupting the natural ebb and flow of tides. The hydrography, floral and faunal composition – its spatial and temporal variation plus assessments of the impact of the anthropogenic activities are presented in this review. An attempt to critically evaluate the status of the estuary from the biological and pollutional stand point is also done.
Kerala Floods, 2018
2018 Kerala floods was not an Act of God that exonerated malfunctioning of institutions of governance in the state. A study of Talukas and Panchayats level brought forth evidence which substantiated the claim to mis-governance. Coastal Zone management needs greater attention and coasts need to be addressed on a priority for the protection of local communities rather than the tourism industry and land developers.
2012
"Examining Environment and Health Interactions: Responding with communities to the challenges of our times" is a review and analysis of SOCHARA's involvement in the field of environmental and occupational health between 1984 and 2010. Besides involvement in several campaigns like the campaign for relief of victims at Bhopal, research on vector-borne diseases such as Malaria, and inputs given to state level health policy reports, this report gives some insight into the concept, history and scope of the CHESS (Community Health Environment Survey Skill-share) initiative, the informal network and the associated workshops that have been conducted. At the end of the report, an analysis and reflection of the past activities has been presented with the intention of drawing lessons for future course of action in the field.
Water pollution does more than make the river smell bad. It wrecks ecosystems and livelihoods and is not something to be ignored. The main harmful side of water pollution is the raising of the water temperature. In most studies, pollution of water due to artificial means is not concentrated beyond a limit which is the most dangerous stage-thermal pollution. The raising of the air or water temperature by artificial means is thermal pollution. Thermal pollution is largely water associated. Thermal pollution is related to chloro-fluoro carbons (CFCs), carbon dioxide and global warming. The addition of excess of undesirable heat to water thereby making it harmful to man, animal or aquatic life the inter link between thermal pollution of water and air is a vast concern. The addition of these undesirable heats to a level more than the auto recyclable ability of water turns the water more dangerous than poison. Research on regional and global climate changes and variabilities and their impacts on water resources have received considerable attention in recent years. Potential impacts of climate change and its effects have been much in discussion but relatively fewer studies are being done on changes in water quality. From a global perspective, climate change is usually perceived as an increase in average air temperature. So with increase in surface water temperature, air temperature increases. This affects the water quality of river. Most of the bacteriological activities and chemical activities of the river increase with increase in water temperature, which reduces the dissolved oxygen in the river. In this work, a detailed survey on river Periyar has been done to encounter the amount of thermal pollution it undergoes and the net impact on global warming. This survey report will be very helpful for the researchers who focus on the river and its diversity to be protected.
Environmental fundamentalism often ignores the humanitarian aspects of development. The human life style has changed a lot from the primitive culture of eco-friendly life style to modern civilised and city-like life style. Often the environmental fundamentalists concentrate on urban areas, and try to impose fundamentalist view on the village people. This is often supported by the Government since the village people are voice less. It often creates some issues in the rural areas especially in a state like Kerala where there are least regional imbalances, as compared to other states of India. The fundamentalists obtained the labelling 'World Heritage Zone' for the Western Ghats from the UN, in such a manner which is criticized and objected by the UN itself. With a view to cover the UN objections to that proposals, the Government appointed a High Level Committee chaired by Prof. Gadgil. As per the request of the MPs of the region he also suggests to exclude certain areas of Western Ghats from the labelling, which is accepted by the Government. But the criteria of exclusion neglected the concerns of thickly populated remote villages in the region. The article tries to justify the arguments and demands farmers union in the region on the basis of the 'Report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel' chaired by Prof. Madhav Gadgil, Submitted to 'The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India' on 31 August 2011. It also discusses the historical perspective of the environmental awareness to find more light to the issues. The irony of environmental promotion which ignores the eco friendly life style of the villages is criticised, on the basis of Gadgil committee report.
Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018, 2018
CENTRE OF ADVANCED STUDY IN MARINE BIOLOGY FACULTY OF MARINE SCIENCES ANNAMALAI UNIVERSITY PARANGIPETTAI, TAMILNADU, INDIA, 2019
Science of The Total Environment, 2014
https://www.ijrrjournal.com/IJRR_Vol.6_Issue.7_July2019/Abstract_IJRR0045.html, 2019
Voice of Environment Newsletter , 2019
Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, 2018
Voice of Environment Newsletter , 2019
Exeter: Greenpeace …, 2002