Helena Joyce
Kerala's rivers are under threat from pollution caused by sewage inflows, industrial effluents, and solid waste. A study found that the Pamba, Periyar, Karamana, Kallayi, Valapattanam, and Meenachil rivers were the most polluted in the state. However, the least polluted river in Kerala is the Kabini in Wayanad, according to KSCSTE joint director Kamalakshan Kokkal. While the state's rivers face various environmental challenges, the Kabini river has managed to remain relatively untouched, making it the least polluted river in Kerala.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Least Polluted River in Kerala | Kabini in Wayanad |
| River Length | N/A |
| Causes of Pollution | Sewage Inflows, Industrial Effluents, Solid Waste, Urbanisation, Land Use Pattern, Chemical Fertilizers, Lifestyle, Waste Disposal, Domestic and Industrial Waste |
| Effects of Pollution | Fish Kills, Loss of Traditional Occupations, Environmental Damage |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Kabini River in Wayanad is Kerala's least polluted river
Kerala's rivers are under threat from pollution. A study by the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) found that all 44 rivers in the state were polluted, with Pamba and Periyar being the most polluted. However, there is one exception—the Kabini River in Wayanad, which is Kerala's least polluted river.
The Kabini River originates in the Wayanad district of Kerala by the confluence of the Panamaram and Mananthavady rivers. It flows eastward through the Wayanad district, entering the Mysore district of Karnataka, where it joins the Kaveri River. The river is home to diverse flora and fauna, including herds of elephants and tigers. The Kabini Forest Reserve, which is spread over 55 acres of forest land, steep valleys, and water bodies, is a popular wildlife destination.
The Kabini River's status as the least polluted river in Kerala is due to its path through mostly forest and rural areas of the Wayanad district. However, even the Kabini River is not entirely immune to pollution. Environmental monitoring of water quality has shown that pollution levels in the river are increasing, and if the current rate of microbial contamination continues, the river could be reduced to a puddle of wastewater.
The high levels of pollution in Kerala's rivers are a result of lopsided urbanization and a lack of solid waste management. Rivers are choked with sewage inflows, industrial effluents, and solid waste, leading to increasing levels of microbial contamination. Despite the efforts of the government and organizations like the KSCSTE to protect and clean up rivers, the issue of river pollution in Kerala remains a challenging one.
Nutrient Pollution: Strategies for Mitigating Its Environmental Impact
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Causes of Kerala's river pollution
Kerala's rivers are facing a serious threat due to increasing pollution levels. A study conducted by scientific research institutions under the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE) found that all 44 rivers in the state were polluted. The least polluted river in Kerala is the Kabini in Wayanad. However, the other rivers in the state are facing severe pollution issues, with the Kallai River in Kozhikode being named the most polluted in 2023.
One of the main causes of river pollution in Kerala is the discharge of industrial effluents and waste. The Periyar River, for example, is reeling under the impact of effluents from the hundreds of factories functioning in its vicinity. Similarly, the Kallai River's condition has been attributed to the discharge of pollutants from industries and drainage systems across Kozhikode city, which are channelled into the river through the Conolly canal.
Another significant contributor to river pollution in Kerala is the lack of proper solid waste management. Rivers like the Pamba are choked with waste left by pilgrims, while others, such as the Kallai, suffer from the dumping of solid waste on their banks, causing silt accumulation and impeding water flow. Large-scale encroachment has also been identified as an issue, with the Revenue Department finding encroached land along the banks of the Kallai.
The high population density in areas through which the rivers flow also contributes to the pollution. Various pollutants from households, shops, hotels, markets, slaughterhouses, and other establishments end up in the rivers, leading to their degradation. Additionally, the meandering nature of some rivers has resulted in the formation of small islands that obstruct the flushing out of pollutants.
The lack of effective action and implementation of orders to address river pollution in Kerala has also been noted. Despite court orders and directives from authorities, there has been a lack of concrete measures taken against polluters, with only a few notices being issued in some cases. This has allowed the pollution to continue unabated and exacerbated the issues facing the rivers.
The Home's Hidden Pollutants: What's Lurking in the Air?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Effects of river pollution in Kerala
Kerala's rivers are facing a severe pollution crisis, with all 44 rivers in the state being contaminated by untreated domestic and industrial waste, agricultural runoff, and sewage inflows. This has had detrimental effects on the environment and people's health and has contributed to water scarcity in the region.
One of the most polluted rivers in Kerala is the Pamba River, which is considered sacred in Hindu culture and plays an important role in religious festivals and pilgrimages. The river has high levels of coliform bacteria, with a faecal coliform count of 5,100 colony-forming units (CFU) per 100 ml of water, far exceeding the maximum permissible limit of 500 CFU/100 ml. This is due to the daily average of 7 million litres of untreated sewage generated in Pamba town, as well as waste left by pilgrims who come to bathe and perform rituals in the river. The high pollution levels in the Pamba River have negatively impacted the river's ecosystem and the health of the surrounding communities.
Another river that has been severely affected by pollution is the Periyar River, which flows through Eloor Island, home to Kerala's largest industrial cluster. The river is contaminated with heavy metals, chemicals, and radioactivity from the factories in its vicinity. These pollutants have spread to the Vembanad Lake, Cochin, and even the Arabian Sea, leading to large-scale devastation of aquatic life and agricultural land. The health of the population in the area has also been affected by the toxic pollution in the air, soil, and water.
Other highly polluted rivers in Kerala include Karamana, Kallayi, Valapattanam, and Meenachil. These rivers have high levels of solid waste, sewage, and industrial effluents, as well as low dissolved oxygen content, making the water unfit for drinking. The pollution in these rivers is a result of lopsided urbanisation and a lack of solid waste management and effective water treatment systems.
The effects of river pollution in Kerala are widespread and severe, impacting the environment, public health, and water availability. It is crucial for the government and communities to work together to implement effective waste management practices, improve water treatment infrastructure, and protect the state's precious water resources.
Creating Pollution: A Guide to Damaging Our Environment
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Efforts to reduce river pollution in Kerala
Kerala's rivers are facing a threat due to pollution from sewage inflows, industrial effluents, and solid waste. A study found that Pamba, Periyar, Karamana, Kallayi, Valapattanam, and Meenachil were the most polluted rivers in the state. The least polluted river in Kerala is the Kabini in Wayanad.
To combat this issue, the Kerala State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has implemented water pollution control measures through the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. This legislation regulates the quality and quantity of effluents, their discharge locations, and the frequency of effluent monitoring. As a result, the water pollution load from industries has decreased to about 30% of the 1974 levels, and water quality has improved over the years.
The KSPCB has also proposed integrated clearance procedures to the State Government, which has amended the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Rules. This integrated approach addresses various forms of pollution, including effluent, emission, solid waste, biomedical waste, plastic waste, and hazardous waste. The new procedure includes a combined application form for obtaining consents, registrations, and authorisations across these different facets of environmental pollution control.
In addition to government initiatives, local residents and environmental activists have formed forums such as the Periyar Malineekarana Virudha Samithi to fight pollution in the Periyar River caused by industrial units. The Samithi monitors the river and raises awareness about its condition. Similarly, the Friends of Bharathapuzha aims to develop a comprehensive action plan to involve local bodies in conservation efforts for the Bharathapuzha River, which has been affected by sand mining and pollution.
The Kerala River Improvement (KRI) project has also taken up a study for the abatement of pollution in the Kechery River, focusing on an 8.5 km stretch from Puliyannur to the Kecheri bridge. Causes of pollution include fluctuations in water availability, urbanisation, land use changes, excessive chemical fertilisers, and unscientific waste disposal systems. The KRI aims to address these issues through field surveys, identification of polluted stretches, water quality assessments, and the development of river action plans.
Carbon Dioxide: Corrosive or Not?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$3.18
Most polluted rivers in Kerala
Kerala's rivers are choked with sewage inflows, industrial effluents, and solid waste due to lopsided urbanization and a lack of solid waste management. According to a study by the Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), the following rivers are the most polluted in Kerala:
Pamba
The Pamba river is choked with waste left by pilgrims. It is one of the two most polluted rivers in Kerala, according to KSCSTE joint director Kamalakshan Kokkal.
Periyar
The Periyar river is polluted by effluents from the hundreds of factories functioning in its vicinity. It is the second most polluted river in Kerala, according to Kokkal.
Karamana
The Karamana river basin was monitored for water quality in the second phase of the KSCSTE study, along with the Meenachil and Kadalundi river basins.
Kallayi
The Kallayi river, also known as the Kallai river, was deemed the most polluted river in Kerala in a 2023 report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). It flows through the heart of Kozhikode city and has high levels of oxygen and faecal matter in the water.
Valapattanam
The Valapattanam river was identified as one of the most polluted rivers in Kerala by the KSCSTE study.
Meenachil
The Meenachil river was also identified as one of the most polluted rivers in Kerala by the KSCSTE study. Its water quality was monitored in the second phase of the study.
The Kabini river in Wayanad is the least polluted river in Kerala, according to Kokkal. Its path through forest and rural areas of the Wayanad district means it is less affected by pollution.
The Many Types of Pollutants and Their Harmful Effects
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
According to KSCSTE joint director Kamalakshan Kokkal, the least polluted river in Kerala is Kabini in Wayanad.
River pollution in Kerala is caused by urbanization, land use pattern changes, excess chemical fertilizers, lifestyle changes, and unscientific waste disposal systems.
The most polluted river in Kerala is the Kallai river, which flows through Kozhikode city. Other highly polluted rivers include Pamba, Periyar, Karamana, Valapattanam, and Meenachil.
Efforts are being made by various organizations and government bodies to address river pollution in Kerala. This includes projects like river action plans, afforestation programs, and initiatives by forums such as the Aluva Environmental Protection Forum and Friends of Bharathapuzha.
