Climate Action India Project #40810

Adopt a River

by Tropical Institute of Ecological Sciences

Project Report | Apr 28, 2021
Pollution grabs Manimala River- Aquatic alien weeds clogs the water surface

By Roshni Susan Elias | Senior Scientist

Pistia floating over Manimala River

Unabated pollution again made the Manimala River in news. Suspected pollution from a nearby rubber factory created panic among the riverine community. TIES as part of its conservation efforts tested water samples from 5 (Irukudil- Chenapady; open well; Koyikkall Kadavu; Pazhayidam Checkdam; Poothakuzhy Checkdam; Kanjirappally – Parathodu) locations at Manimala River and the parameters such as pH, conductivity, total dissolved solvents, salinity, acidity, alkalinity, chlorinity, total hardness, calcium ions, magnesium ions, total iron, sulphate, nitrate, chloride were found within the permissible limit in all the collected water samples. Fluoride content was found above the permissible limit in all the collected samples. It may be due to the leaching of fluoride ions from fluoride-containing rocks or soil into the river. But the Phosphate content was found above the permissible limit in the samples collected from Koyikkall Kadavu (Upstream of Karimpukayam Check Dam) and 26^th mile bridge, Kanjirapally. It may be due to natural decomposition or from industrial discharge to the river. A rubber factory is working at Irukudil Close to Karimpumkayam. Water samples were collected from both upstream as well as downstream to find out the extent of pollution and it is shocking that the oil content was found above the permissible limit in all the collected samples and may be due to waste oil disposal or leakage from oil sources.

The Dissolved oxygen level is below the permissible limit at Koyikkal Kadavu, Pazhayidam Check dam, Poothakuzhy check dam and in 26^th mile bridge. The decline is due to the overconsumption of oxygen than it is produced, which indicates that the pollution level is high and is highly life-threatening for the life underwater. BOD level was found to be very high in all the collected samples. BOD directly affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in rivers and streams. The greater the BOD, the more rapidly oxygen is depleted in the stream. This means less oxygen is available to higher forms of aquatic life. The consequences of the high BOD are the same as those for low dissolved oxygen: aquatic organisms become stressed, suffocate, and die. Sources of BOD include leaves and woody debris; dead plants and animals; animal manure; effluents from pulp and paper mills, wastewater treatment plants, feedlots, and food-processing plants; failing septic systems; and urban stormwater runoff.The organic carbon count is also high at Kanjirapally -Parathodu region and it may be due to the effluents from the nearby workshops.

Rather than industrial and other anthropogenic reasons, faecal (human or animal excreta) contamination is also posing threat to river health. Total coliform count, faecal coliform count and E. coli were found above the permissible limit in all the collected samples. Even though India is declared as Open Defecation Free (ODF) the situation is certainly not. The lack of safer toilet technologies and faecal sludge management is the main reason for this. Faecal matter is received from nearby houses and hotels (which is constructed on the KK Road (Kottayam-Kumly Highway) side). This has resulted in the blooming of aquatic weeds like Pistia (Water lettuce) and Eichhornia (Water hyacinth).

The residents are worried that the continued contamination of the river could expose them to communicable diseases.

Water sample collection

Water sample collecting from nearby openwells

Aquatic weeds in the river course

Accumulated plastic waste during flood time

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Jan 19, 2021
Unexpected rains created havoc to paddy farmers; timely emergency support helped prevent devastation

By Sarath Babu | Project Leader

Inundated Paddy fields and clogged Velloor Thodu

Rain in the month of January is an extremely unusual event in the climatic history of Kerala State,India. Kerala is normally known to have typical monsoonal climatic condition. The months from January to April is the summer season that is occasionally accompaniedwith erratic showers. In these past few weeks of January 2021, Kerala has received 73.1mm of rain during the very first week of January and this stands as the highest record during the last 71 years. The extraordinary rain created havoc for the farmers growing paddy, mango and vegetables in low lying areas.

Puncha (rice growing season of Kerala: November to March) cultivation of paddy in Meenachil Riverbed has recently now commenced after a little delay, and thousands of hectaresof paddyfields has got inundated beneath the rainwater. Rice saplings that are aged on an average 16-30days, are still submerged beneath the flood water in many areas.

TIES being in the forefront for the Meenachil River Rejuvenation Project responded immediately and rushed a Team into the fields of Kottayam District and extended every possible support to the farmers. The water from about 350 hectares of paddyfields drains through a main rivulet Velloor Thodu, which was blocked due to uprooted vegetation, weeds and a huge portion of plastic waste. TIES team:

Helped the farmers to drain out the rainwater from the fields as quickly as possible.
Blockages (like plastic waste, uprooted vegetation, etc.) were separated manually
Activated the pumping system.

Rejuvenation of all-natural drainages is the lasting and permanent solution for the issue. TIES is also working collaboratively with the State Government too for other convergence projects.

Manually removing clogged wastes

Activated pumping system

Draining off water from Paddy Fields

Rejuvenated Velloor Thodu & Paddy Fields

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Oct 5, 2020
Pollution in Amrithamedu contaminates four rivers at their source

By Leena Fernandez | Project Leader

Peerumedu hill ranges from Amrithamedu

Amrithamedu is the highest point in the Kuttikkanam region of Peerumedu hill ranges in the Idukki district of Kerala. On the northern side of Amrithamedu is Madamakulam, a natural pond at the base of a waterfall. This region has a number of connected water bodies like the Uppukulam Reservoir and Vellapara Waterfalls. This chain of water bodies in and around this region form the source of tributaries that go on to form four major rivers – Meenachil, Manimala, Pampa, and Periyar.

The scenic beauty of this region with its lush forests and misty mountains is trekkers’ heaven. It is also known for its rich biodiversity including several rare and endemic species. However, this fragile ecosystem is under severe threat of degradation mainly due to pollution from animal farms and irresponsible waste disposal.

A team of scientists from TIES together with leaders of Ente Manimala Ar Peoples Fraternity (people’s collective for the Manimala river), led by Dr. N. Jayaraj MLA, Subin S. Member- District Panchayat and Dr. Punnen Kurian, Secretary-TIES, visited the location to take stock of the on-the-ground situation. Forest Department officials guided the team to various locations in the region.

The team identified 3 major causes for the extensive pollution of the entire stretch of water flow in the area:

Direct seepage from a pig farm located in this location.
Unchecked dumping of domestic solid waste on the hill slopes.
Uncontrolled tourism and trekking activities in the area

Technicians from TIES collected water samples from several locations in the streams from the top to the bottom of the hill range. Tests showed that all samples were heavily contaminated with coliform bacteria, organic wastes, low dissolved oxygen, etc.; all this in an area which is the point of origin for four major rivers of Kerala.

People all over the world have always trusted natural water in the hills to be pure. Trekkers to Amrithamedu have filled water bottles from the waterfalls and even drunk water straight from a mountain stream. Residents never considered the need to purify water before drinking. Nothing ever tasted better than that cold crystal clear water. But not anymore. Now the chain of water bodies in this region is foul-smelling at several locations and people rely on bottled drinking water.

TIES has taken up the matter with local authorities and also submitted a request to Kerala State Biodiversity Board to declare the region a Biodiversity Park in order to conserve the entire ecosystem. We are planning to place information boards and warning signs all through the region for generating awareness among the visitors. A study to document the rich biodiversity and unique ecosystem features has already begun and more conservation activities are in the pipeline.

We look forward to sharing reports on all these activities and more with you in the months to come. We are so very grateful to have you beside us protecting these beautiful rivers and forests of Kerala.

Amrithamedu Plateau

Polluting pig farm

Waste dumped on slopes near Madamakulam

Collecting water samples at Uppukulam

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