Module 11
Module 11
Module- 11
CASE STUDIES
The environmental movement, also including conservation and green politics, is a
diverse scientific, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues.
Environmentalists advocate the sustainable management of resources and stewardship
of the environment through changes in public policy and individual behavior. In its
recognition of humanity as a participant in (not enemy of) ecosystems, the movement is
centered on ecology, health, and human rights.
In India like country the environmental and public health is an ongoing struggle. The first
seed of an environmental movement in India was the foundation in 1964 of Dasholi
Gram Swarajya Sangh, a labour coperative started by Chandi Prasad Bhatt. It was
inaugurated by Sucheta Kriplani and founded on a land donated by Shyma Devi. This
initiative was eventually followed up with the Chipko movement starting in 1974.
The most severe single event underpinning the movement was the Bhopal gas leakage
on 3 December 1984. 40 tons of methyl isocyanate was released, immediately killing
2,259 people and ultimately affecting 700,000 citizens.
India has a national campaign against Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola plants due to their
practices of drawing ground water and contaminating fields with sludge. The movement
is characterized by local struggles against intensive aquaculture farms. The most
influential part of the environmental movement in India is the anti-dam movement. Dam
creation has been thought of as a way for India to catch up with the West by connecting
to the power grid with giant dams, coal or oil-powered plants, or nuclear plants. Jhola
Andolan a mass movement is conducting as fighting against polyethylene carry bags
uses and promoting cloth/jute/paper carry bags to protect environment & nature.
Activists in the Indian environmental movement consider global warming, sea levels
rising, and glaciers retreating decreasing the amount of water flowing into streams to be
the biggest challenges for them to face in the early twenty-first century.
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Chipko Movement:
The forests of India are a critical resource for the subsistence of rural peoples
throughout the country, but especially in hill and mountain areas, both because of their
direct provision of food, fuel and fodder and because of their role in stabilizing soil and
water resources. These forests have been increasingly felled for commerce and
industry; Indian villagers have sought to protect their livelihoods through the Gandhian
method of Satyagraha non-violent resistance. In the 1970s and 1980s this resistance to
the destruction of forests spread throughout India and became organized and known as
the Chipko Movement.
The first Chipko action took place spontaneously in April 1973 and over the next five
years spread to many districts of the Himalaya in Uttar Pradesh. The name of the
movement comes from a word meaning 'embrace': the villagers hug the trees, saving
them by interposing their bodies between them and the contractors' axes. The Chipko
protests in Uttar Pradesh achieved a major victory in 1980 with a 15-year ban on green
felling in the Himalayan forests of that state by order of India's then Prime Minister,
Indira Gandhi. Since then the movement has spread to Himachal Pradesh in the North,
Kamataka in the South, and Rajasthan in the West, Bihar in the East and to the
Vindhyas in Central India. In addition to the 15-year ban in Uttar Pradesh, the
movement has stopped clear felling in the Western Ghats and the Vindhyas and
generated pressure for a natural resource policy which is more sensitive to people's
needs and ecological requirements.
Chandi Prasad Bhatt, one of the earliest Chipko activists, who fostered locally-based
industries based on the conservation and sustainable use of forest wealth for local
benefit.
Indu Tikekar, a doctor of philosophy, whose spiritual discourses throughout India on the
ancient Sanskrit scriptures and on comparative religion have stressed the unity and
oneness of life and put the Chipko Movement in this context.
A feature published by the United Nations Environment Programme reported the Chipko
Movement thus: 'In effect the Chipko people are working a socio-economic revolution by
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winning control of their forest resources from the hands of a distant bureaucracy which
is concerned with selling the forest for making urban-oriented products.'
Narmada Bachao Andolan is the most powerful mass movement, started in 1985,
against the construction of huge dam on the Narmada River. Narmada is the India's
largest west flowing river, which supports a large variety of people with distinguished
culture and tradition ranging from the indigenous (tribal) people inhabited in the jungles
here to the large number of rural population. The proposed Sardar Sarovar Dam and
Narmada Sagar will displace more than 250,000 people. The big fight is over the
resettlement or the rehabilitation of these people. The two proposals are already under
construction, supported by US$550 million loan by the World Bank. There are plans to
build over 3000 big and small dams along the river.
Narmada Bachao Andolan It is a multi crores project that will generate a big revenue for
the government. The Narmada Valley Development plan is the most promised and most
challenging plan in the history of India. The proponents are of the view that it will
produce 1450 MW of electricity and pure drinking water to 40 million people covering
thousands of villages and towns. Some of the dams have been already been completed
such as Tawa and Bargi Dams. But the opponent says that this hydro project will
devastate human lives and bio diversity by destroying thousands of acres of forests and
agricultural land. On the other hand it will overall deprive thousands of people of their
livelihood. They believe that the water and energy could be provided to the people
through alternative technological means that would be ecologically beneficial.
Led by one of the prominent leader Medha Patkar, it has now been turned into the
International protest, gaining support from NGO'S all around the globe. Protestors are
agitating the issue through the mass media, hunger strikes, massive marches, rallies
and the through the on screen of several documentary films. Although they have been
protesting peacefully, but they been harassed, arrested and beaten up by the police
several times. The Narmada Bachao Andolan has been pressurizing the World Bank to
withdraw its loan from the project through media.
The strong protests throughout the country not only made impact on the local people
but has also influenced the several famous celebrities like film star Aamir Khan, who
has made open efforts to support Narmada Bachao Andolan. He said he only want that
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those who have been rendered homeless should be given a roof. He pleaded to the
common people to take part in the moment and come up with the best possible
solutions.
Save Silent Valley was a social movement aimed at the protection of Silent valley, an
evergreen tropical forest in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India. It was started in 1973
to save the Silent Valley Reserve Forest from being flooded by a hydroelectric project.
The valley was declared as Silent Valley National Park in 1985. Nonetheless the
controversy surrounding the valley is still on.
The Kunthipuzha is a major river that flows 15 km southwest from Silent Valley. It takes
its origin in the lush green forests of Silent valley. In 1928 the location at Sairandhiri on
the Kunthipuzha River was identified as an ideal site for electricity generation. A study
and survey was conducted in 1958 of the area about the possibility of a hydroelectric
project of 120 MV and one costing Rs. 17 Crores was later proposed by the Kerala
State Electricity Board.
After the announcement of imminent dam construction the valley became the focal point
of "Save Silent Valley", India's fiercest environmental debate of the decade. Because of
concern about the endangered lion-tailed macaque, the issue was brought to public
attention. Romulus Whitaker, founder of the Madras Snake Park and the Madras
Crocodile Bank, was probably the first person to draw public attention to the small and
remote area. In 1977 the Kerala Forest Research Institute carried out an Ecological
Impact study of the Silent Valley area and proposed that the area be declared a
Biosphere Reserve.
In 1978 Smt. Indira Gandhi the Honorable Prime Minister of India, approved the project
with the condition that the State Government enacts Legislation ensuring the necessary
safeguards. Also that year the IUCN (Ashkhabad, USSR, 1978) passed a resolution
recommending protection of Lion-tailed Macaques in Silent Valley and Kalakkad and the
controversy heated up. In 1979 the Government of Kerala passed Legislation regarding
the Silent Valley Protection Area (Protection of Ecological balance Act of 1979) and
issued a notification declaring the exclusion of the Hydroelectric Project Area from the
proposed National Park.
Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad (KSSP) effectively aroused public opinion on the
requirement to save Silent Valley. Dr. Salem Ali, eminent ornithologist of the Bombay
Natural History Society, visited the Valley and appealed for cancellation of the
Hydroelectric Project. A petition of writ was filed before the High Court of Kerala, against
the clear cutting of forests in the Hydroelectric Project area and the court ordered a stop
to the clear cutting.
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Ten months later, on September 7, 1985 the Silent Valley National Park was formally
inaugurated and a memorial at Sairandhiri to Indira Gandhi was unveiled by Shri. Rajiv
Gandhi, the new Hon. Prime Minister of India. On September 1, 1986 Silent Valley
National Park was designated as the core area of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Since
then, a long-term conservation effort has been undertaken to preserve the Silent Valley
ecosystem.
In 2001 a new Hydro project was proposed and the "Man vs. Monkey debate" was
revived. The proposed site of the dam (64.5 m high and 275 m long) is just 3.5 km
downstream of the old dam site at Sairandhiri, 500 m outside the National Park
boundary. The 84 km² catchment of the project area included 79 km² of the Silent Valley
National Park.
The Taj Mahal, one of the eight wonders of the modern world and India’s greatest
landmark, is in danger of being damaged by air and water pollution. Agra, where the Taj
Mahal stands, has been polluted heavily by industries and traffic over the past decades.
Illegal factories are springing up around the Taj Mahal and uncontrolled construction
around the monument seems to be endless. Ground water levels are sinking because
the population around Agra, a city of four million people, is growing and needs more and
more water. The wooden foundations of the monument may collapse because they are
becoming too dry.
The Yamuna River, which runs through Agra, is heavily polluted by industries around
the capital Delhi, which is about hundred and fifty kilometers up the river. The sources
of air pollution in Agra region were particularly iron foundries, Ferro-alloys industries,
rubber processing, lime processing, engineering, chemical industries, brick kilns,
refractory units and automobiles. The distant sources of pollution were the Mathura
Refinery and Firozabad bangles and glass industries. It was also stated that the sulphur
dioxide emitted by the Mathura Refinery and the industries located in Agra and
Firozabad when combined with moisture in the atmosphere forms sulphuric acid and
causes "acid rain" which has a corroding effect on the gleaming white marble. The
industrial and refinery emissions from brick kilns, vehicular traffic and generator sets
were alleged primarily responsible for polluting the ambient air in and around Taj
Trapezium Zone (TTZ) as identified by the Central Pollution Control Board. On the
directions of the Hon'ble Supreme Court, the NEERI and the Ministry of Environment &
Forests had undertaken an extensive study for re-defining the TTZ (Taj Trapezium
Zone) and re-alienating the area management environmental plan. The NEERI in its
report had observed that the industries in the TTZ (Districts of Agra Mathura, Firozabad
and Bharatpur) were the main sources of air pollution in the area and suggested that the
air polluting industries in the area be shifted outside the TTZ. The Hon'ble Supreme
Court after examining all the reports viz, four reports from NEERI, two reports from
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Varadarajan and several reports by the Central Pollution Control Board and U.P.Board,
on 31.12.1996 directed that the industries in the TTZ were the active contributors to the
air pollution in the said area. All the 292 industries were to approach/apply to the GAIL
before 15.2.1997 for grant of industrial gas-connection. The industries which are not in a
position to obtain gas-connections to approach UPSIDC /U.P Government before
28.2.1997 for allotment of alternative plots in the industrial estates outside TTZ. Those
industries, which neither applied for gas-connection nor for alternate industrial plots
should stop functioning using coke/coal as fuel in the TTZ w.e.f. 30.4.1997. The supply
of coke/coal to these industries shall be stopped forthwith. The GAIL should commence
supply of gas to the industries by 30.6.1997, with these directions the issue relating to
292 industries was disposed of. Now, none of the 292 industries is using coal/coke as
fuel. As per the information given by the Government of Uttar Pradesh to the Hon'ble
Supreme Court, the present operational status of those industries is as follows:
At the end of the last century the government realized the growing problem and started
a program to save the monument’s shiny white marble façade because it was turning
yellow. Over $150 million were spent on restoration but it did not help much. Corrosion
has continued and acid rain has also caused a change in the color of the façade. Some
years ago restoration experts started putting mud packs around the façade to bring
back the building’s shiny white color.
The government and city authorities have taken measures to protect India’s greatest
sight. Pollution stations around Agra monitor air quality around the clock. Car traffic has
been banned within two kilometers of the monument. Electric and battery driven cars
and buses then take tourists to the site. A natural gas pipeline is also in discussion.
Factories and industries around Agra should be persuaded to change to cleaner forms
of energy.
Madhura Refinery:
The Mathura Refinery, owned by Indian Oil Corporation, is located in Mathura, Uttar
Pradesh. The refinery processes low sulphur crude from Bombay High, imported low
sulphur crude from Nigeria, and high sulphur crude from the Middle East.
The refinery was commissioned in January, 1982. Construction began on the refinery in
October 1972. The foundation stone was laid by Indira Gandhi, the former prime
minister of India.
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The refinery was in the news for allegedly causing the white marble of the Taj Mahal to
yellow. It is located about 50 kilometers away from the Taj Mahal. It is currently asking
the Indian government to allow an expansion, raising the capacity to 11 million tons.
The refinery also wants to create a new garbage disposal site, which has garnered new
outrage from environmental activists because the site will be located even closer to the
Taj Mahal and Mathura. The Mathura oil refinery releases toxic gases and disposes
waste into the rivers making the area dirty and unhealthy. Even the Taj Mahal is getting
affected because of this. The India government hired a panel to examine the effects of
the refinery on the Taj Mahal. The panel found that the air has high levels of suspended
particulate matter, caused by factory emissions, dust, construction, and exhaust from
automobiles. These are causing the Taj Mahal to change color.
In 1998 the plant was awarded the "Best of all" Rajiv Gandhi National Quality Award. In
January 2009, the plant shut down for a period of time due to a strike.
Industrialization of Patancheru:
Patancheru also known as Patan Cheruvu, it was one of largest industrial zone which is
located about 32 km from the centre of city on the Hyderabad - Sholapur highway, and
around 18 km from HITEC City. Patancheru is the major Industrial hub of Telangana.
Major industries like Asian Paints, Aurobindo Pharma, Fenner, Pennar Kirby Building
Systems, Rotec Transmissions and Sandvik (MNC) are located in this area. It received
major boost when Indira Gandhi served as the M.P of Medak constituency, when she
started the Industrial park in Patancheru.
The highest level of drug pollution in water was found in Patancheru in 2009.
Researchers found measurable quantities of 21 different manufactured drugs in the
water. The pollution results from waste water dumped into the river by the over 90 local
pharmaceutical manufacturers. The area is also home to a large number of
pharmaceutical manufacturers, which has resulted in local river water being the most
drug polluted water in the world.
Untreated industrial effluents from the estate let out into the Nakkavagu drain have
poisoned the groundwater, affecting not just hundreds of acres of agricultural lands but
also the drinking waters of about 15 hamlets.
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Following the filing of a PIL in 1990 by lawyer M C Mehta on behalf of Delhi's Indian
Council for Enviro-Legal Action, the SC directed the district judge of Medak to inspect
the location and submit a report. This report, submitted in November 1995, concluded
that over 100 industries were responsible for causing groundwater pollution in the
region.
The judgment
1) Asked the AP government to deposit Rs 1.5 crore with the High Court (APHC)
towards final compensation; the compensation amount was meant to cushion the
agricultural loss, calculated at Rs 1,000 per acre (0.405 ha) per year.
2) Asked the guilty industries (instead of closing them down) to reimburse the AP
government the entire amount deposited with the APHC.
3) Ordered upgradation of the existing effluent treatment plant (ETP), and asked the
APPCB to establish a common ETP (CETP).
Nakkavagu, Patancheru
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immediately get into the business of filling their buckets and other utensils. The
water is from a municipal supply system at Patancheru.
The factories still seem to be releasing their dirty water (effluents) into the
Nakkavagu drain. Children suffer the most with rashes and skin irritations after they
bathe or swim in the tanks or ponds. These tanks and ponds are fed by the
groundwater of the area.
But it is worthwhile to note that the water in Nakkavagu drain is still coloured, the
groundwater still smells and it still remains brackish. While the APPCB claims that
efforts to "cleanse industrial pollutants is on", the orders so far have not pulled up
the board for its lackluster efforts. It remains to be seen whether the final decision of
the court pins the responsibility on the guilty industry.
Nagarjuna Sagar Dam is the world's largest masonry dam. It was built on the Krishna
River at Nagarjuna Sagar in between Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh state and
Nalgonda district of Telangana state, India. The construction duration of the dam was
between the years of 1955 and 1967. The dam created a water reservoir whose
capacity is 11,472,000,000 cubic metres (4.051×1011 cu ft.). The dam is 490 feet (150
m) tall and 0.99 miles (1.6 km) long with 26 gates which are 42 feet (13 m) wide and 45
feet (14 m) tall. Nagarjuna Sagar was the earliest in the series of large infrastructure
projects initiated for the Green Revolution in India; it also is one of the earliest multi-
purpose irrigation and hydro-electric projects in India. The dam provides irrigation water
to the Prakasam, Guntur, Krishna, Khammam and Nalgonda districts along with electric
power to the national grid. It holds second largest reservoir in India after Indira Sagar in
Madhya Pradesh followed by Bhakra dam. It is the largest dam in India in terms of
Length, 1,550 metres.
The Vengurlekar Committee of the Atomic Energy Commission having considered the
impact of low flows in summer into rivers and lakes and increasing need for water to
cool the condensers suggested that the reactors must be located on the sea coast. The
location of the Tarapur and Kalpakkam reactors are in tune with the stipulated siting
criteria. To avoid these problems the reactors are generally located on the coastal sites
in Britain, Sweden and Norway. By violating all these norms why should the proposed
nuclear plant be sited at Nagarjuna Sagar?
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For a design basis accident in a pressurized water reactor, a core-melt down is
accompanied by a steam explosion due to the contact of the molten fuel with the water
that remains in the reactor vessel. Even if such an accident were to occur once in a
million years, the radioactive substances are expected to get released into the
atmosphere about 2:30 hours after the accident. Although the population is likely to be
moved radially away from the reactor up to about 30km. the adverse health impact
causes 3300 early fatalities, 45,000 early illnesses and 1400 cancers per year. In
Chernobyl people were evacuated up to 30 km around the nuclear plant. In addition to
loss of life, damage to public health and properties estimated at $ 5,000 deformed off-
spring will be borne to humans and animals. Under the circumstances, opinions of
experts must be taken into account before making a proper environmental assessment
of the proposed reactor.
Without placing the risk and environmental impact analysis reports before the people of
Andhra Pradesh, the atomic energy experts are denying them their right to healthy
living. Without sincere efforts to explain the levels of air and water pollution expected
from the nuclear power plants and its waste treatment systems and their immediate
short-term and long-term impact on health and environment they cannot force the State
Pollution Control Board to grant permission and thereby sign the death warrant of the
people.
Under the circumstances, the people of Andhra Pradesh should not blindly believe the
atomic energy experts on their assurances of safety but must organize mass
movements for locating the proposed reactor underground or in rock caverns at a safer
place on the East coast around Gudur, Nellore, Machilipatnam or Visakhapatnam. They
must demand for inherently safe reactors in place of the proposed unsafe ones.
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Tehri Dam:
The Tehri Dam is the tallest dam in India and one of the tallest in the world. It is a multi-
purpose rock and earth-fill embankment dam on the Bhagirathi River near Tehri in
Uttarakhand, India. It is the primary dam of the THDC India Ltd. and the Tehri
hydroelectric complex. Phase 1 was completed in 2006; the Tehri Dam withholds a
reservoir for irrigation, municipal water supply and the generation of 1,000 megawatts
(1,300,000 hp) of hydroelectricity. The dam's 1,000 MW pumped-storage scheme is
currently under construction.
The Tehri Dam has been the object of protests by environmental organizations and
local people of the region. In addition to the human rights concerns, the project has
spurred concerns about the environmental consequences of locating such a large dam
in the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayan foothills. There are further concerns regarding
the dam's geological stability. The Tehri dam is located in the Central Himalayan
Seismic Gap, a major geologic fault zone. This region was the site of a 6.8 magnitude
earthquake in October 1991, with an epicenter 53 kilometers (33 mi) from the location of
the dam. Dam proponents claim that the complex is designed to withstand an
earthquake of 8.4 magnitudes, but some seismologists say that earthquakes with a
magnitude of 8.5 or more could occur in this region. Were such a catastrophe to occur,
the potentially resulting dam-break would submerge numerous towns downstream,
whose populations total near half a million.
A protest message against Tehri dam, which was steered by Sunderlal Bahuguna for
years. It says "We don't want the dam. The dam is the mountain's destruction." The
relocation of more than 100,000 people from the area has led to protracted legal battles
over resettlement rights, and ultimately resulted in the project's delayed completion.
Since 2005, filling of the reservoir has led to the reduced flow of Bhagirathi water from
the normal 1,000 cubic feet per second (28 m3/s) to a mere 200 cubic feet per second
(5.7 m3/s). This reduction has been central to local protest against the dam, since the
Bhagirathi is considered part of the sacred Ganges whose waters are crucial to Hindu
beliefs. At some points during the year, the tampering with Bhagirathi waters means this
tributary stops flowing. This has created resentment among many Hindus, who claim
that the sanctity of the Ganges has been compromised for the generation of electricity.
Though the officials say that when the reservoir is filled to its maximum capacity the flow
of the river will again become normal. In spite of concerns and protestation, operation of
the Tehri Dam continues.
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carried out programs like tree planting, terracing to reduce soil erosion and digging
canals to retain rainwater. For energy, the village uses solar power, biogas (some
generated from the community toilet) and a windmill. The project is heralded as a
sustainable model of a village republic.
Model village: The World Bank Group has concluded that the village of Ralegaon Siddhi
was transformed from a highly degraded village ecosystem in a semi-arid region of
extreme poverty to one of the richest in the country.
Watershed development: In 1975 the village was afflicted by drought, poverty prevailed,
and trade in illicit liquor was widespread. The village tank could not hold water as the
embankment dam wall leaked. Work began with the percolation tank construction.
Hazare encouraged the villagers to donate their labour to repair the embankment. Once
this was fixed, the seven wells below filled with water in the summer for the first time in
memory. Now the village has water year round, as well as a grain bank, a milk bank,
and a school. There is no longer any poverty.
Kolleru Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in India located in state of Andhra
Pradesh. Kolleru is located between Krishna and Godavari delta. Kolleru spans into two
districts - Krishna and West Godavari. The lake serves as a natural flood-balancing
reservoir for Godavari and Krishna rivers. The lake is fed directly by water from the
seasonal Budameru and Tammileru streams, and is connected to the Krishna and
Godavari systems by over 68 in-flowing drains and channels. Rich in flora and fauna, it
attracts migratory birds from Northern Asia and Eastern Europe between the months of
October and March. During this season, the lake is visited by an estimated 20,00,000
birds. The resident birds include Grey pelicans, Asian Open-billed Storks (Anastomus
oscitans), Painted Storks (Mycteria leucocephala), Glossy Ibises, White Ibises, Teals,
Pintails, Shovellers. The migratory birds include Red-Crested Pochards, Blackwinged
Stilts, Avocets, Common Red shanks, Wigeons, Gadwalls and Cormorants, Garganys,
Herons, Flamingos & among others.. The lake was declared as a wildlife sanctuary in
November 1999 under India's Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, and designated a wetland
of international importance in November 2002 under the international Ramsar
Convention. The wildlife sanctuary covers an area of 308 km².
Kolleru Lake is suffering from the unsatisfied greed of people and selfish interests of
mankind who exploit the lake’s integrity. Thousands of fish tanks were dug up effectively
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converting the lake into a mere drain. This had great impact in terms of pollution,
leading to difficulty in getting drinking water for the local people. This is in addition to the
loss of ecological diversity and intrusion of sea water into the land masses and its fallout
in terms of adverse influence on the rainfall pattern in this region. This imbalance has an
adverse effect on the thousands of acres of crop in the upper reaches of sanctuary in
view of stoppages of water flow into the sea because of obstruction by bunds of the fish
tanks that appeared illegally.
Satellite images taken on February 9, 2001 by the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)
satellite found that approximately 42% of the 245 Km² Lake was occupied by
aquaculture, while agriculture had encroached another 8.5%. The area under
aquaculture consisted of 1050 fish ponds within the lake and 38 dried-up fish ponds,
which together covered an area of 103 km². The agricultural encroachments were
mostly paddy lands. Surprisingly no clear water could be found in the satellite image.
The rest of the lake is being diminished by water diversions or was infested with weeds
like elephant grass and water hyacinth.
Fish tanks having come up with in the lake: The cumulative effect of the above threats
has led to the degradation of water quality. This is further aggravated by fragmentation
of the lake into smaller fish tanks. Roads and bunds laid in the exposed lakebed without
regard to water flow outlet to sea and other ecological parameters can lead to flooding
of the heavily populated surrounding areas during periods of heavy rainfall. This had
happened during the floods of September- October. Acceleration in the rate of siltation
through the inlets results in lowering depth of the lake, which can result in the water
spread extending into the heavily populated surrounding areas during periods of heavy
rainfall. It is stated the lakebed is rising at the rate of 0.025 m every year amounting to
8.6 million cubic meters of silt.
Pollution of Kolleru Lake: The lake was polluted by the fish tank discharges from bed
and belt areas comprising of nutrient rich water, high quantity of fertilizers
(Superphosphate) and highly toxic pesticides (Cythion and monocrotophos), increased
organic content and initiated the process of cultural Eutrophication of the lake. The Lake
also recieves large amount of pollutants from surrounding industries, sewage from
surrounding villages and towns. Parameters such as pH, DO, Colour, odour, floating
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matter are all adversely affected. In order to maintain water quality in fish tanks, lime,
manure, fertilizers and feeds are added in huge quantities effluents released back into
the lake magnifying the pollution.
Kolleru Lake is a source of food for man, birds and fish. They coexist in a perfect
ecological balance. The disturbance to any component of the system upsets the
delicate balance and the consequences may be catastrophic in the long run.
Lake Kolleru, a fresh water habitat is an integrated, complex and dynamic ecosystem
having vital functions of wetland, which included.
Flood Moderator Lake Kolleru, as a wetland, helps lessen the huge pressure of
floodwaters by accumulating rainwater and discharging the runoff uniformly.
Groundwater Re-charger In a wetland, water moves from the surface into the aquifer
rock beneath. These lower layers serve as storage reservoirs enabling freshwater
communities to live on the surface and provide humans with water for domestic
consumption, irrigation etc.
Water Detoxifier Wetlands perform the role of potential sewage treatment plants and
also resources recovery, since biomass produced can be harvested and utilized as
an energy source or as food for fish and other animals facilitating efficient cycling of
nutrients. Wetlands are instrumental in decreasing both the nutrient load and high
biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) levels of the Lake.
Biodiversity Lake Kolleru is a critical wintering feeding, breeding and mounting site
for birds. It is a vital wintering habitat for Eurasian and Central Asian avifauna, as it
lays on important migration routes for migratory avifauna. It also supports a host of
resident biota. The diversity of species of water birds in the lake is dependent on the
availability of diverse microhabitats and food sources, and the size and biological
productivity of the habitat. The Lake also supports a number of fishes and
crustaceans and a large number of water birds, passerines and raptors.
Flora Different native aquatic plants such as emergent, floating leaved, submerged
and free floating vegetation colonize Lake Kolleru, and are the sources for the
formation of different niches occupied by variety of micro flora and fauna. The lake
plays a major role in the removal, recycling of nutrients, controlling water pollution
through physical, chemical and biological means.
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S.R.K.R.ENGINEERING COLLEGE, BHIMAVARAM – 534202
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
fluorosis. Nearly all foods contain fluoride and the upper limit of safe total intake of
fluoride from water and food per day for an adult is 8 mg.
First ever cases of endemic skeletal fluorosis in the world were recorded from our state
in 1937. Detection of the cases of fluorosis observed in Podili, Darsi and Kanigiri areas
of Prakasham district. They continued the study of fluorosis further by epidemiological
surveys in villages and experimental work in monkeys. The fluoride levels in the water
supplies were in the range of 1-3 ppm and they rarely exceeded 6 ppm. The reasons
adduced for the development of severe forms of fluorosis with relatively low levels of
fluoride in drinking water were extremely high atmospheric temperatures in summer
months, poor nutrition of poorer people in those areas and diets deficient in their vitamin
C content. What was not realized then was the significance of underlying renal disease
in the cases recorded. It is now known that people with kidney disease cannot handle
fluoride excretion and they may develop fluorosis even while consuming low levels of
fluoride in water.
A farm laborer is more likely to develop fluorosis than sedentary worker drinking the
same well water. Obvious inference is that the laborer consumes more water and
naturally more prone to develop fluorosis. Similarly malnourished individuals were more
likely to get fluorosis. Next detailed study of fluorosis cases came from Siddique in
1955. Intake of calcium by villagers of Nalgonda was very low in the range of 300
milligrams per day. In contrast the daily intake of calcium by the individuals living in high
endemic regions of Punjab was 900 milligrams. This fact alone explains the presence of
cases of endemic genu valgum in Nalgonda villages, which is not found in Punjab. The
incidence of fluorosis varied in villages of Andhra, which had similar fluoride levels in
drinking waters. Higher levels of magnesium were beneficial and vice versa. Our
experiments in fluorotic dogs, laboratory animals and humans proved the beneficial role
of magnesium compounds in fluorosis. Recent studies of fluoride content of bore well
waters in Medak proved that they were no better and had fluoride levels in the range of
4-5 ppm. The fluoride content of ground waters varies in horizontal and vertical planes
and hence each sample has to be tested separately before it can be declared fit for
human consumption. Another observation of fluoride content of surface waters in
Nalgonda district deserves comment. Though the fluoride content waters of Nagarjuna
Sagar reservoir and its canals is normal in the range of 0.5 - 0.6 PPM. The same is not
true of some rivers in that district. Some like Sivannagudemvagu had fluoride content as
high as 7ppm.Hence one cannot say that all surface waters are good for drinking.
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S.R.K.R.ENGINEERING COLLEGE, BHIMAVARAM – 534202