Periyar River Biotope | BAP Rank 1st | BIOTOPE AQUARIUM PROJECT
Periyar River Biotope | BAP Rank 1st | BIOTOPE AQUARIUM PROJECT
Hello Everyone ! I have secured 1st rank in BIOTOPE AQUARIUM PROJECT
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The habitat I want to describe is of Periyar River, which is the longest river and the river with the largest discharge potential in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the few perennial rivers in the region and provides drinking water for several major towns. The Periyar is of outmost significance to the economy of Kerala.
The Periyar basin spreads over an area of 5,398 km² (2,084 sq mi), most of it in central Kerala. It is a freshwater with high level of pollutants. The pH ranges from to 5.72-8.74 in different locations.
It is an important destination for tourism. The banks are rich with coconut trees and moreover it has the National Park of which the Tiger Reserve Project is an important landmark. Forests are growing on white sands and soil, the Periyar is silty with river basin sands. The river bed is full of algae and coconut leaves.
There are many fishes found in the genera of Hypselobarbus, Puntius, Barilius, Garra, Bhavania, Travancoria, Schistura, etc.
he underwater landscape of Periyar is quite interesting. It is full of river basin sands with algae covered. Coconut leaves fallen on the river bed, which acts as a breeding ground for many fishes. Some parts are full of rocks covered with algae. Tannins are present in water due to coconut leaves.
Fishes:
Tor putitora (Cyprinidae)
Mystus armatus (Bagridae)
Batasio travancoria (Bagridae)
Lepidocephalichthys thermalis (Cobitidae)
Nemacheilus periyarensis (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus menoni (Balitoridae)
Nemacheilus keralensis (Balitoridae)
Schistura denisoni (Balitoridae)
Travancoria jonesi (Balitoridae)
Bhavania australis (Balitoridae)
Garra surendranathanii (Cyprinidae)
Garra periyarensis (Cyprinidae)
Garra mullya (Cyprinidae)
Crossocheilus periyarensis (Cyprinidae)
Devario malabaricus (Cyprinidae)
Devario aequipinnatus (Cyprinidae)
Puntius vittatus (Cyprinidae)
Dawkinsia denisonii (Cyprinidae)
Aquatic plants: Eleocharis acicularis (Cyperaceae) – very common
Lower reaches of Periyar was well known for easy availability of various types of tasty fishes like Pearlspot, Palankanni, Kanambu, Thirutha, Koori etc. Along with a variety of shell fishes which includes crab, prawn, konchu and so on.
However, this has become an old story due to the severe impact of pollution from different sources which already inflicted large scale damage to aquatic life in this water body Angamaly to Kochi is the most industrialized zone of the Periyar river basin. There are over 50 large and medium industries and over 2500 small scale industries in this region. The southern branch of Marthandapuzha which cater to the needs of these industries is estimated to have a lean water flow of 8200 cum/sec which the monsoon flow is calculated as 150-250 cum/sec. The industries located in Edayar – Eloor atea consumes about 189343 cum per day water from the day and discharge about 75% as used water along with large quantity of effluents and pollutants.
The major types of these industries are fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals and allied industries, petroleum refining and heavy metal processing, radioactive mineral processing, rubber processing units, animal bone processing units, battery manufacturers, mercure products, acid manufacturers, pigment and latex producers etc. The wide spectra of pollutants that adversely affect the natural environmental quality of the water of the river include toxic and hazardous materials such as heavy metals, phenolics, hydrocarbons, pesticides, radionuclides, ammonia, phosphates, domestic and untreated waste water etc.
The systematic deforestation in the High Ranges of Idukki district which is a principal catchment of Periyar, began in 1870s when timber extraction started on a large scale on the hill tracts of Western Ghats. Extensive conversion of forests into tea estates in the last decade of 19th centuary added to it. A labyrinth of roads increased deforestation. The formation of cardamom hill reserve area in Udumbenchola taluk in 1897 led to worsening of the situation. According to the estimates of forest department some 10000 trees fell in 1989-90 alone because of soil erosion caused by undergrowth removal from 10sqKm of the Munnar forest division. Whatever forest cover has remained is now under tremendous pressure from encroachments. The settlements within the forested areas keep expanding.
The forest department has not yet conducted a comprehensive survey to ascertain the forest boundaries conclusively and this deficiency is often exploited by encroachers .
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