DOCSLIB.ORG

Periyar and Pamba River Basin

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Periyar and Pamba River Basin Periyar and Pamba River Basin The Periyar River with a length of 228 km is the second longest river of this basin. It rises from the forest –clad Sivagiri peak, 80 km. south of Devikulam at an elevation of 2,438 m above sea level. The total drainage area of the river is 5,243 sq. km., out of which 113 sq. km. lies in Tamil Nadu. The Pamba is the third longest river of the basin. It is 177 Km. in length with the total drainage area spread of 1961 sq. km. It is formed by the confluence of the rivers Pamba Aar, Kakki Aar, Arudai Aar, Kakkad Aar and kali Aar. Area: Periyar and others Sub Basin consists an area of 21895.21 sq. km. Watershed: Periyar and others sub basin contains of 37 watersheds with size range of 341 – 934 sq. km. Population: 14162844 in 14 districts. Agro ecological zone: Hot humid perhumid ecoregion with red, lateritic and alluvium- derived soils. The other two zones are hot semi-arid eco-region with red loamy soils and the hot sub-humid to semi arid eco-region with coastal alluvium derived soils. Major irrigation projects: Pamba Irrigation Project: This project, located in Pattanamthitta district, aims at the utilization of the waters of Sabarigiri Hydro Electric project for irrigation purpose. The water is let into the river Kakkad, a tributary of Pamba River, and is picked up at Maniyar by a barrage. The water, thus collected is diverted through a canal on the left bank of the river. The project consists of a barrage of length 115.22 m with FRL at 34.62 m. The Pamba Project and its associated structures (Pamba Barrage) have a CCA of 21.13 Th ha and ultimate irrigation potential of 20.72 Th ha. Periyar Valley Irrigation Project: This project envisages the utilization of the tail race discharge from the completed Hydel scheme in the Muthirapuzha tributary of river Periyar together with the controlled release from Ennackal dam constructed by Kerala State Electricity Board under Hydel scheme across the Idamalayar tributary and the dependable run off from the uncontrolled catchment of Periyar river. The project aims for irrigating an area of 32.80 Th ha (CCA) of land lying on the left bank of Periyar river through a network of canal system and controlling devices. Inter-basin Transfer Links: The Pamba – Anchankovil – Vaippar Link: This link proposes to divert 634 Mcum of water from the surplus available in Pamba and Anchankovil basins of Kerala state to Vaippar basin for irrigating an area of 91,400 hectares in the drought prone districts of Tamil Nadu. The length of main canal is 50.68 km, and two tunnels of length 8 km and 9 km exist. Ecological significance: Silent Valley National Park, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Thattekad Bird Sanctuary are located in the basin. Issues Related to the river basin: Pollution: The lower reaches of the Periyar are heavily polluted. Industries in the Eloor industrial zone discharge waste into the river. Greenpeace India describes the lower Periyar as "a cesspool of toxins, which have alarming levels of deadly poisons like DDT, endosulfan, hexa and trivalent chromium, lead, cyanide, BHC”. Illegal sand mining: Illegal sand mining from the Periyar is another major environmental issue. Studies have pointed out that the quantity of sand being mined from the Periyar is at least 30 times the actual quantity that can be taken out without causing damage to the river’s environmental system (Source: The Hindu, October 6, 2013) Dispute: The control and safety of the Mullaperiyar dam on the river and the validity and fairness of the corresponding lease agreement have been points of dispute between Kerala and Tamil Nadu states .
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Kerala Honeymoon (05 Nights / 06 Days)
    (Approved By Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India) Kerala Honeymoon (05 Nights / 06 Days) Routing : Cochin (1N) – Munnar (2N) - Thekkady (1N) – Kumarakom - Alleppey House Boat (1N) - Cochin Day 01 : Arrive Cochin Pickup from Cochin Airport/ Railway Station and transfer to Cochin City, Check into the hotel and free for relax. Afternoon start the City tour visiting Jewish Synagogue, Dutch Palace, St. Francis Church, Santa Cruz Basilica and Chinese Fishing Nets, Marine Drive. In the evening enjoy private sunset boat cruise in the harbor. Overnight stay at Cochin. Day 02 : Cochin - Munnar (140 Kms / 4 hrs) After breakfast,transfer to Munnar the lovely hill station, filled with tea plantations and misty mountains. The drive to Munnar is very scenic crossing the narrow hair – pin roads where you see beautiful valleys, tea gardens and small waterfalls on the way. Vallera & Kallar waterfalls. Sightseeing includes Pothenmedu view point. Check into hotel. Overnight stay at Munnar. Day 03 : Munnar After breakfast proceed to Munnar, on the way visit tea and spice plantations, Cheeyappara waterfalls, view point etc. Arrive Munnar and check in your hotel. Rest of the day free for your own activities. Mattupetty Dam, Echo point, kundala dam, Rajamalai – where we have ERAVIKULAM National Park, you could find NILGIRI THAR, an endangered species, Tea museum. Overnight at hotel in Munnar. Day 04 : Munnar – Thekkady (110 kms / 3 hrs) After breakfast, proceed to Thekkady. Transfer to hotel & relax. Afternoon, Proceed for sightseeing –The Periyar wildlife sanctuary is thick evergreen forest, declared a Tiger Reserve in 1978. The splendid artificial lake formed by the Mullaperiyar dam across the Periyar River adds to the charm of the park.
    [Show full text]
  • Rain 11 08 2019.Xlsx
    Rainfall in 'mm' on 11.08.2019 District River Basin Station Name 11-08-2019 Alappuzha Achencovil Kollakadavu 55.2 Alappuzha Manimala Ambalapuzha 99.3 Alappuzha Muvattupuzha Arookutty 114.4 Alappuzha Muvattupuzha Cherthala 108 Cannanore Anjarakandy Cheruvanchery 96 Cannanore Anjarakandy F.c.s. Pazhassi 93 Cannanore Anjarakandy Kottiyoor 176 Cannanore Anjarakandy Kannavam 72 Cannanore Karaingode Pulingome 167.4 Cannanore Kuppam Alakkode 148.6 Cannanore Peruvamba Kaithaprem 116.2 Cannanore Peruvamba Olayampadi 144.6 Cannanore Ramapuram Cheruthazham 70.2 Cannanore Anjarakandy Maloor 104 Cannanore Valapattanam Mangattuparamba 58.6 Cannanore Anjarakandy Nedumpoil 77.2 Cannanore Valapattanam Palappuzha 80 Cannanore Valapattanam Payyavoor 140 Cannanore Kuppam Alakkode 148.6 Cannanore Valapattanam Thillenkeri 121 Ernakulam Muvattupuzha Piravam 87.2 Ernakulam Periyar Aluva 112.5 Ernakulam Periyar Boothathankettu 79.6 Ernakulam Periyar Keerampara 63.2 Ernakulam Periyar Neriyamangalam 69.8 Idukki Manimala Boyce estate 47 Idukki Muvattupuzha Vannapuram 54.3 Idukki Pambar Marayoor 5.6 Idukki Periyar Chinnar 37 Idukki Periyar FCS Painavu 32.4 Idukki Periyar Kumali 27 Idukki Periyar Nedumkandam 23.8 Idukki Periyar Vandanmedu 34.8 Kasaragod Chandragiri Vidhyanagar 161.8 Kasaragod Chandragiri Kalliyot 142.3 Kasaragod Chandragiri Padiyathadukka 126.4 Kasaragod Karaingode Kakkadavue(cheemeni)fcs 141.8 Kasaragod Manjeswar Manjeswaram 74 Kasaragod Morgal Madhur 145.2 Kasaragod Nileswar Erikkulam 127.4 Kasaragod Shiriya Paika 137 Kasaragod Uppala Uppala 90.5
    [Show full text]
  • Classic Kerala
    Classic Kerala Classic Kerala 9 Days | Kochi to Kochi PRIVATE TOUR: Combining historic • Touring and excursions as per itinerary Cochin takes you through streets still graced Kochi, the hill station of Munnar • Boat ride on Lake Periyar OR visit to a tea with traces of Portuguese, Dutch and British and a houseboat cruise on the plantation colonial architecture. Afternoon/evening free. • Services of English-speaking Indian Overnight - Kochi (B) backwaters of Kerala. In nine specialist guides for all included sight- sunfilled days feast upon the seeing Day 3 : Munnar amazing natural wonders, wildlife, • Entrance fees to all included sights beauty and diversity of stunning • An airport arrival transfer day 1 and a Kerala - God's own country. departure transfer day 9 • All relevant transfer and transportation in private modern Chauffeur driven air- HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS conditioned vehicles Trip Highlights What's Not Included • Historic Kochi - Parsi Synagogue, Dutch • International flights and visas Palace, St Francis Church, Fort Cochin, • Tipping - An entirely personal gesture Kochi - Munnar. A drive east to to Munnar colourful boats and Chinese fishing nets - a quaint hill station nestled on the verdant on the waterfront ITINERARY slopes of tea plantations, that exudes a rare • Munnar Hill Station - The summer retreat old world charm and reminds one of the days of the British during colonial times Day 1 : Kochi of the Raj in its elegant splendour. At a height • The protected Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary Once you arrive Kochi you'll be met at the of 1525 metres, Munnar offers breathtaking and lake - Elephant and tiger reserve airport and transferred to your hotel.
    [Show full text]
  • Bi-Monthly Outreach Journal of National Tiger Conservation Authority Government of India
    BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Volume 3 Issue 2 Jan-Feb 2012 TIGER MORTALITY 2011 AS REPORTED BY STATES Natural & other cause Accident Seizure Inside tiger reserve Outside tiger Eliminated by dept Poaching No. of tiger deaths reserve UTTARAKHAND 14 1 1 1 — 17 8 9 KERALA 3 — — 1 — 4 2 2 ASSAM 3 — — 2 1 6 4 2 MADHYA PRADESH 5 — — — — 5 4 1 RAJASTHAN 1 — — — — 1 1 — ORISSA 1 — — — — 1 1 — TAMIL NADU 3 — — — — 3 1 2 WEST BENGAL 3 — — — — 3 2 1 KARNATAKA 3 — — 3 — 6 6 — MAHARASHTRA 2 — 1 2 1 6 1 5 UTTAR PRADESH — — 1 — — 1 1 — CHHATTISGARH — — — 2 — 2 — 2 BIHAR 1 — — — — 1 — 1 TOTAL 39 1 3 11 2 56 31 25 * One old tiger trophy was seized in Delhi Volume 3 Evaluation Protocol EDITOR Issue 2 Status of Dr Rajesh Gopal Jan-Feb Monitoring tigers in Phase-IV 2012 Western EDITORIAL in tiger Ghats COORDINATOR reserves & Landscape S P YADAV source areas Pg 4 Pg 15 CONTENT COORDINATOR Inder MS Kathuria Photo Tiger FEEDBACK Feature Soldiers Assessment Annexe No 5 Camera Protection Management Bikaner House traps at force gets Effectiveness Shahjahan Road New Delhi work in going in Evaluation Kalakad TR Bandipur, P8 [email protected] Pg 14 Nagarhole Cover photo Pg 18 Bharat Goel BI-MONTHLY OUTREACH JOURNAL OF NATIONAL TIGER CONSERVATION AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT OF INDIA n o t e f r o m t h e e d i t o r THE new year, with all its freshness, tigers and its prey in each tiger reserves which would commenced with a new set of initiatives complement the once in four year snapshot assess- from NTCA.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Issues Pertaining to Peninsular Rivers Wing Interstate Matters: (A) Mullaperiyar Dam Issue 1. on 29-10-1886, a Lease In
    Issues pertaining to Peninsular Rivers wing i. Interstate matters: (a) Mullaperiyar Dam Issue 1. On 29‐10‐1886, a lease indenture for 999 years was made between Maharaja of Travancore and Secretary of State for India for Periyar irrigation works. By another agreement in 1970, Tamil Nadu was permitted to generate power also. The Mullaperiyar Dam was constructed during 1887‐1895. Its full reservoir level is 152 ft and it provides water through a tunnel to Vaigai basin in Tamil Nadu for irrigation benefits in 68558 ha area. 2. In 1979, reports appeared in Kerala Press about damage to Periyar Dam. On 25th November, 1979 Chairman, CWC held meeting with the officers of Irrigation and Electricity, Deptt. of Kerala and PWD of Tamil Nadu and some emergency medium term measures and long‐term measures for strengthening of Periyar Dam were decided. A second meeting under the Chairmanship of Chairman, CWC was held on 29th April 1980 and it was opined that after the completion of emergency and medium term measures, the water level in the reservoir can be raised up to 145 ft. 3. The matter became sub‐judice with several petitions. On the directions of the Supreme Court in its order dated 28.4.2000, Minister (WR) convened the Inter‐State meeting on 19.5.2000 and as decided in the meeting, an Expert Committee under Member (D&R), CWC with representatives from both States was constituted in June 2000 to study the safety of the dam. The Committee in its report of March, 2001 opined that with the strengthening measures implemented, the water level can be raised from 136 ft.
    [Show full text]
  • Fcover-RR114-High
    RESEARCH REPORT Developing Procedures for 114 Assessment of Ecological Status of Indian River Basins in the Context of Environmental Water Requirements Vladimir Smakhtin, Muthukumarasamy Arunachalam, Sandeep Behera, Archana Chatterjee, Srabani Das, Parikshit Gautam, Gaurav D. Joshi, Kumbakonam G. Sivaramakrishnan and K. Sankaran Unni International Water Management IWMI is a Future Harvest Center Institute supported by the CGIAR Research Reports IWMI’s mission is to improve water and land resources management for food, livelihoods and nature. In serving this mission, IWMI concentrates on the integration of policies, technologies and management systems to achieve workable solutions to real problems—practical, relevant results in the field of irrigation and water and land resources. The publications in this series cover a wide range of subjects—from computer modeling to experience with water user associations—and vary in content from directly applicable research to more basic studies, on which applied work ultimately depends. Some research reports are narrowly focused, analytical and detailed empirical studies; others are wide-ranging and synthetic overviews of generic problems. Although most of the reports are published by IWMI staff and their collaborators, we welcome contributions from others. Each report is reviewed internally by IWMI’s own staff and Fellows, and by external reviewers. The reports are published and distributed both in hard copy and electronically (www.iwmi.org) and where possible all data and analyses will be available as separate downloadable files. Reports may be copied freely and cited with due acknowledgment. Research Report 114 Developing Procedures for Assessment of Ecological Status of Indian River Basins in the Context of Environmental Water Requirements Vladimir Smakhtin, Muthukumarasamy Arunachalam, Sandeep Behera, Archana Chatterjee, Srabani Das, Parikshit Gautam, Gaurav D.
    [Show full text]
  • God's Own Country Kerala (6N/7D) Cochin – 1N, Munnar – 2N, Periyar
    KL 01: God's Own Country Kerala (6N/7D) Cochin – 1N, Munnar – 2N, Periyar / Thekkady – 1N, Alleppey – 1N, Kovalam – 1N Tour Itinerary Day 01 Cochin: Upon arrival at Cochin railway station or airport our special vehicle will pick you up & proceed to Cochin hotel. Check in at Hotel. Get freshen up. Evening proceed to visit: In the evening hours visit the Marin Drive. After sunset spend the leisure hour at the Lulu Mall perhaps one of the biggest (in area) in south India. – [10am – 10:00pm] Overnight stay at Cochin. Day 02 Cochin – Munnar [approx 4hr/130km]: After breakfast check out from hotel & proceed to visit: Harbor Cruise [Boating charges at approx Rs.250/- per person] Chinese Fishing Net – [Open 24 hours] St. Francis CSI Church – [10:00am – 05:00pm – Sunday 12:00noon – 05:00pm] Dutch Palace and Museum – [09:45am – 01pm & 02pm – 04:45pm – Friday & Saturday Closed] After lunch proceed to Munnar. Enroute visit: Cheeyapara & Valara waterfalls [Open 24 hours] Arrival at Munnar. Check in to the hotel. Get freshen up. Have dinner. Overnight stay at Munnar. Day 03 Munnar: After breakfast proceed to visit: Visit Rajmala sight seen (Eravikulam National Park/Nilgiry Goat wild life sanctuary) – [07:30am – 04:00pm - Closure Period - February to March] Tea Museum – [09:00am – 05:00pm – Monday Closed] Photo shoot in tea garden Evening visit Eco Point (enjoy boating) – [08:00am – 06:00pm] Muttupatti Dam – [09:30am – 05:00pm] Visit Blossoms International Park – [09:00am – 07:00pm]. Overnight stay at Munnar. Day 04 Munnar – Periyar [approx 3hrs/85km]: After breakfast check out from the hotel & proceed to Thekkady Enroute visit: Cumuli Spice plant.
    [Show full text]
  • Hydro Electric Power Dams in Kerala and Environmental Consequences from Socio-Economic Perspectives
    [VOLUME 5 I ISSUE 3 I JULY – SEPT 2018] e ISSN 2348 –1269, Print ISSN 2349-5138 http://ijrar.com/ Cosmos Impact Factor 4.236 Hydro Electric Power Dams in Kerala and Environmental Consequences from Socio-Economic Perspectives. Liji Samuel* & Dr. Prasad A. K.** *Research Scholar, Department of Economics, University of Kerala Kariavattom Campus P.O., Thiruvananthapuram. **Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Kerala Kariavattom Campus P.O., Thiruvananthapuram. Received: June 25, 2018 Accepted: August 11, 2018 ABSTRACT Energy has been a key instrument in the development scenario of mankind. Energy resources are obtained from environmental resources, and used in different economic sectors in carrying out various activities. Production of energy directly depletes the environmental resources, and indirectly pollutes the biosphere. In Kerala, electricity is mainly produced from hydelsources. Sometimeshydroelectric dams cause flash flood and landslides. This paper attempts to analyse the social and environmental consequences of hydroelectric dams in Kerala Keywords: dams, hydroelectricity, environment Introduction Electric power industry has grown, since its origin around hundred years ago, into one of the most important sectors of our economy. It provides infrastructure for economic life, and it is a basic and essential overhead capital for economic development. It would be impossible to plan production and marketing process in the industrial or agricultural sectors without the availability of reliable and flexible energy resources in the form of electricity. Indeed, electricity is a universally accepted yardstick to measure the level of economic development of a country. Higher the level of electricity consumption, higher would be the percapitaGDP. In Kerala, electricity production mainly depends upon hydel resources.One of the peculiar aspects of the State is the network of river system originating from the Western Ghats, although majority of them are short rapid ones with low discharges.
    [Show full text]
  • Conservation and Wise Use of Vembanad-Kol an Integrated Management Planning Framework
    Conservation and Wise use of Vembanad-Kol An Integrated Management Planning Framework Wetlands International - South Asia Wetlands International – South Asia Mangroves for the Future WISA is the South Asia Programme of MFF is a unique partner- led initiative to Wetlands International, a global organization promote investment in coastal ecosystem dedicated to conservation and wise use of conservation for sustainable wetlands. Its mission is to sustain and development. It provides a collaborative restore wetlands, their resources and platform among the many different biodiversity. WISA provides scientific and agencies, sectors and countries who are technical support to national governments, addressing challenges to coastal wetland authorities, non government ecosystem and livelihood issues, to work organizations, and the private sector for towards a common goal. wetland management planning and implementation in South Asia region. It is MFF is led by IUCN and UNDP, with registered as a non government organization institutional partners : CARE, FAO, UNEP, under Societies Registration Act and steered and Wetlands International and financial by eminent conservation planners and support from Norad and SIDA wetland experts. Wetlands International-South Asia A-25, (Second Floor), Defence Colony New Delhi – 110024, India Telefax: +91-11-24338906 Email: [email protected] URL: http://south-asia.wetlands.org Conservation and Wise Use of Vembanad-Kol An Integrated Management Planning Framework Wetlands International – South Asia December 2013 Wetlands International - South Asia Project Team Acknowledgements Dr. Ritesh Kumar (Project Leader) Wetlands International – South Asia thanks the following individuals and organizations for support extended to management planning of Prof. E.J.James (Project Advisor) Vembanad-Kol wetlands Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental Analysis Report for Kerala
    E-355 VOL. 2 REVISED Environmental Analysis Report Public Disclosure Authorized for Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation (KRWSS) Project Public Disclosure Authorized 30 th May, 2000 Public Disclosure Authorized Prepared for The World Bank, Washington D.C. and Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency Prepared by Public Disclosure Authorized Dr. R. Paramasivam (Consultant) CONTENTS CHAPTER TITLE PAGE Executive Summary 1. Introduction 1.1. Background 1.1 1.2. Environmental Analysis Study 1.2 1.3. Methodology 1.2 1.4. Organisation of the Report 1.4 2. Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework for Environmental Analysis 2.1. EA Requirements for Project Proposed for IDA Funding 2.1 2.2. Ministry of Environment & Forests, GOI Requirements 2.1 2.3. Kerala State Water Policy 2.3 2.4. Water Quality Monitoring 2.6 2.5. State Ground Water legislation 2.11 2.6. Statutory Requirements of State Pollution Control Board 2.12 2.7. Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Plan of Kerala 2.12 3. Project Description 3.1. Project Development Objective 3.1 3.2. Project Scope and Area 3.1 3.3. Project Components 3.2 3.4. Project Cost and Financing Plan 3.4 3.5. Institutional Arrangement 3. 6 X 3.6. Project Implementation Schedule and Scheme Cycle 3.9 3.7. Expected Benefits of the Project 3.9 4. Baseline Environmental Status 4.1. Physical Environment 4.1 Location & Physiography Geology Rainfall Climate 4.2. Water Environment 4.5 Surface Water Resources Surface Water Quality Salinity Intrnsion Hydrogeology Groundwater Potential and Utilisation in Kerala Groundwater
    [Show full text]
  • Unique Fish Wealth in Terms of Endemicity and Crypticism of Western Ghats, India
    Journal of Entomology and Zoology Studies 2019; 7(5): 1060-1062 E-ISSN: 2320-7078 P-ISSN: 2349-6800 Unique fish wealth in terms of endemicity and JEZS 2019; 7(5): 1060-1062 © 2019 JEZS crypticism of Western Ghats, India Received: 19-07-2019 Accepted: 21-08-2019 Shamima Nasren Shamima Nasren, Nagappa Basavaraja, Md. Abdullah Al-Mamun and (1). College of Fisheries, Sanjay Singh Rathore Mangaluru, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal Fisheries Science University, Karnataka, Abstract India The Western Ghats, India having the most biological diversity in the world and in terms of the freshwater (2). Fisheries Faculty, Sylhet fish the endemicity also higher here. Over 300 freshwater fishes present in the Western Ghats and more Agricultural University, Sylhet, than 50% of those are endemic. Very few places in the earth having extraordinary biodiversity and the Bangladesh intensity of endemism in respect of freshwater fishes as Western Ghats, India showed. Eighteen genera are endemic in Western Ghats regions. Some fishes having cryptic nature with their congeneric sister Nagappa Basavaraja species. Proper identification, conservation and incorporating the cultivable endemic species for College of Fisheries, Mangaluru, development of aquaculture is now demand of time. Karnataka Veterinary, Animal Fisheries Science University, Karnataka, India Keywords: Western ghats, endemic, cryptic species Md. Abdullah Al-Mamun 1. Introduction (1). College of Fisheries, This paper addresses the unique fish wealth of Western Ghats. The freshwater fishes of Mangaluru, Karnataka Western Ghats having the endimicity and some fishes have cryptic nature, also. Ichthyofauna Veterinary, Animal Fisheries Science University, Karnataka, of Western Ghats is defined as the ‘Linnean shortfall’ (knowledge deficiet of exact number of India species present) and ‘Wallacean shortfall’ (knowledge gap on the distribution of species) by (2).
    [Show full text]
  • Biodiversity Status.Qxp
    163 BIODIVERSITY STATUS OF FISHES INHABITING RIVERS OF KERALA (S. INDIA) WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO ENDEMISM, THREATS AND CONSERVATION MEASURES Kurup B.M. Radhakrishnan K.V. Manojkumar T.G. School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Cochin 682 016, India E-mail: [email protected] ABSTRACT The identification of 175 freshwater fish- es from 41 west flowing and 3 east flowing river systems of Kerala were confirmed. These can be grouped under 106 ornamental and 67 food fish- es. The biodiversity status of these fishes was assessed according to IUCN criteria. The results showed that populations of the majority of fish species showed drastic reduction over the past five decades. Thirty-three fish species were found to be endemic to the rivers of Kerala. The distributions of the species were found to vary within and between the river systems and some of the species exhibited a high degree of habitat specificity. The diversity and abundance of the species generally showed an inverse relationship with altitude. The serious threats faced by the freshwater fishes of Kerala are mostly in the form of human interventions and habitat alter- ations and conservation plans for the protection and preservation of the unique and rare fish bio- diversity of Kerala are also highlighted. 164 Biodiversity status of fishes inhabiting rivers of Kerala (S.India) INTRODUCTION river. Habitat diversity was given foremost importance during selection of locations within the river system. Kerala is a land of rivers which harbour a rich The sites for habitat inventory were selected based on and diversified fish fauna characterized by many rare channel pattern, channel confinement, gradient and and endemic fish species.
    [Show full text]