IMPACTS OF SERLUI-B HYDEL PROJECT ON WATER QUALITY AND ECOLOGY OF MACROPHYTES OF SERLUI RIVER IN KOLASIB DISTRICT, MIZORAM THESIS SUBMITTED TO MIZORAM UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE By SANGEETA SUNAR (Ph.D. Registration No - MZU/ Ph.D/ 717 of 19.5.2015) DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE SCHOOL OF EARTH SCIENCES & NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT MIZORAM UNIVERSITY AIZAWL – 796004 2018 DECLARATION I, Sangeeta Sunar hereby declare that the subject matter of this thesis entitled “IMPACTS OF SERLUI-B HYDEL PROJECT ON WATER QUALITY AND ECOLOGY OF MACROPHYTES OF SERLUI RIVER IN KOLASIB DISTRICT, MIZORAM” is the record of work done by me. The content of the thesis does not form basis for the award of any previous degree or to the best of my knowledge to anybody else, and that the thesis has not been submitted by me in any other University/ Institute for any research degree. This is being submitted to the Mizoram University for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science. (Sangeeta Sunar) Research Scholar (Prof. B.P. Mishra) Head Supervisor Department of Environmental Science Department of Environmental Science Mizoram University Mizoram University Date: Place: Aizawl i DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE MIZORAM UNIVERSITY, AIZAWL – 796 004 (A Central University Established by Parliament Act No. 8 of 2000) ____________________________________________________________________________ No.MZU/ES/ACAD/PhD/2018/1 November 22, 2018 CERTIFICATE This is to certify that the Ph.D. Thesis entitled “IMPACTS OF SERLUI-B HYDEL PROJECT ON WATER QUALITY AND ECOLOGY OF MACROPHYTES OF SERLUI RIVER IN KOLASIB DISTRICT, MIZORAM” submitted by Sangeeta Sunar for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science of the Mizoram University, is a record of original investigation carried out by her under my supervision. The authenticity and content of the thesis are the original work of the Research Scholar, and the nature and presentation of the work are the first of its kind in Mizoram. It is further certified that no portion(s) or part(s) of the content of the thesis has been submitted for any degree in Mizoram University or other University or Institute. She has been duly registered and the thesis presented is worthy of being considered for the award of the Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science. (Prof. B.P. Mishra) Head Supervisor Department of Environmental Science Department of Environmental Science Mizoram University Mizoram University Date: Place: Aizawl ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First and foremost, I would like to thank our Almighty God, for his never ending grace and mercy and for providing me the strength and knowledge to keep going during the course of my research work. It is with immense gratitude that I acknowledge the supports and helps of my supervisor Prof. B.P. Mishra (Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University) for his unwavering guidance, collegiality and mentorship, above all for inspiring and encouring me to believe in myself that enabled me to complete my research work successfully. I could not have imagined having a better advisor and mentor for my Ph.D work. I owe my deepest gratitude to the Head of the Department Prof. H. Lalramnghinglova, who has been a constant source of inspiration and also for providing valuable guidance and extending helps in innumerable aspects of my research work. I express my sincere gratitude to Prof. Lalnuntluanga, the then HoD for extending laboratory facilities pertaining to experimental work relating to the study, and also for his academic supports. My deepest thanks go to the teaching and non-teaching staffs of the Department of Environmental Science for their kind help and co-operation during the course of study. I cannot find words to thank Pa H. Suana and his family for their constant supports and also for providing me a homely environment away from my home, leading to great strength for completion of this piece of research work smoothly. I would like to thank brother Dika and his family, and Manzamawii and her family, as without their precious support it would not be possible to conduct this research. iii And also I thank my seniors and friends Dr. Biku, Dr. Mooney, Dr. Premi, Dr. Z.R. and Dr. Naldarine for their helps and cooperation. In particular, I am grateful to Dr. Lalita Panda for enlightening me the first glance of research. This thesis would have remained a dream unless the assistance provided by Mr. Ratnesh Singh. Nevertheless, I would like to thank my parents who taught me to believe in God and hard work. Their overwhelming support morally and financially made this work successful. I am grateful to my sister Sujata and brother Subham for their eternal love. (Sangeeta Sunar) Research Scholar Date: Place: Aizawl iv CONTENTS Page No. Declaration i Certificate ii Acknowledgements iii-iv Contents v List of Tables vi-viii List of Figures ix-x List of Maps and Photo plates x CHAPTERS Page No. CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION 1-20 CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF LITERATURE 21-36 CHAPTER 3 STUDY AREA AND STUDY SITES 37-51 CHAPTER 4 METHODOLOGY 52-67 CHAPTER 5 RESULTS 68-158 CHAPTER 6 DISCUSSION 159-182 CHAPTER 7 SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS 183-192 REFERENCES 193-234 APPENDICES 235-239 v LIST OF TABLES Table TABLE TITLE Page No. No. 1.1 Global distribution of Earth’s Water 2 1.2 Major Watersheds in Mizoram 17 5.1 Descriptive Statistics of the water quality characteristics for two year data 84 (Mar 2015- Feb 2017) 5.2 Descriptive Statistics of the water quality characteristics 85 (Mar 2015- Feb 2016) 5.3 Descriptive Statistics of the water quality characteristics 86 (Mar 2016- Feb 2017) 5.4 Standard values and their corresponding ideal values, recommending 87 agencies and k value of water quality parameters 5.5 Water Quality Index (WQI) of Serlui river at Site 1 88 5.6 Water Quality Index (WQI) of Serlui river at Site 2 89 5.7 Water Quality Index (WQI) of Serlui river at Site 3 90 5.8 Water quality rating as per Weighted Arithmetic Water Quality Index 91 Method 5.9 Two-way Anova for temperature as a function of variation between 92 different seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.10 Two-way Anova for pH as a function of variation between different 93 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.11 Two-way Anova for EC as a function of variation between different 94 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.12 Two-way Anova for DO as a function of variation between different 94 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.13 Two-way Anova for BOD as a function of variation between different 95 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.14 Two-way Anova for Total Hardness as a function of variation 96 between different seasons Vs variation among different sites vi 5.15 Two-way Anova for Acidity as a function of variation between different 96 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.16 Two-way Anova for Total Alkalinity as a function of variation between 97 different seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.17 Two-way Anova for Turbidity as a function of variation between 98 different seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.18 Two-way Anova for TS as a function of variation between different 98 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.19 Two-way Anova for TSS as a function of variation between different 99 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.20 Two-way Anova for TDS as a function of variation between different 100 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.21 Two-way Anova for Chloride as a function of variation between different 100 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.22 Two-way Anova for Nitrate-N as a function of variation between different 101 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.23 Two-way Anova for Phosphate-P as a function of variation between 102 different seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.24 Two-way Anova for Sulphate as a function of variation between different 102 seasons Vs variation among different sites 5.25 List of Aquatic Macrophytes recorded from the Serlui river during the 116 study period 5.26 Seasonal variation in diversity of aquatic macrophytes at the selected 123-124 study sites 5.27 Phytosociological characteristics of aquatic macrophytes at Site 1 during 125 summer season 5.28 Phytosociological characteristics of aquatic macrophytes at Site 1 during 126 rainy season 5.29 Phytosociological characteristics of aquatic macrophytes at Site 1 during 127 winter season 5.30 Phytosociological characteristics of aquatic macrophytes at Site 2 during 128 summer season 5.31 Phytosociological characteristics of aquatic macrophytes at Site 2 during 129 rainy season vii 5.32 Phytosociological characteristics of aquatic macrophytes at Site 2 during 130 winter season 5.33 Phytosociological characteristics of aquatic macrophytes at Site 3 during 131 summer season 5.34 Phytosociological characteristics of aquatic macrophytes at Site 3 during 132 rainy season 5.35 Phytosociological characteristics of aquatic macrophytes at Site 3 during 133 winter season 5.36 Species dominance (based on IVI) at selected study sites during summer 134 season 5.37 Species dominance ( based on IVI) at selected study sites during rainy 135 season 5.38 Species dominance (based on IVI) at selected study sites during winter 136 season 5.39 List of tree species and shrubs present in the undisturbed (UD) and 146-150 disturbed (D) stands of the catchment area, and economic value of plants 5.40 List of bamboos, herbs and climbers in the undisturbed (UD) and 151-157 disturbed (D) stands of catchment area, and economic uses of plants viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure FIGURE TITLE Page No.