Influence of anthropogenic activities on the existing environmental conditions of Kandla Creek (Gulf of Kutch)

Abstract

Water characteristics of Kandla creek, monitored seasonally from 2002 to 2006 at four locations (mouth, cargo jetty, oil jetty and junction), indicated significant increases in nutrients, petroleum hydrocarbons (PHc) and phenols from anthropogenic additions, while increases in turbidity, total suspended solids (TSS) and salinity from natural effects. Principal Component Analyses (PCA) of the data indicated port activities contaminating the creek water by fall out from loading and unloading of fertilizer and raw materials; petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL) and the boat traffic. Strong macro tidal currents increase turbidity and TSS, while the high salinity water from creek tributaries formed from intense evaporation during summer, and the seepage of brines in the creek from nearby salt pans during monsoonal drainage increase the salinity of creek water. Despite the presence of large nutrients, the decreasing chlorophyll a (Chl a) and primary productivity (PP) during monsoon indicated detrimental effects of turbidity, suspended solids, phenols and PHc. The quality of creek water evaluated based on overall index of pollution (OIP), calculated from the water quality index (WQI) of each parameter, suggested polluted water at junction, oil jetty and at cargo jetty; while a slightly polluted water at the creek mouth during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. During postmonsoon, the slightly polluted water was observed at all the four locations. The study indicated that the strong ebb currents in the creek however transport anthropogenic nutrients, PHc and phenols to the inner Gulf of Kutch