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Abstract:
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The tiniest Union territory of India, Lakshadweep, is an archipelago, with an area
of 32 Sq. km. consisting of 12 atolls, three reefs and five submerged banks, lies
between 8° and 12°30'N latitudes and 71° and 74" E longitudes. It is one of the
most important and critical territories of India from economic and defence point
of view. Specialised environment having typical geological set up, Lakshadweep is
ecologically sensitive to even slight climatic or anthropogenic interference.
Pollution of coastal seas, over exploitation and contamination of the fresh water
sources are thus become great concerns to the existence of the island. Typical
geological set up and interference cause threat to the ecology of the fragile
environment and resources of the island as well as its resources. Marine pollution
and ground water contamination are concerns in this regard. Even though attentions were made to assess the physico—chemical and bacteriological status of the marine and groundwater systems separately, an integrated approach has not been evolved. The present study with its broad objectives is attempted for an integrated assessment of microbiological, physicochemical and biological characteristics of the surrounding seawater and microbiological and physico—chemical characteristics of the ground water in Kavaratti island. The entire study has been organised in 4 chapters |