Abstract
Kerala, with a unique climate, has rich and varied ecosystems with luxuriant and diverse plant and animal communities. This has led to a high density of human population. The State has resorted to modern technological methods for its economic development which include industrialization and improvement of agricultural production. The establishment of a modern port at Cochin has transformed the region into the industrial capital of the State. Simultaneous with economic progress, the environmental conditions have become deranged due to large scale shipping operations. Of late the environmental problems are increasing in the highly productive backwater system, due to industrial effluents. How developmental programs can undermine the ecological balance and cause deleterious effects as well as unforseen consequences are well illustrated by the deltaic region of Kuttanad - “the rice bowl of Kerala”. Dams, at the upper reaches of the rivers, provide power for industry and water for irrigation. But inadvertent denudation of the forests due to continuous human settlement and related activities will not only damage the dams, the industry and agriculture but also the climate of the region. The high density of population exerts undue pressure on the ecosystem whether it be terrestrial, aerial or aquatic and causes serious imbalances.
Published Version
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