International Science Community Association Research Journal of Recent Sciences 2277 - 2502 2 ISC-2012 2013 February 2 Preliminary Assessment of Degraded Kottayam Chira Wetland using GIS and its Developmental Scope 245 249 EN Ahirwar J.R. 1 Department of Botany, Govt. College Niwari, District-Tikamgarh, M.P. INDIA Erhabor J.O. 1 Departement of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Benin, P.M.B 1154, Benin City, NIGERIA Idu M. 2 Benson Idahosa University, PMB, 110, Benin City, NIGERIA Udo F.O. 3 Mehta Kavit 1 Mehsana Urban Institute of Sciences, Ganpat University, Ganpat Vidyanagar, Kherwa, Dist. Mehsana, North Gujarat, INDIA Patel B.N. 2 M.G. Science Institute, Navrangpura, Ahmadabad, INDIA Jain B.K. 3 Mishra Bishwambhar 1 Instrumental and Food Analysis Laboratory, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Suneetha Vuppu 2 Surekha M. 1 Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Botany, Kakatiya University, Warangal, Andhra Pradesh, INDIA Kiran S. 2 Naresh A. 3 Reddy S.M. 4 Krishania Suman 1 Department of Life Sciences,The IIS University, SFS Mansarovar, Jaipur -20 (Raj) INDIA Agarwal Kalpana 2 Kelkar TusharS. 1 Environmental Sciences Research Laboratory, Department of Botany, Wilson College, Mumbai, INDIA Bhalerao SatishA. 2 Naina Thangaraj 1 School of Biosciences and Technology, VIT University, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Sharan Siddharth 2 Vuppu Suneetha 3 Javed Ahmad 1 Department of biochemical Engineering and Food Technology, Harcourt butler technological Institute, Kanpur, INDIA Khan Iffat 2 Department of Bioscience, Integral University Lucknow, INDIA Ashfaq Ahmad 3 kaushar Imam 4 Dubey S. 1 MVJ College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, INDIA. Kherwa V. 2 Department of Chemistry, C.D.L.University, Sirsa 125055, Haryana, INDIA. Kherwa V. 1 Department of Chemistry, C.D.L. University, Sirsa 125055, Haryana, INDIA Dubey S. 2 Department of Chemistry, MVJ College of Engineering, Bangalore, Karnataka, INDIA PatelKetan B. 1 Government Science College, Department of Chemistry, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, INDIA Patel YogeshM. 2 Patel RakshaB. 3 Udaykumar P. 1 Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani – K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Zuarinagar, Goa, INDIA Khanna T. 2 Behera R.N. 3 Hassan S.Z. 1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, INDIA Chopade S.A. 2 Vinjamur M. 3 LalMohan 1 Department of Chemistry, Jai Narain Vyas University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, INDIA Gangotri K.M. 2 Sindhu Joseph 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 682022, INDIA Jyothi K.P. 2 SujaP. Devipriya 3 Suguna Yesodharan 4 Yesodharan E.P. 5 Lakdawala M.M. 1 Chemistry Department, S P T Arts and Science College, Godhra, Gujarat, INDIA Lakdawala J.M. 2 Prime interior, Vapi, Gujarat, INDIA Rojith G. 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, India BrightSingh I.S. 2 Ariponnammal S. 1 Department of Physics, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed University, Gandhigram, Dindigul District, TamilNadu, INDIA Srinivasan T. 2 Ariponnammal S. 1 Department of Physics, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Deemed University, Gandhigram, Dindigul District, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Martínez-Hilders Andrea 1 Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Decanato de Agronomía, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto, VENEZUELA Mendoza Yuraima 2 Peraza Dasybel 3 Laurentin HernÃn 4 Shukla Niharika 1 Department of Genetics and Plant Breeding, Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University Jabalpur, INDIA Nannu Shafakatullah 1 Department of Bio-Sciences, Mangalore University, Mangalagangothri, Karnataka, INDIA Shetty Sowmyashree 2 OrisonLobo Reema 3 Krishnamoorthy M. 4 Prasad Chandan 1 Dept. of Chemistry, D.A.V College, Kanpur, INDIA Mishra R.P. 2 R and D Division, MRD Life Sciences, Lucknow, INDIA Ali Asif 3 Integral University, Lucknow, INDIA Gangwar V.S. 4 Dept of Chemistry, V.S.S.D College, Kanpur, INDIA Chand Shweta 5 Dept of Chemistry, Christ Church College, Kanpur, INDIA Maru R.N. 1 JJT University, Rajasthan, INDIA Patel R.S. 2 Department of Biology, KKSJ Maninagar Science College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, INDIA Jyothi K.P. 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, INDIA Sindhu Joseph 2 Suguna Yesodharan 3 Yesodharan E.P. 4 HridayN. Mishra 1 Physics Department, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, INDIA Srivastava RajeshKumar 2 Narayan Vijay 3 Chand Satish 4 Sachan AlokKumar 5 Shukla VikasKuamr 6 Prasad Onkar 7 Sinha Leena 8 Patel JayKumarShantilal 1 Computer Science Department, Kadi Sarva VishwaVidyalaya, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, INDIA Nakade D.B. 1 Dept. of Microbiology, Rajaram College, Kolhapur, MaharashtraState, INDIA Sreejesh K.K. 1 Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, INDIA Thomas T.P. 2 Rugmini P. 3 Prasanth K.M. 4 Kripa P.K. 5 Prasanth K.M. 1 Dept. of Soil Science, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, INDIA Sreekala P.P. 2 S. Sandeep 3 Kripa P.K. 4 Sreejesh K.K. 5 Singh R.K. 1 Department of Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Rourkela, INDIA Biswal Bijayani 2 Kumar Sachin 3 Saravanan V. 1 Department of Tree Breeding, Forest College & Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Parthiban K.T. 2 Kumar P. 3 Marimuthu P. 4 Kumar P. 1 Department of Tree Breeding, Forest College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Mettupalayam, Tamil Nadu, INDIA Parthiban K.T. 2 Saravanan V. 3 Tiwari Shweta 1 Department of Botany, P.M.B. Gujarati Science College, Indore, INDIA Sharma P.K. 1 Research scholars Zoology, Government P.G. College, Kota, Rajasthan, INDIA Kumar U. 2 Lecturer in Zoology, Government P.G. College, Kota, Rajasthan, INDIA Shrivastava S. 3 RautSonali R. 1 Zoology Dept, Bhavans H. Somani College, Chowpatty, Mumbai-7, INDIA DeshbhratarShantaj M. 2 Botany Dept., Bhavans H. Somani College, Chowpatty, Mumbai-7, INDIA Hile VijayK. 3 Shri Chandulal Nanavati Vinay Mandir, Vile Parle, Mumbai, INDIA Singh AnkitaJ. 4 Tazick Z. 1 Dept. of Plant Protection, Sari Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources University, Sari , IRAN TajickGhanbary M.A. 2 Dept. of Microbiology, Genetics & Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan, Sari, IRAN Kripa P.K. 1 Dept. of Soil Science, Kerala Forest Research Institute, Peechi, INDIA Prasanth K.M. 2 Sreejesh K.K. 3 Thomas T.P. 4 RamningAmol M. 1 Department of Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Technology, Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, Nagpur, MH, INDIA Dhote PriyaS. 2 Ganvir V.N. 3 Rai Priyanka 1 School of Environmental biology, A.P.S. University, Rewa MP, INDIA Mishra RM 2 Parihar Sarita 3 Pati Anupama 1 School of Energy and Environmental Studies, Devi Ahilya University, Khandwa Road, Indore, MP, INDIA Chaudhary Rubina 2 Chithra S.V. 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin-22, Kerala, INDIA Amarnath A. 2 S.V. Smitha 3 HarindranathanNair M.V. 4 Amarnath. A. 1 School of Environmental Studies, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, Kerala, INDIA Rojith. G. 2 Shahin Adhem 3 V.B. Rakesh 4 > Research Paper 2012 11 2 2013 February 2 Conservation and restoration of wetlands is of utmost significance for sustainable development as well as natural resource management. Kottayam Chira, which spreads around an area of about 12 acres is located at the northern region of Kerala State, centered at coordinates of 11049′ N and 75033′ E., is a significant wetland with irrigational potential to nearby four Panchayats. The wetland is now in a degraded form and a preliminary scientific analysis has been done to characterize the wetland for future restoration efforts. GIS studies were performed to identify the geographical setting and to assess the wetland area change occurred during the past two decades. General slope and drainage pattern were determined. Analysis of land use\land cover pattern which has a decisive impact over surface and sub surface water was done. Invasive plant species spread over the wetland is visible even in the satellite image. Buffer zone and catchment area was demarcated for suggesting the conservation strategies to be adopted. GIS analysis indicates considerable shrinkage of the water body over the recent past. Developmental scope of the wetland in terms of irrigational and ground water recharge potential as well as tourism opportunities is also presented in this paper. Copyright@ International Science Community Association