Urbanization impacts on socio ecology of lakes in south Chennai city India

Abstract

Chennai city is now witnessing a massive growth in the manufacturing and information technology sectors resulting in uncontrolled newlineurbanization and population growth leading to changes in land use pattern newlinedevelopment of roads and other infrastructure This imposes great pressure on newlinethe natural water resources such as Lakes and Rivers in the adjoining areas newlineLakes are vulnerable to these changes as changes in population and land use newlineassociated with urbanization may also alter social interdependence of water newlinebodies in the vicinity and therefore their sustainability newlineThe general objective of the present study is to analyze the effects newlineof urbanization on water bodies situated along an urban rural gradient on newlinewater quality aquatic health social attitudes and to measure their protection newlinestatus Six Lakes in the southern suburban region of Chennai city were chosen newlinefor the study where transition from rural to urban condition is taking place in newlinethe context of rapid development of Information Technology sector One newlineLake was chosen in southern periphery of the city in an area fully newlineurbanized Three Lakes were newlineselected in the peri urban areas with varying levels of urbanization Two newlineLakes were chosen in the rural fringes where newlineurbanization is yet to make significant impact The methodology of the study newlineincluded the collection and analysis of secondary data pertaining to land use newlineand population interpretation of satellite imageries to analyze changes in land newlineuse and other spatial parameters seasonal study of water quality and biological newlinediversity by sample collection and laboratory testing and field investigations newlinedirected at understanding the social structure and attitudes of the community newlinetowards water bodies and ecological and environmental issues of concern newline