Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Management

Unit 11 : Monitoring and control of pollution

11.4.2.Andhra Pradesh Coast
This coast is known for extensive coastal marsh with madflats and salt pans. Two broad deltas have been formed by Godavari and Krishna rivers. Other important rivers are Pennar, Lengavalli and Vasmadhara. Major types of industries are sugar, distilleries, chemical, refinery, fertilizer, paper and large number of agricultural farms and marine food processing industries. In addition, the port operations at Vishakapatnam and Kakinada also form the potential sources of coastal pollution. According to the scientific information available, the coastal activity at Vishakapatnam has resulted in the following changes.

• Depleted dissolved oxygen in the surface waters of harbor quay.
• Undesirable changes in sediment texture
• Increased organic carbon content in the sediment
• Higher load of heavy metals in sediment
• Decreased diversity of benthic organisms
• Increased presence of pollution indicators