INTRODUCTION:

Anantha Victoria Marthandavarman Canal is popularly known as AVM Canal. It was running from Kochi in Kerala to Mondaikadu in Tamil Nadu. In This Canal got this name from the Highness Maharaja of Travancore Sri Utram Tirunal Marthandavarma and his most respected British Queen Victoria of England. The etymological meaning of the term ‘Anantha’ simply indicates snake which always used by Padmanabha, the family deity of the Travancore kings.¹

The Travancore government under Sri Utram Tirunal Marthandavarma had various aims and objectives behind the construction of AVM Canal. The main aim of the AVM Canal scheme was to extend the water communication to the extreme south of the country, through that the government had a plan to make close contact with the Malayalam speaking people of northern Travancore and Tamil speaking people of southern Travancore. There was a possibility of cultural integration among these two sections of people. The Travancore Government inaugurated AVM channel construction work in 1860 with the help of the British Resident and Engineers.¹

Unfortunately in 1860 itself Utram Tirunal Marthandavarma died and so in his place Ayilyam Tirunal ascended the throne of Travancore. He continued the construction works of his predecessor. So the construction of AVM Canal also continued systematically. In 1863 he appointed Barton as the chief engineer of the PWD in Travancore. In 1867 the construction work of the AVM Canal, in the beach between Poovar and Manavalakurichi, south east of Colachel, was partly finished. Its length was 21km and width is 20 meters. Things like rice, wheat etc were transported to various parts in the Travancore kingdom through the A.V.M canal. After the end of Travancore kingdom this canal transport was wind up.¹

At present the AVM Canal is encroached in some parts especially the coastal areas. The canal has lost its bright structure due to the construction of houses and buildings on the canal. In some places the local Panchayats were constructed a small bridges crossed by the canal.² The originality of the canal has gone and the nature is chaos due to the above reasons.

NEED FOR THE STUDY:

Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies, usually as a result of human activities. Water pollution is a major global problem. It has been suggested that water pollution is the leading worldwide cause of death and diseases. Water pollution accounted for the deaths of 1.8 million people in 2015. India and China are two countries with high levels of water pollution. An estimated 580 people in India die of water pollution related illness including waterborne diseases every day.²

The AVM Canal is polluted completely with waste. It is full of aquatic macrophytes that harbor mosquito larvae. Defecation on the bank of the channel and domestic waste pollute the Canal. In Mondaikadu, coconut husk retting operation is carried near the Canal. In Manavalakurichi and South Kollencode, the husk netting operation takes place in the Canal itself. The hydrogen sulphide released from the netting ponds pollute the channel and the water become turbid. At present the waste collected from the town are dumped in low lying area and along the coastal side of the town near the AVM Canal. People have made their own fate in bringing up the terrible diseases like Chikungunya, Dengue fever by polluting the canal under various circumstances.²

S. Betsy Bai and Y. Jinisha studied the water quality of AVM canal in five different sites namely Vallavilai, Thatheyapuram, Eraviputhenthurai, Poothurai and Erayumanthurai. They reported that dissolved oxygen showed great fluctuations. The maximum dissolved oxygen content was 9.04mg/litre and was recorded during May. The minimum dissolved oxygen content of 5mg/litre was recorded during March. Total Dissolved Solids in water originates from natural sources, sewage, urban run – off, industrial waste water and chemicals used in the water treatment process. In the present study, maximum TDS was recorded in site V with a value of 3880mg/litre and a minimum of 1430mg/litre in site I during May.³

Study done by Mary Helen, H, Premjith, S and Jaya, D.S showed that. the maximum bacterial count was recorded during pre monsoon season and minimum during monsoon season. The important bacterial genera encountered were Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Shigella. Among the identified bacterial genera, Escherichia coli were found to be the dominant one followed by Salmonella and Shigella.⁴

The researchers are studying in the school situated near the bank of AVM Canal. Every day when they come to school, they used see the people disposing the waste in to AVM Canal and personally they have noticed bad smell and mosquito breeding around the area. Many of their schoolmates residing in the nearby villages complain of diseases caused by water pollution. So the researchers were interested to study this topic.

AIM OF THE STUDY:

The study aimed to assess the common pollutants of water in AVM Canal, knowledge regarding water pollution and its hazards among residents of selected villages residing near the bank of AVM Canal in Kanyakumari district.

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY:

1. To assess the common pollutants present in the water in AVM Canal.

2. To assess the site of waste disposal by the residents of selected villages.

3. To assess the common health problems faced by the residents of selected villages residing near the bank of AVM Canal.

METHODOLOGY:

Research Approach:

A quantitative research approach was adopted

Research Design:

A descriptive research design was adopted.

Setting of the study:

The study was conducted in Puthoor and Kottilpadu near Mondaikadu. This are the two villages situated near the bank of AVM Canal.

Population:

The population consisted of both males and females residing in selected villages near the bank of AVM Canal in Kanyakumari district.

Sample of the study:

Sample represented both the males and females residing at selected villages who were above the age of 18 years.

Sample size:

The sample size was 50. Both males and females who fulfilled inclusion criteria available during data collection were selected as sample. Out of 50 samples, 25 were selected from Kotilpadu and 25 from Puthoor.

Sampling Method:

Purposive sampling was used to select the samples.

Criteria for sample selection:

Inclusion criteria: The resident who was

· Above 18 years

· Residing in Puthoor or Kotilpadu

· Willing to participate in the study

· Know to speak in Tamil

Exclusion Criteria: The resident who was

· Mentally challenged

· Not willing to participate

Description of the tool:

The questionnaire addressing demographic and clinical data consisted of age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, type of family, purpose of using AVM Canal, area of waste disposal, health problems in the family for the past one year and problems faced due to polluted AVM Canal.

Development and validity of the tool:

The questionnaire was developed by the researchers after thorough review of literature related to AVM Canal and validated with the help of the experts.

Data collection procedure:

Data was collected in the following steps

Step I: Completion of questionnaire by the researchers:

After getting permission from the Head of the Parish, the researchers went to the villages on 24^th September and 1^st October 2019. On 24^th September 2019, data was collected from Kotilpadu and 2^nd October 2019 from Puthoor. Samples were selected according to inclusion criteria. After explaining the purpose of the study, the researchers got oral consent from the participants. The questionnaire was completed by the researchers through interview technique. The researcher interviewed each sample for 15-20 minutes. Each day the researchers interviewed 25 samples (12-13 samples by each researchers).

Step II: Conducting field visit:

Field visit was conducted on 1^stOctober 2019 by the researchers to find the common pollutant present in the AVM Canal from Puthoor to Kotilpadu. The researchers documented the various pollutants present in AVM Canal and took photography of that.

Ethical considerations:

· A formal permission was obtained from the head of the Parish where the study was conducted.

· Oral consent from the participant was obtained before the data collection.

· Assurance was given to each sample that their privacy and confidentiality would be maintained throughout the study.

RESULTS:

Demographic variables of samples:

About 40% of the samples were between 30 and 45 years, 82% were females, 88% were married, 66% were living in nuclear family, 58% of them had secondary education and 74% of them were housewives.

Table 1.: List of common Pollutants seen in AVM Canal (obtained by field visit)

S. No	Category	Items
1.	Plastic waste	Disposable covers, Snacks covers, Masala cover, Water bottles, medicine bottle, pesticide bottle, oil can, Chapels, broken basin, broken mugs, Broken toys, plastic bags, Broken flasks, sanitary napkins, bags, mobile cover
2.	Glass waste	Fused bulb, tube light, broken bottles, mirror pieces, cups, showcase items, brandi and wine bottle
3.	Paper waste	Paper plates, paper cups, covers, old news paper, old books, paper bags
4.	Electronic item	Broken TV parts, broken toys,
5.	Cloths	Old cotton and synthetic dress materials
6.	Thermocol and rubber	Broken thermocol, chapels, floor mat
7.	Plants	Decayed coconut leaf, coconut shell, decayed branches of tree, algae
8.	Drainage water	Sewage water from houses enters in to the AVM channel directly and through public drainage system.

Details regarding waste disposal:

Fig 1. Distribution of samples according to using AVM canal for waste disposal (N=50).

Figure 1 shows that 37 (74%) of the samples were using the AVM channel for disposing various waste arises from day to day life.

Fig 2. Distribution of samples according to using AVM canal for waste disposal (N=50).

Fig 2 shows that 66% of them were draining out waste water, 34% of them discarding broken plastic waste and plastic bags, 36%of them throwing the paper waste, 38% of them disposing the used electrical items like fused bulb and 40% of them throwing the used clothes in to the AVM canal.

Problems faced by the public due to pollution of AVM canal:

Fig 3. Distribution of samples according to health problems in the family (N=50).

Figure 3 reveals that, 26% of them had diarrhea in their family, 4% of them had malarial infection and 16% of them had typhoid. About 12% of them expressed that they had dengue fever in their family. Around 38% of them had skin disorders in their family for the past one year.

Fig 4. Distribution of samples according to public problems faced due to polluted AVM canal (N=50).

Figure 4 depicts that 84% of them felt bad smell from polluted AVM canal, 94% expressed that AVM canal is a suitable area for mosquito breeding, 38% expressed about water getting in to the houses situated near the bank of the canal during rainy season and 74% expressed that they used to have problems with rodents such as rats and snakes.

DISCUSSION:

The findings of the present study have been discussed under different headings with relevance to the objectives of the study.

Objective I: To assess the common pollutants present in the water in AVM canal:

The researchers conducted a field visit to various type of pollutants present in the AVM canal. The pollutants documented included plastic wastes such as disposable covers, snacks covers, masala cover, water bottles, medicine bottle, pesticide bottle, oil can, chapels, broken basin, broken mugs, broken toys, plastic bags, broken flasks, sanitary napkins, bags and mobile cover. Sewage from houses enters in to the channel through public drainage system. The sewage water enters directly in to the channel from houses situated near the bank of AVM canal.

Objective II: To assess the site of waste disposal by the residents of selected villages:

The study findings revealed that majority (74%) of the participants were using the AVM canal for disposing various wastes arises from day to day life. The public drainage constructed by the Municipality of both villages also drains in to the AVM canal.

Objective III: To assess the common health problems faced by the residents of selected villages residing near the bank of AVM canal:

The present study reported the common health problems faced by the family for the past six months. Around 26% of them reported diarrhea, 8% of them had malarial infection and 16% of them had typhoid. About 84% of them felt bad smell from polluted AVM channel, 94% expressed that AVM channel is a suitable area for mosquito breeding, 38% expressed about water getting in to the houses situated near the bank of the channel during rainy season and 74% expressed that they used to have problems with rodents such as rats and snakes.

CONCLUSION:

The study results concluded that the AVM canal is polluted with various domestic waste made up of plastics, glasses, thermocol etc. The sewage from houses including public drainage drains in the AVM canal. The people near the bank of AVM canal suffers from diseases such as malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, and skin disorders often. Disposal of waste in the AVM canal leads to bad smell, mosquito breeding and disturbance because of rodents such as rats and snakes. The municipality also paved a way to pollute the canal by establishing public drainage system which drains in to the AVM canal. So it is the responsibility of the government and the NGOs to join hand with public to clean and re-establish the canal for water navigation so that the historical award of the district will be sustained.

Solutions recommended by the researchers to prevent water pollution in AVM channel:

· Public drainage system constructed by the panchayat and municipality drains in to the AVM canal in both villages. The local panchayat and municipality should take steps to modify the drainage system.

· The Panchayat and Municipality should take steps to keep permanent waste bins separate for each items in the corners of both villages, so that people can discard the waste in that waste bin. The same way they should also arrange to collect all the waste from the waste bin every day.

· An awareness program needs to be conducted regarding importance of AVM canal and how it can be kept clean.

· NSS programs can be arranged by the colleges to clean AVM canal.

FUTURE SCOPE OF WORK DONE:

· Similar study can be conducted with large sample in different villages near the bank of AVM canal so that views of many people can be obtained.

· The effectiveness of an awareness program on water pollution can be studied

REFRENCES:

1. Anilkumar, P. (2017). Evolution and growth of inland navigation in Travancore. Advance Research Journal of Social Science, 8 (1) : 137-139.

2. Mullanchery M Velaian., Rescue the planet Earth., Kumari Arivial Peravai.,Page 179.

3. S. Betsy Bai and Y. Jinisha, A study on the physico-chemical characteristics of the water of AVM canal in Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, Journal of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Research, 2014, 6(2):384-389

4. Mary Helen, H., Premjith, S. and Jaya, D.S. Bacteriological studies on water, sediment and fish samples of Poovar Estuary, South India, Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries Vol. 2/2014/ pp. 337 to 34.

Received on 15.02.2020 Modified on 01.03.2020

Int. J. Nur. Edu. and Research. 2020; 8(3):353-357.

DOI: 10.5958/2454-2660.2020.00075.7