ABSTRACT

Fresh water bio-diverse fishes in Uttar Pradesh state are also a part of the economic
structure for the local society in its many riverside regions. In order to control and conserve,
the Government declared biosphere reserve areas, but it has its limits, and many of the local
biota, including fresh water diversity is still in danger and needed to be taken care and protect
from the local interference and uncontrolled hunting. Being aware of the fact about the
importance of the existence of the rivers in the life of all living beings; the presented study
explores the condition of the local biodiversity and other related factors in the river Ken in
district Banda, Uttar Pradesh, India.

WHO has focues freshwater (lotic/river) aquatic biodiversity and quantity and quality
of the aquatic biota and the condition of the freshwater river directly depends upon the
physico-chemical factors of the river water. The Nature treats a river into some degree; but
this natural cleaning process goes well only until before non-biodegradable and toxic
chemical waste gets involved in it.

Over utilisations of water, water crisis due to decreasing underground water level,
rapid harmful changes in the physico-chemical properties of water through water pollution
into the river system causing damage to human health and endanger of freshwater species by
different type of pathogenic bacteria in water are the main factors behind the downfall of
biodiversity.

One of the sub-tributary rivers of Yamuna, the river ‘Ken’ is in the focus of the study.
It passes a long distance of aprox. 47 km in Banda district in Uttar Pradesh. Its length is
approximately (427 km) four hundred twenty seven km. The rich biodiversity of the Ken
River has its economic value but the rising water needs in district Banda and the
mismanagement of the non-biodegradable waste in the river has been creating the problem
for the bio-habitat. To support the ‘Blue revolution’ by management of water body has been
also an important part of this study.

On the basis of this assumption, the study aimed to find out the maximum
information and economic importance of the river Ken in Banda district through the selected
sampling areas, which can be helpful for the betterment of humanity and the local
biodiversity. This study explores the river Ken and find out its ecology and ecosystem,
studies the effects of physico-chemical factors on biota of river Ken ecosystem and identifies
biota with their economic importance.

Cause and effects of mention factors on the present biodiversity of river Ken reveals
the condition of the water and the scientific measures are suggested accordingly for the
betterment of the river ecosystem. These measures can be adapted for the improvement and
safeguarding of the existing biota and saving drinking water of the river Ken.

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 The selection of the four stations i.e.; Station- 1 ‘Gancha’, Station- 2 ‘Bhuragarh’,
Station- 3 ‘Pailani’ town, and Station- 4 ‘Chilla Ghat’has been done by proper study of the
river topography; activity of humans on the riverside. The expansion of these four stations
touches the boundary of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh states covering 38 villages.
APHA 21sted (2005)), AWWA and BIS has been followed to collect the water samples of the
river Ken for getting data from the stations. Seasonal data have been collected and examined
continuously for two years from Jan-2014 to Dec-2015.

Noted data are observed and explained using the computer generated statically data
and appropriate graphs and tables in the given work. Factors, only those, on which the work
is based on, are examined and recorded in the work-
Meteorological Condition: Atmospheric temperature, Rainfall (mm), Relative Humidity,
Photo period are documentated. These Meteorological conditions are connected with
variation in biodiversity.
Physical Factors: Water temperature, Turbidity is measured in Nephelometric Turbidity
Units, Water current; Colour is the physical factors reported in the work and are
expressed through the graphs and tables.
Chemical Factors: Total nineteen important chemical properties which are considered very
important in connection with life form studied and are recorded.
Biodiversity: covered and reported are:
Macro fauna- Total 33 species of economically important fishes recorded from the
considered area promoting fisheries for locals.
Macro flora– Aquatic weeds Marselia quadrifolia, Azolla spp., Hydrilla verticillata,
Vallisneria, Lemna paucicostata etc are found in different stations.
Micro fauna– In various seasonal Ken biodiversity is occupied by Rotifera, Copepoda
and Cladocera (Crustacean larva) of zooplankton.
Micro flora- Chlorophyceae, Bacillariophyceae, Cynophyceae are the micro floras
photosynthetic, Chemotropic, heterotrophic qualities are its ability found in river Ken.

Rivers maintain the balance of physico-chemical and biological parameter conditions

through lotic (the flow) and biological diversity, and all factors are connected and affecting
each other and it is very important for the study purpose. To save Biodiversity on the basis of
data, the given factor categorization has been done of clearing of any doubt about the
biodiversity and physico-chemical parameters and therein relation with each other in the
water of Ken River in Banda District.

This research work traceses out the reasons behind the water pollution and to
overcome the drawbacks of biodiversity imbalance; scientific measures are been suggested
for saving the existing biota of the river; these findings might become a milestone to create
impact on the conservation of the river Ken.

Problems and its suggested solutions to improve the water quality of the Ken River
involves the Government’s plan of action, Natural cleaning of the river water, Effects of
excess sand digging and also observe the Public Awareness towards the matter. The study,

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support the formation of surface water conservation program to enhance biodiversity
conservation mission of the river Ken at Banda and for managing the sustaining economic
development of the freshwater based benefits along with providing the solutions for coping
with the river pollution problems and biodiversity. The improvement of the water quality of
the river Ken will be a win-win situation for all the stakeholders, such as, government, local
public, and the fishermen and even for the non-human living beings, the flora and fauna of
the river ecosystem.

Recommendations to sustain the aquatic biodiversity and enhance the river

based economy: For the intend of sustaining green economies and restoring and protecting
river from further loss of its important biota the following measures should be implemented
and adapted:
a) Restructuring of government programmes is required for river Ken conservation.
b) Nagar Palika should stop dumping city garbage of Banda city on the river bank.
c) The government must open some poly bag purchasing shops or center to collect and
recycle plastic bags.
d) “Ganda Nala” water must be treated before adding it to the river Ken.
e) Government must immediately control Sand/Morrum illegal mining for protecting
biodiversity habit and habitat.
f) For the purpose of economic growth, promotion and management of Piscicultural under
controled enviroment are requiring more attention.
g) Proper publicity and enactment of ground-level awareness programmes on pollution
problem and biodiversity threats and the monitoring of public response should be on a
regular basis for improving the river condition.
h) Factual information about the condition and the other influencing factors of their local
river must be shared with the younger generation to make them become aware and
responsible about the natural resources protection from their early age.
i) Organic, easy-to-apply and non-expensive new technologies for removing impurities in
the water should be developed to treat the river water.

Pollution and biodiversity threats are now worldwide. Bio-diversity protection

programmes of the rivers can be very productive if the government combines the freshwater’s
economically important by-products' production and protection plans for the application of
eco-friendly science and green-technology and the regular monitoring of the administration,
can effectively able to save the downfall of the nature and the biodiversity of the river Ken
and even to harmonizing the state between the environment, economy, and the society for any
rivers’ecosystem.

Keywords:
Acquitic Biodiversity, Ken River, Green Economy, Freshwater ecosystem, River
Pollution, River Biodiversity Conservation, Illegal Mining, Fish fauna, economically
important.

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