64
R. Chettri et al.
6 Conclusion
Although the Government of Sikkim and its people are vigilant to protect and preserve
the natural environment, due to unprecedented activities by a section of tourists,
serene lakes of this state are getting polluted gradually. Apparently the pollution
level is not very high. However, cumulative impact of gradual small-scale pollution might cause significant degradation of the aquatic ecosystem in the long run.
Therefore, in order to protect the natural health of lakes and associated wetlands,
the areas surrounding the lakes should be kept out of limits of people, and wetland
ecosystem management practice needs to be taken up. More attention should be given
to environmental sustainability, and ecological balance should be maintained by any
cost.
References
1. Saini RK, Swain S, Patra A, Khanday GJ, Gupta H, Purushothaman P, Chakrapani GJ (2008)
Water chemistry of three Himalayan Lakes: Dal (Jammu & Kashmir), Khajjar (Himachal
Pradesh) and Nainital (Uttarakhand). Himalayan Geol 29(1):63–72
2. Wikipedia (2020). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khecheopalri_Lake. Accessed 12 Nov 2019
3. Jain A, Rai SC, Pal J, Sharma E (1999) Hydrology and nutrient dynamics of a sacred lake in
Sikkim Himalaya. Hydrobiologia 416:13–22
4. Bureau of Indian Standards (1991) Indian standard specification for drinking water IS-10500.
Indian Standard Institute, New Delhi
5. World Health Organisation (2014) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th edn. World Health
Organization
6. Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analysis.
Trans Am Geophys Union 25:914–928
7. CISMHE (2007) Carrying capacity study of Teesta basin in Sikkim, vol II: Land Environment
– Geophysical Environment. Centre for Inter-disciplinary Studies of Mountain and Hill Environment, University of Delhi, Prepared for Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government
of India
8. Bhuiyan C, Champati Ray PK (2016) Groundwater quality zoning in the perspective of health
hazards. Water Resour Manag 31(1):251–267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1522-4
9. Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanicsms controlling world water chemistry. Science 170:1088–1090
10. Zhang J, Huang WW, Letolle R, Jusserand C (1995) Major element chemistry of the Huanghe
(Yellow river), China: weathering processes and chemical fluxes. J Hydrol 168: 173–203
11. Gaillardet J, Dupre B, Louvat P, Cj Allegre (1999) Global silicate weathering and CO 2
consumption rates deduced from the chemistry of large rivers. Chem Geol 159:3–30
R. Chettri et al.
6 Conclusion
Although the Government of Sikkim and its people are vigilant to protect and preserve
the natural environment, due to unprecedented activities by a section of tourists,
serene lakes of this state are getting polluted gradually. Apparently the pollution
level is not very high. However, cumulative impact of gradual small-scale pollution might cause significant degradation of the aquatic ecosystem in the long run.
Therefore, in order to protect the natural health of lakes and associated wetlands,
the areas surrounding the lakes should be kept out of limits of people, and wetland
ecosystem management practice needs to be taken up. More attention should be given
to environmental sustainability, and ecological balance should be maintained by any
cost.
References
1. Saini RK, Swain S, Patra A, Khanday GJ, Gupta H, Purushothaman P, Chakrapani GJ (2008)
Water chemistry of three Himalayan Lakes: Dal (Jammu & Kashmir), Khajjar (Himachal
Pradesh) and Nainital (Uttarakhand). Himalayan Geol 29(1):63–72
2. Wikipedia (2020). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khecheopalri_Lake. Accessed 12 Nov 2019
3. Jain A, Rai SC, Pal J, Sharma E (1999) Hydrology and nutrient dynamics of a sacred lake in
Sikkim Himalaya. Hydrobiologia 416:13–22
4. Bureau of Indian Standards (1991) Indian standard specification for drinking water IS-10500.
Indian Standard Institute, New Delhi
5. World Health Organisation (2014) Guidelines for drinking water quality, 4th edn. World Health
Organization
6. Piper AM (1944) A graphic procedure in the geochemical interpretation of water analysis.
Trans Am Geophys Union 25:914–928
7. CISMHE (2007) Carrying capacity study of Teesta basin in Sikkim, vol II: Land Environment
– Geophysical Environment. Centre for Inter-disciplinary Studies of Mountain and Hill Environment, University of Delhi, Prepared for Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government
of India
8. Bhuiyan C, Champati Ray PK (2016) Groundwater quality zoning in the perspective of health
hazards. Water Resour Manag 31(1):251–267. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11269-016-1522-4
9. Gibbs RJ (1970) Mechanicsms controlling world water chemistry. Science 170:1088–1090
10. Zhang J, Huang WW, Letolle R, Jusserand C (1995) Major element chemistry of the Huanghe
(Yellow river), China: weathering processes and chemical fluxes. J Hydrol 168: 173–203
11. Gaillardet J, Dupre B, Louvat P, Cj Allegre (1999) Global silicate weathering and CO 2
consumption rates deduced from the chemistry of large rivers. Chem Geol 159:3–30