Anthropogenic activities at Kandla Port were contaminating water in its creek which could affect the marine sanctuary and national park there, a study by the National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, said.

A conclusion to this effect was drawn by a study on 'Influence of Anthropogenic Activities on Existing Environmental Conditions of Kandla Creek (Gulf of Kutch)' by NIO scientists namely P V Shirodkar, U K Pradhan, Dearlyn Fernandes and Sonali Haldankar, and G S Rao of Kandla Port Trust (KPT).

"The Kandla creek, a macro-tidal region in the eastern Gulf of Kutch is significantly influenced by anthropogenic activities of Kandla port located along its western bank," the study for which data was collected between 2002-2006 said. The analysis of data collected over the five years was published in March this year.

"Analysis of the data indicated port activities contaminating the creek water due to loading and unloading of fertiliser and raw materials, petroleum, oil and lubricants and the boat traffic," the study said.

"It shows the transport of large amounts of suspended solids, leading to siltation in the approach channel from Gulf of Kutch to Kandla creek as well as transport of anthropogenic contaminants into the Gulf, can affect Marine Sanctuary and the Marine National Park," the study said.

The Marine Sanctuary located in the Gulf of Kutch is home to a variety of flora and fauna including sea corals.

"The quality of creek water evaluated based on overall index of pollution calculated from the water quality index of each parameter, suggested polluted water at junction, oil jetty and at cargo jetty; and slightly polluted water at the creek mouth during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons," the study said.

When asked to comment on the findings, Rao who was part of the team, said he was yet to see the final analysis of the report. "I cannot comment without going through the final analysis which is published," Rao told PTI.

Chairman of Kandla Port Trust (KPT) P D Waghela was not available for comment, while Deputy Chairman M A Bhaskarachar said he had joined recently and was not aware of the study.

The Kandla port, which handles various types of voluminous cargo, largely oil and petroleum products (petroleum, oil and lubricants), industrial chemicals, fertilisers, food grains, ores, and other substances is located along the western bank of Kandla creek.

"The influences of various contaminants and other parameters on Chlorophyll 'a' generation (in organisms found in creek area) and its deactivation indicate low productivity during monsoon and its recovery during the post-monsoon," the NIO study said.

Chlorophyll 'a' is one type of chlorophyll essential for photosynthesis in organisms which helps them produce chemical energy from light.

The study said strong tidal currents increase turbidity and TSS (total suspended solids), while the high salinity water from creek tributaries formed from intense evaporation during summer, and seepage of brines from nearby salt pans during monsoon, increase salinity of creek water.

"Despite the presence of large nutrients (like phosphates, nitrites, nitrates and ammonia in the creek water), the decreasing chlorophyll 'a' and primary productivity during monsoon indicated detrimental effects of turbidity, TSS and phenols," it further said.

The study was conducted in order to understand the seasonal variability in physico-chemical characteristics of creek water in relation to anthropogenic flow and their impact on water quality and the biological characteristics.

It was carried out in Kandla creek, continuously over five years period under the environmental monitoring programme of the KPT.