Department of Geography

Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady

(Re-Accredited by NAAC with A Grade)
+

2020-2022
FIELD REPORT
THIRD SEMESTER M.SC GEOGRAPHY

PGEM11509
INTRODUCTION TO FIELD RESEARCH IN GEOGRAPHY

FIELD MAPPING IN MUHAMMA ;

AN ANALYSIS OF HUMAN
INTERACTIONS WITH CANALS AND
STREAMS
(10th- 20th NOV 2021)

BINSHAD P 20KA11GE15

1
 CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that this is a bona fide record of the course PGEM11509-
Introduction to Field Research in Geography, Which has been done as field
camp conducted by the Department of Geography in Muhamma Panchayat of
Alappuzha district on 10th-20th November 2021en submitted as a part of the
third semester Msc Geogrphy program of the Department of Geography, Sree
Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady, Kerala.

Faculty in charge of course Name & Signature of student with date

Head of Department

2
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. T. S. Saju, Associate Professor and

Head, the Department of Geography, Sree Sankaracharya University of
Sanskrit, Kalady for his guidance.
I am taking this opportunity to express my gratitude and deep regard to Dr. T
Lancelet, The Professor of Geography department for the guidance and support.
I am glad to express my gratitude to Mr. Suresh .S, Guest Faculty, for his
support, patience and encouragement.
I convey my sincere thanks to Mrs Shalima Shankaran, the Guest Faculty, for
her support and guidance throughout the field.
I am so greatful to thank Dr Nandhakumar the visiting Professor of Department
of Geography, for his guidance, support and encouragement throughout my
field work.
I would like to record my sincere thanks to all those who helped me in the
accomplishment of this task particularly, the residence of Muhamma Panchayat.

Date

Place

3
 ABSTRACT
Canal and streams are highly connected with human beings. Alappuzha is a
district of Kerala having much more canals and streams and most of the streams
having a linear pattern. This study conducted in the Selected wards
(Thuruthankavala and Poojaveli) of Muhamma Grama Panchayat of Cherthala
taluk could identify and map the canals and streams. Then the study also discuss
how human beings in particular region are related with these canals and
streams. As per the study there are 2 canals and 7 streams in these wards and
people in this region depend them for transportation, irrigation, clam collection
and processing. The study shows that most of the streams are partially or
completely under perishing stage.

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 LIST OF CONTENT

SL.NO TITLE PAGE NO

CHAPTER-1
1.1 Introduction 7
1.2 Study Area 8
1.3 Aims of the Study 10
1.4 Objectives 10
1.5 Methodology 10
1.6 Limitations 10
1.7 Significance of the Study 11
1.8 Review of Literature 11-12
CHAPTER- 2
(METHODS USED IN MAPPING)
2.1 GIS Survey 13
2.2 Q-Gis & QField 13
2.3 ArcGis 13
CHAPTER- 3
3.1 Analysis of the Study 14-15
3.1.1 Puthanangadi canal 18
3.1.2 Thuruthankavala stream 20
3.1.3 Kooplikkaattu stream 22
3.1.4 Kallushappu stream 22
3.1.5 Poojaveli stream 22
3.1.6 Kallaattu stream 26
3.1.7 Shasthankal stream 28
3.1.8 Thayyil stream 30
3.1.9 Kallathodu canal 32
CHAPTER- 4
4.1 Conclusion 34
4.2 Suggestions 35
4.3 Reference 36
5
 LIST OF MAPS, TABLES, AND FIGURES

SL.NO MAPS PAGE NO

1.1 Location Map 9
3.1 Canal and Stream Map 16
3.2 Puthanangadi Canal 19
3.3 ThuruthankavalaThodu 21
3.4 KooplikkaattuThodu 23
3.5 KallushappuThodu 24
3.6 PoojaveliThodu 25
3.7 KallaattuThodu 27
3.8 ShasthangalThodu 29
3.9 ThayyilThodu 31
3.10 KallaThodu 33

FIGURES
3.1 Data collection 14
3.2 Puthanagadi canal 18
3.3 Clam cleaning 18
3.4 ThuruthanKavalaThodu 20
3.5 Bhoovastra Damage 20
3.6 KallaattuThodu 26
3.7 ShasthangalThodu 28
3.8 Waste water dumping 28
3.9 Enchroachment of streams 28
3.10 ThayyilThodu 30
3.11 Water Flow Obstruction 30
3.12 KallaThodu 32

TABLES
3.1 Attribute Table of Canal & Stream 17
Map

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 CHAPTER 1

1.1 INTRODUCTION

MuhammaPanchayat is an region with many more water bodies like canals,

streams, ponds, etc. Then Muhamma is an adjacent landscape with Vembanad
lake. People who live in this region are well connected with canals and streams
in this region and canals are related with their subsistence. Canals and streams
plays crucial role in the life of natives in MuhammaPanchayat in transportation,
clam collecting and its processing, fishing etc. The study could find out many
streams which are not mapped accurately by the local authoritarians. With this
study only a small part of the panchayat could be mapped. Due to time
limitation, but it is sure that the mapping which done by the study is accurate
and applicable for further studies.

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1.2 STUDY AREA

Muhamma is a census town in cherthala thaluk in Alappuzha district of Kerala.

Its coordinates are 9⁰ 60´ 06´´ N latitude and 76⁰ 35´ 79´´ E longitude. It is the
home to Cheerappanchira Kalari where Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala and his
training in martial arts conducted. It is the smallest village in Alappuzha and
Pathiramanal is a small island and tourist attraction in Muhamma. The eastern
part is bounded by the Vembanad Lake, largest lake in Kerala. Kanjikuzhy,
Mannanchery and Thaneermukkom are neighbour villages in Muhamma. As per
2011 census the total population is about 24513, in which the male and female
population is 11830 and 12683. There are 16 wards in muhamma.

The study area is confined to Thuruthankavala and Poojaveli wards of

MuhammaPanchayat. Thuruthankavala and Poojaveli wards considered 1 nd 2
wards respectively. Both of these wards are is a adjacent to Vembanad Lake in
the east.

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1.3 AIMS OF THE STUDY
The study aims complete mapping of canals and streams of Puthanangadi and
Thuruthankavala wards of Muhamma panchayath and also discuss the human
relation with these canals and streams. Then the study aims to evaluate the
present condition of the streams that whether it have proper flowing condition
or not , is it waste dumped, is there any constructions obstruct the flow of water
etc.

1.4 OBJECTIVES
• To identify canals and streams and its mapping.
• To identify the human interaction with canals and streams in selected
wards.
• To identify the exact ward boundary of selected wards and map it.

1.5 METHODOLOGY
The study is conducted by collecting both primary and secondary datas.
Primary data include GPS survey method, Q field survey, observasion reports,
geo tagged photographs and questionnaire survey . The secondary data includes
the Land Use Land Cover map from LULC Board and datas collected from
Muhamma panchayat office. With the help of GPS the ward boundary is
marked. The canals and streams are plotted with the help of GPS using
waypoints and track manager options. Maps are developed with the help of Arc
GIS and Q GIS software.

1.6 LIMITATIONS
• Time bound
• Lack of side wall for canals created adventurous situations.
• Improper responses
• Sudden weather change
• Network issue

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1.7 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The mapping of the streams and canals and study the human interaction with
particular streams and canals will help to conduct much effective planning for
the sustainability of such resources. This study reveals how these canals and
streams influenced in the life of natives of Puthanangadi and Thurthankavala
wards of Muhamma pnchayat. The mapping of streams and canals in frequent
intervals will help to understand the land use changes and delineation of such
resources. Then, these maps could be subjected for further studies for
constructing side wall, extend the width of streams etc using using GIS tools
like buffering.

1.8 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

• Strahler's (1952) stream order system is a simple method of classifying

stream segments based on the number of tributaries upstream. A stream
with no tributaries (headwater stream) is considered a first order stream.
A segment downstream of the confluence of two first order streams is a
second order stream. This is method which widely use for stream
mapping in the field studies.

• Soniya Parihar, Sanjay Jain and Dr. Lokesh Bajpai (2012) conducted a
joint research paper and this research paper addresses method of value
stream analysis, which is a tool for helping manufacturing companies to
go lean and to achieve larger control of their value stream. Then a future
state map is drawn to show how things should work for best competitive
advantage. Value Stream Mapping helps to identify the current flow of
material and information in processes for a family of products,
highlighting the opportunities for improvement that will most
significantly impact the overall production system. Value Stream
Mapping scrutinizes business processes from beginning to end and a
visual representation map is drawn of every process involved in the
material and information flows. It is a qualitative tool that is supposed to
give an understanding of the value stream/value chain as a basis for
reducing the pipeline of inventory and time compress the throughput
time.

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• Srikumar Chattopadhyay P Krishna Kumar and K Rajalekshmi (1999)
conducted a joint discussion paper under Kerala Research Programme for
Local Level Development Center for Development Studies
,Thiruvananthapuram on the topic “Panchayat Resource Mapping to
Panchayath-level Planning in Kerala: An Anlytical Study” and the study
was an analytical study which shows that a guide line for local governance
to detailed spatial mapping of local government boundaries, roads, streams,
canals, ponds, cultural and industrial centers etc. Then study alsoputforward
plans for economic development and social justice .

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 CHAPTER 2
METHODS USED IN MAPPING

2.1 GPS SURVEYING

The ward boundary is developed with help of GPS using the feature track
manager . Then Canals and streams also mapped by the assistance of GPS
using the features like waypoint marks and track manager.

2.2 Q FIELD AND Q GIS

QField helped to demarcate certain points like waste dumped zones etc while
mapping the canals and streams.
Firstly we inserted the ward boundary of Muhamma Panchayat and overlapped
with Google satellite image. Then a shape file named survey points are added,
that file can be edited for further changes. The canal waypoints marked and the
other details like fid number, notes [detailed attribute] and photos are also
recorded.
After that the marked survey points are converted into shape file in Q GIS.
Further details like canal and stream name, condition, locality are added in the
attribute table.

2.3 ARC GIS

Using ArcGis most of the mapping works completed. The study area and ponds
are clipped, classified based on condition and purpose.Using sympology, The
canals and streams separated by its width and color . Then each streams are
clipped separately with Google satellite Image for more clarification. All map
layout is done in ArcGis.

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 CHAPTER 3
3.1 ANALYSIS OF THE STUDY
Before mapping of canals and streams in Thuruthankavala and Poojaveli wards
of Muhamma Panchayat, the exact boundary of particular wards were crucial
and it was unavailable from authorities. The map of particular wards created
using GPS and Sattelite imageries. From the
study, it was found that there were 7 streams
and 2 canals from Thuruthankaval ward and
Poojaveli ward of Muhamma panchayat.
Among them small and big canals and streams
included.Some of them like Kallaattuthodu,
Thuruthankaval-Vembanad Thodu etc starts
from wetlands and All of them join with Fig3.1 ; Personal interview with natives of
Vembanad lake at its old stage. Muhammma Panchayat

As this study aimed, the mapping of streams and canals of selected two wards
could completed in ten days accurately. Some of the streams are started from
other wards of the panchayat which are not included in the study area , this
affected the mapping slightly. Due to lack of side walls for streams and canals
,It was very adventurous or risky one to map the streams and canals in
Muhamma panchayat. Cooperation from the natives helped to name the streams
which was confusing one due to naming streams differently from different
localities. There are very less sub-streams for streams and most of them having
single ordered pattern. Most of the streams have less flow. It may be due to less
slope variation or by constructions and waste accumulation.
While considering the human interaction with the canals and streams , there are
positives and negatives . Canals are use for transportation, clam collecting, clam
cleaning, fishing, irrigation, tourism ec.Strems also used for irrigation, clam
cleaning, household purposes, etc. But some streams are completely or partially
polluted by waste, sewage, waste from bathrooms and toilets etc. In some
regions native people invaded the streams into their properties and obstructed
the flow by creating bunds.

Muhamma Panchayat having many Canals and Streams. Most of them have a
linear pattern and almost all of them enter into Vembanad Lake. Poojaveli ward
of Muhamma Panchayat consist of large number of ponds. As a history we can
say that the ponds are digged more than sixty years. In the ancient period the
ponds are digged for fresh water, Muhamma is a place which is surrounded by

14
water but had scarcity of fresh water. Ponds are also used for soaking coconut
husk for making coir, once coir was the major livelihood of Muhamma. 133
ponds are marked and its relationship with people is also recorded. Around 90
ponds are unusable remaining are used for other purposes. Majority of ponds
are waste dumbed, few are clean and well maintained. The human-pond
relationship is relatively low. In this study the ponds are mapped on the basis of
condition and purpose.

• Water using for irrigation

• Canals are helpful to clam collectors

• Waste dumped

• Less flow and some streams got partially or completely filled with soil

• There are rapid decrease in species by recent years.

• Bridges with narrow holes constructed over streams for passing to houses
which prevent the flow of water and causes for waste accumulation.

• Some of the streams are getting narrow away from the lake.

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16
(Tab 1 ;tribute Table Of Canal & Stream Map)

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3.1.1 PUTHANANGADI
CANAL

Muhamma has the inherent

advantage of canals and
backwaters. Puthangadi canal
acts as a boundary
Muhamma and
Thanneermukkom Grama
Panchayats. Though, it is a
part of
ThanneermukkomPanchayat
Puthanagadi canal is not a
part of MuhammaPanchayat
but natives of Muhamma are
more depending this canal
for livelihood as clam
collection and processing,
transportation, irrigation. It (fig 3.2 ; Puthanangadi canal)

starts from Puthanangadi

town and join into Vembanad lake. The tourism field like resort and other
agencies also depend canals in an aesthetic value and promote their heritage
tourism.
Puthanangadi canal is one of the major canals in Alappuzha district where more
clam collectors depend the canal for clam collecting and its processing. This
make the canal always active by small and big boats. Most part of the canal is
covered by water hyacinth. The water seems to
be dirty and some people who live adjacent
with the canal throws the household wastes
into the canal. There are two foot bridges
across the canal which connect two panchayat.
The canals have proper side walls. Roads are
(fig 3.3 ; Clam collector cleaning clams from along the both sides of the canal and the clam
canal)
processing huts are situated between these
roads and canal. The clam waste are dumped into canal after processing, causes
water pollution. It should be neede much concentration from local government
to implement waste management of canals and also provide frequent water
quality assessment in fixed intervals.

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3.1.2 (fig3.4 ; Thuruthankavala-Vembanad Thodu)
THURUTHANKAVALA -
VEMBANAD THODU
Thuruthankavala-vembanad
thodu is a stream which starts
from wetland near to the
thuruthankavala junction. This
stream is also known as
Thuruthankavala Pulikkechira
Todu. It has 1.5 km length, and
average width of 1 to 2 meter. In
some places the stream has
Bhoovastra covering, which
helps the stream from soil sliding
and also helps to maintain the width and depth. This ensure proper flow of
water.
From the questionnaire survey it is able to understand that the
bhoovastra covering done before one year back by National Rural Employment
Guarantee Program. Native people suggested that three layered bhoovastra
should be used rather than one layered bhoovastra,
which gives more yield. It is noticed that the
sewage from toilets are disposed into the streams.
In some areas the stream is used for irrigation
purpose, but some people use the stream to dump
wastes. Mainly the waste includes household waste,
sanitary napkins, plastics.
There are several ponds in and outside the stream.
In some areas there are concrete roads constructed
(fig 3.5 ; Bhoovasthra got damaged)
over the streams and these places obstruct the
stream flow. Disposing of toxic wastes from houses and removing plastic
wastes into the stream caused for significant decline in fauna of particular
stream

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3.1.3 KOOPLIKATTU THODU

Kooplikattu stream starts from Kooplikattu- Vembanad Lake. It has an average

width of 1.5 meter. It has no side wall and bhoovastra. It is observed that the
soil are eroded in to the stream. The construction of small passages to the
houses creates obstruction to the stream flow. Some parts of the stream are
waste dumped. Due to improper management from the authority, the streams
are filled with bushes.

3.1.4 KALLUSHAPPU THODU

This stream flows near Poojaveli Toddy shop. It has an average 400 m length
and average width of 1meter. It is highly polluted by garbage and plastic waste.
So many constructions in this area like road to resort, resort walls other passage
to the houses affected flow of water. This results in the accumulation of waste
materials. It is observed that waste from the poultry farm are dumped into this
stream. Private authorities encroachment over the stream areas.

3.1.5 POOJAVELI THODU

It starts from Poojaveli ward and enters to Vembanad lake. Poojaveli thodu
having 400 meters length and average width of 1meter. This stream having
bhoovastra covering in some reions. There are many waste dumped region
could identify in this stream. Most of them are household wastes. In some
regions it can see that flow of water is not much and in some regions especially
regions near to the lake having proper flow of water. In some areas of the
streams soil from the adjacent lands got eroded into stream. This also caused for
prevent water flow.It shows that there should be needed construction of proper
walls in both sides of the streams.

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3.1.6 KALLAATTU THODU
Kallattu thodu is a stream which starts from Kallaattu
paadam[wetland].The stream has 750 metres length and
average width of 1.5 meter. This stream forms the
boundary between Poojaveli and Thuruthankavala wards
of MuhammaPanchayat. This stream getting more
damaged when compare to the other streams in this
region. This stream got Bhoovastra protection in some
areas. As per the indepth interview conducted with locals,
each year the Bhoovastra got renewed. But the problem (fig3.6; Kallaattu thodu got waste and
water hyacinth accumulated and
is quality of the products are not well. During the flood destructed the flow of water)
the stream got intense soil erosion from both sides and
this caused for reduce the depth. Recently Panchayat initiated to increase the
depth by digging thr=e soil in associated with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Assurance Programme. There are cleaning process of stream also
conducted by the Panchayat in each year by the help of same programme. But
they just collect the solid wastes from stream and put it in the banks of streams
instead of dispose the waste in scientific manner. So, while the property owners
of adjacent lands to streams where the waste put , remove the same waste into
the stream again. This continue in a cyclic action.

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3.1.7 SHASTHANKAL THODU
Shasthankal thodu is a stream which starts
from shasthankal temple pond and joins
Vembanad lake. The length of the stream is
550 meter and the average width is 1meter. In
its initial stage , the stream has much clean
water with constant flow. The stream has
bhoovastra protection in most regions.
In the beginning part of the stream, the people
take water for washing
(fig3.7;Shasthankal thodu originatr from
clothes and bath. It
Shasthankal temple pond) seem that most part of
the stream got waste
dumped and polluted by disposal of solid wastes and
other human interventions. It is noticed that the waste
water from bathrooms of adjacent houses are disposed
into the stream. From the observation and discussion
conducted in the field could understand that some local (fig3.8 ; Removing waste water from
toilets into stream from adjacent
people who have properties adjacent to the streams got houses)
encroached the streams into their properties and
constructed walls and prevented the free flow of
water. This caused for intense accumulation of
waste. This stream has some sub streams in some
areas. But most of the sub streams got filled by soil
or waste dumbed.

(fig3.9; Stream got enchroached by private

land and constructed walls on it, Then
prevented water flow by construct the bund.)

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3.1.8 THAYYIL THODU
Thayyil thodu is also known as
Thaichira thodu and Chelattuchira thodu.
The stream has 1.4km length. In the
beginning the stream has average width
of 1 m and become 5 m when it enters
the Vembanad lake. In the starting the
stream flow is low but flow increases
towards the end. It flows through sacred
groves, so in that region the stream
water is used for traditional purposes. (fig3.10;Thayyil Thodu portion of enter into the Vembanad
Lake)
Some farms located near the stream,
they use the water for farm activities.
Bhoovastra in this region is damaged. There are
waste dumped in some regions and some other
places having lot of shrubs which prevent the water
flow and causes for waste accumulation. This
stream has wide species collection like veriety
fishes, tortoise. If there is no proper caring for this
stream, the species will get endangered soon.
(fig3.11;Water flow got obstructed due
to intense shrubs growth)

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3.1.9 KALLA THODU
Kalla thodu is a semi canal
starts from Ayurvedasupathry
ward and it passes to Poojaveli
ward and finaly enters to
Vembanad lake.Kalla thodu
has approximate 700 meters
length in Poojaveli ward. It has
average width of 5 m in the
region it joins the lake. This
canal is used for clam
transportation. The width of the
canal decreases from distance
(fIg3.12; Kallathodu near the
increases from the lake, the Vembanad Lake)

main reason is people encroachment over the canal areas. That’s why the stream
got named Kalla thodu where kalla means theft and thodu means stream. It do
not have proper side walls, it results in the soil erosion hence decreases the
depth of the stream. During the flood rapid soil erosion occurred in this region
and some houses and private properties are also affected. The natives demands
for proper concrete walls to avoid soil erosion. There are speed boats also park
in the end points of this canal. From there speed boats and normal boats are
available to enter into Pathiramanal island.

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 CHAPTER 4

4.1 CONCLUSION
This study intended to demarcate and map 2 canals and 7 streams from selected
wards (Poojaveli and Thuruthankavala) of MuhammaPanchayat .The study
shows that most of the stream need sufficient care from the authorities for its
sustainability. The streams and canals are waste dumped and polluted in some
regions. The interaction with natives expressed their needs like proper walls and
‘Bhoovasthra’ protection methods for streams and canals. Awareness programs
should be conducted to prevent misusing the streams and canals.

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4.2 SUGGESSIONS

• There should be constructed proper side walls for canals and ensure
bhoovastra protection to streams

• Local people should be got awareness about what are the necessity of
conserving canals and streams and better waste management.

• Local governments should be concentrated more on proper waste

management which affect canals and streams.

• Prevent the encroachment of streams and canals by natives.

• Avoid and take actions against the constructions which affect the streams
and canals negatively.

• Conduct water quality assessment in fixed intervals.

• Prevent disposal of solid waste and sewage into the canals and streams.

• There should be conducted detailed mapping of streams and canals of

entire Panchayat.

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4.3 REFERENCE

Books
• “GIS; An Introduction to Mapping Techniques” – Patrick MaHaffie,
Sungsoon Hwang, Cassie Follett – 2019 – Rutledge publications – Tailor
and Francis group .
• “MAPPING THE TOTAL VALUE STREAM- A Comprehensive Guide
for Production and Transactional Processes ” – Mark A.Nash, Sheila R.
Poling – 2008 - Rutledge publications – Productivity Press .

Online sources
• https://www.ijert.org/value-stream-mapping-a-case-study-of-assembly-
process
• http://www.cds.ac.in/krpcds/publication/downloads/chatto.pdf
• https://www2.geog.soton.ac.uk/users/WheatonJ/Definitions/QD0109.htm

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