Pollution Status of River Sutlej in the Region of Punjab (India): Based on Species Diversity Indices

Plankton species diversity of river Sutlej was conducted at River Sutlej (S1) at Ropar Headworks, (S2) downstream after the confluence with BudhaNallah, (S3) at Harike before the confluence with river Beas, (S4) at Harike before the confluence with river Beas. Water samples were collected on the monthly basis for two consecutive years (November, 2009-October, 2011), Data on the different species diversity indices viz., Simpson index.Wiener species diversity index, Berger-Parker index, Margalef richness index revealed that that higher values (4.11) of Berger-Parker index was at S3, Simpson index (0.72) at S1 and (0.16) at S3; Shannon-Wiener index (2.97) at S1 and (2.53) at S3; and Margalef richness index (4.85) at S1 and (4.11) at S3 were recorded, whereas lower values of Shannon-Wiener Index (2.39) at S2; Simpson index (0.14) at S2 and Margalef index (3.67) at S2 were observed. Higher values S1 and S3 indicated healthy status of these stations and lowest values at S2 showed polluted status/ deteriorated condition of the habitat.