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Sitaraman Sankaranarayana Iyer

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Indian environmentalist (1946-2020)

S. Sitaraman
Born4 May 1946 (1946-05-04)
Koovappady, Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Died9 December 2020 (2020-12-10) (aged 74)
Alma materMaharaja's College, Ernakulam; Sree Sankara College

Sitaraman Sankaranarayana Iyer (Malayalam: സീതാരാമൻ ശങ്കരനാരായണ അയ്യർ, 4 May 1946 – 9 December 2020), also known as Professor S. Sitaraman was an environmentalist and teacher from Aluva, Kerala, India. He has been active in the protection of rivers, water bodies and forests of Kerala. He is best known for his campaign on the protection of river Periyar and is the founder of e.g. the All-Kerala River Protection Council. He died on 9 December 2020 aged 74.

Early life

Sitaraman was born on 4 May 1946 in Koovappady, Ernakulam district, Kerala. He obtained his undergraduate (BSc) degree in chemistry from Sree Sankara college, Kalady and graduated with MSc degree from Maharaja's college, Cochin, Kerala in 1969.

Professional life

He joined the department of chemistry at Sree Sankara College, Kalady as a lecturer in 1970 and later on became the head of the Department of Chemistry in 1996 and held this position for six years until retirement. Sitaraman then became the head of science and humanities at Adi Shankara Institute of Engineering and Technology (ASIET) from 2001 to 2011.

Environmental activities

His most recognized work is regarding the protection of river Periyar. He led the afforestation programme along the banks of Periyar (river) at Aluva Shivratri Manappuram, to prevent the excessive soil erosion at the confluence of its tributary, Mangalapuzha. The project was initiated in 1987 under Integrated Development of Kochi scheme with small amount of funding from the Science and Technology Department.

Sitaraman has also extensively studied heavy metal contamination and water quality of Periyar (river) at several locations along its course and has suggested critical measures to prevent water pollution and illegal sand mining. He is actively involved in environment awareness programmes in high schools around Kochi area and is also the chairman of the Western Ghat Protection Council.

Books

Sitaraman has coauthored several books and reports and is also the managing editor of Jalatharanagam publication.

His books include The Periyar Action Plan submitted to the Kerala state government in 1997, and Periyar, Keralathinte Jeevanadi coauthored with Dr. C. M. Joy.

Awards and honors

  • Down to Earth "Joseph C. John" National Award (2007)
  • Paristhithi Ratna Award (2011)

References

  1. Kochi, Special Correspondent; Correspondent, ?special (9 December 2020). "Green activist Sitaraman dead". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 19 May 2021. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  2. Priyadershini S. (27 June 2013). "In a green urban jungle". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  3. M.P. Praveen (28 March 2013). "Special squads to check sand mining, filling of paddy fields". The Hindu. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  4. "Creating waves, for rivers". The Hindu. 16 April 2002. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  5. "A crusader for Periyar". The Hindu. 24 February 2002. Archived from the original on 29 November 2004. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  6. "Life Kochi : A journey through the Periyar". The Hindu. 19 June 2005. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  7. "Metro Plus Kochi / Interview : How GREEN his vision". The Hindu. 10 February 2005. Archived from the original on 17 December 2005. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  8. Swami (7 June 2011). "Kerala Brahmana Sabha - Ernakulam District: Green Golden Feather Environment Puraskar & Paristhithi Rathna Award for Prof. Dr. S. Sitaraman". Kbsekm.blogspot.com. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
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