Kata Khal is flowing along the northern part of Agartala, the capital city of Tripura. The reasons for pollution of the Kata Khal are dumping of various types of domestic wastes, solid and sewage disposal of markets, disposal through various drains of Agartala Municipal Council (AMC) area as well as by the four major sluice gates of the capital city. The root of this problem lies with the increased population pressure within the Agartala Municipal Area. Land use changes for 73 years (1932-33 and 2005) have been detected using Remote Sensing technique. For assessing the water quality, mainly physico-chemical as well as bacteriological quality of Kata Khal, water samples from different points of Kata Khal were collected and different parameters were analysed by using the standard methods given in APHA (American Public Health Association). The findings indicate that the Kata Khal is highly polluted by continuous discharge of waste water received from different drains of Agartala city and excreta discharged directly or indirectly by the residents of northern bank of the channel. From the observed value of Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Bio-chemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Coli form and Ammonical Nitrogen, it is concluded that the water of Kata Khal is not suitable for any domestic use.
