Sitaraman Sankaranarayana Iyer

Sitaraman Sankaranarayana Iyer, (born on 4 May 1946), also known as Professor S. Sitaraman is 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.

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.

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 6 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.

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.

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.

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

• "Metro Plus Kochi / Interview : How GREEN his vision". The Hindu. 2005-02-10. Retrieved 2013-08-15. 
• Swami (2011-06-07). "Kerala Brahmana Sabha - Ernakulam District: Green Golden Feather Environment Puraskar & Paristhithi Rathna Award for Prof. Dr. S. Sitaraman". Kbsekm.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2013-08-15.