Int. J. Environment and Pollution, Vol. x, No. x, xxxx 1 Copyright © 200x Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. Assessment of pollution load and identifying bioindicator algal species using multivariate statistical techniques: a case study from Damodar River, India Savana Lata Dora Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, 826004, India and Water Environment Department, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, 826001, India Email: latadora22@gmail.com Abhiroop Chowdhury* Jindal School of Environment and Sustainability, O.P. Jindal Global University, Sonipat, Haryana, 131001, India ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6985-0722 Email: abhiroop.chowdhury@gmail.com Email: achowdhury@jgu.edu.in *Corresponding author Subodh Kumar Maiti Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, 826004, India Email: skmism1960@gmail.com Rajani Kanth Tiwary Water Environment Department, Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research, Dhanbad, 826001, India Email: rktiwary.cmri@gmail.com Abstract: The ecological health of Damodar River, is assessed and pollution indicator algal species have been identified in this study. The weathered lateritic formations of Chotanagpur resulted in high concentration of Fe (126–820 µg l –1 ) and Mn (10–114 µg l –1 ). Contamination indices indicate low to moderate pollution for Mn, Ni, and Cu in the sediment. The dominance of