4.7 Climate Vulnerability
143
property. Expert estimate suggests nearly 5.15 depressions, 1.93 storms and 1.35
severe storms cross the Indian coastal line an average per year.
The current pace of economic growth present enormous challenge as risk factors
related to environmental degradation, urbanization, motorization, and industrialization will continue to overwhelm Indian cities and suburbs if steps are not taken to
mitigate the growing negative impacts. Many coastal stretches are overpopulated,
highly polluted with municipal waste from urbanization and tourism, waste generated from industry, chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides, and silt from degraded
catchment. Untreated sewage and other non-industrial waste far exceed the pollution from industrial effluents. Mining of sand results in increased turbidity in the
ambient waters which affect benthic organism and primary productivity. Coastal
aquaculture mainly related to shrimp farming in some parts has placed considerable pressure on coastal resources. Construction of breakwaters alters the sediment
transport mechanism in coastal areas, thereby causing erosion and accretion. The
economic liberalization policy of India has encouraged investments over billions
of USD per year involving construction of platforms, pipelines, and other structures
which are critical component of national economy. However, economic development
brings in new threats making the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, infrastructure,
and population vulnerable to natural and man-made hazards.
The coastal communities in many states are economically weak (low per capita
income, near zero savings, high concentration of population in farming and fishing,
high proportion of expenditure on food, low volume of trade per capita, poor credit
facilities); suffer from malnutrition, inadequate sanitation, poor housing and health.
Employment is mostly seasonal, and alternative sources of income are limited and
unsustainable as the markets for marine and coastal products are disorganized,
exploitative, and underdeveloped. The net effect is that coastal communities are
highly vulnerable especially during and in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Rainfall in India is unevenly distributed and provides 70–96% of freshwater
replenishment during monsoon season. But the ever-increasing ecological footprint
of around 1.3 billion people makes this water insufficient to meet food, industrial,
waste recycle, and other requirements. Freshwater has, thus, been exploited since
the beginning of twentieth century resulting in shrinking or even drying up of many
water bodies (both ground water and surface water bodies). At many places, the
underground water is recharged through treated wastewater from sewage and industries that eventually ends up in serious water quality problems. In addition to the
above water-related stress, the rainfall observations between 1901 and 2004 indicate a significant positive trend (6% per decade) in the frequency of extreme rainfall
events,
10 that is, more than 100 mm per day whereas light and moderate rainfall events
show decreasing trend over India (Rajeevan et al. 2008). Frequency and duration of
rainstorms have also increased during the past 60 years. This is a clear indication
that Indian coast will have to face climate-related hazards in the coming years.
10 (Rajeevan et al. 2008).
143
property. Expert estimate suggests nearly 5.15 depressions, 1.93 storms and 1.35
severe storms cross the Indian coastal line an average per year.
The current pace of economic growth present enormous challenge as risk factors
related to environmental degradation, urbanization, motorization, and industrialization will continue to overwhelm Indian cities and suburbs if steps are not taken to
mitigate the growing negative impacts. Many coastal stretches are overpopulated,
highly polluted with municipal waste from urbanization and tourism, waste generated from industry, chemicals from fertilizers and pesticides, and silt from degraded
catchment. Untreated sewage and other non-industrial waste far exceed the pollution from industrial effluents. Mining of sand results in increased turbidity in the
ambient waters which affect benthic organism and primary productivity. Coastal
aquaculture mainly related to shrimp farming in some parts has placed considerable pressure on coastal resources. Construction of breakwaters alters the sediment
transport mechanism in coastal areas, thereby causing erosion and accretion. The
economic liberalization policy of India has encouraged investments over billions
of USD per year involving construction of platforms, pipelines, and other structures
which are critical component of national economy. However, economic development
brings in new threats making the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, infrastructure,
and population vulnerable to natural and man-made hazards.
The coastal communities in many states are economically weak (low per capita
income, near zero savings, high concentration of population in farming and fishing,
high proportion of expenditure on food, low volume of trade per capita, poor credit
facilities); suffer from malnutrition, inadequate sanitation, poor housing and health.
Employment is mostly seasonal, and alternative sources of income are limited and
unsustainable as the markets for marine and coastal products are disorganized,
exploitative, and underdeveloped. The net effect is that coastal communities are
highly vulnerable especially during and in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Rainfall in India is unevenly distributed and provides 70–96% of freshwater
replenishment during monsoon season. But the ever-increasing ecological footprint
of around 1.3 billion people makes this water insufficient to meet food, industrial,
waste recycle, and other requirements. Freshwater has, thus, been exploited since
the beginning of twentieth century resulting in shrinking or even drying up of many
water bodies (both ground water and surface water bodies). At many places, the
underground water is recharged through treated wastewater from sewage and industries that eventually ends up in serious water quality problems. In addition to the
above water-related stress, the rainfall observations between 1901 and 2004 indicate a significant positive trend (6% per decade) in the frequency of extreme rainfall
events,
10 that is, more than 100 mm per day whereas light and moderate rainfall events
show decreasing trend over India (Rajeevan et al. 2008). Frequency and duration of
rainstorms have also increased during the past 60 years. This is a clear indication
that Indian coast will have to face climate-related hazards in the coming years.
10 (Rajeevan et al. 2008).