CHAPTER 11 • Coastal Zone Management in India - Problems, Practice and Requirements
217
the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. This study reported that
the economic loss due to conversion of agricultural lands and mangroves for aquaculture in Tamilnadu (1600 hal is Rs. 1400 million (US $40 million) and in Andhra
Pradesh (9500 hal is about Rs. 8030 million (US $230 million). The major losses were
due to loss of agricultural land, labour, fuel wood, mangrove destruction and fishing
(NEERI 1995). The lack of scientific management and degradation in water quality has
led to large scale outbreak of viral diseases and most of these industries are now being
closed due to heavy financial losses and as per a directive from the APEX Court of the
country in response to public litigation petitions in view of their pollution and environmental and socio-economic impacts (Ramachandran 1996).
11.3.7
Natul'al Hazards
In India, nearly 150 million people are prone to natural hazard in coastal areas. Bay
of Bengal is one of the five cyclone prone areas of the world. The coastal regions
surrounding this bay are frequently affected by flooding from the sea as well as
from the rivers due to tropical cyclones and related storm surges and heavy rainfall.
Between the years 1990 and 1995 in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, more than
1100 human lives were lost and property worth ofRs. 23000 million (US $700 million)
were damaged. In Tamilnadu during the years 1990-1995, the damages caused to property were worth of Rs. 5800 million (US $170 million) and the loss of human lives was
more than 500. The early warning systems and coastal protection methods being a part
of ICZM are expected to minimize the loss and control the human interference that
increases the degree of severity of these natural hazards (Ramachandran and Pundarikanthan 1996).
11.4
Coastal Zone Management Initiatives in India
11.4.1
International Legal Instruments
India has signed and ratified several international conventions relating to oceans and
related to marine environment and applicable for coastal area also. The important ones
are the following: MARPOL, 197311978; London Dumping Convention, 1972; Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damages (CLC 1969) and its Protocol, 1976;
Fund, 1971 and its Protocol, 1979. Convention on Biodiversity (1992) includes coastal
biodiversity as well.
11.4.2
National Legal Instruments
Many acts and rules related to coastal activities exist in the country. The following are
the important ones:
Indian Fisheries Act 1897 and its Amendments 1920 and 1980; Indian Ports Act 1902;
Merchant Shipping Act 1974; Wildlife Protection Act 1972; Water (Prevention and Control
217
the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute. This study reported that
the economic loss due to conversion of agricultural lands and mangroves for aquaculture in Tamilnadu (1600 hal is Rs. 1400 million (US $40 million) and in Andhra
Pradesh (9500 hal is about Rs. 8030 million (US $230 million). The major losses were
due to loss of agricultural land, labour, fuel wood, mangrove destruction and fishing
(NEERI 1995). The lack of scientific management and degradation in water quality has
led to large scale outbreak of viral diseases and most of these industries are now being
closed due to heavy financial losses and as per a directive from the APEX Court of the
country in response to public litigation petitions in view of their pollution and environmental and socio-economic impacts (Ramachandran 1996).
11.3.7
Natul'al Hazards
In India, nearly 150 million people are prone to natural hazard in coastal areas. Bay
of Bengal is one of the five cyclone prone areas of the world. The coastal regions
surrounding this bay are frequently affected by flooding from the sea as well as
from the rivers due to tropical cyclones and related storm surges and heavy rainfall.
Between the years 1990 and 1995 in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, more than
1100 human lives were lost and property worth ofRs. 23000 million (US $700 million)
were damaged. In Tamilnadu during the years 1990-1995, the damages caused to property were worth of Rs. 5800 million (US $170 million) and the loss of human lives was
more than 500. The early warning systems and coastal protection methods being a part
of ICZM are expected to minimize the loss and control the human interference that
increases the degree of severity of these natural hazards (Ramachandran and Pundarikanthan 1996).
11.4
Coastal Zone Management Initiatives in India
11.4.1
International Legal Instruments
India has signed and ratified several international conventions relating to oceans and
related to marine environment and applicable for coastal area also. The important ones
are the following: MARPOL, 197311978; London Dumping Convention, 1972; Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damages (CLC 1969) and its Protocol, 1976;
Fund, 1971 and its Protocol, 1979. Convention on Biodiversity (1992) includes coastal
biodiversity as well.
11.4.2
National Legal Instruments
Many acts and rules related to coastal activities exist in the country. The following are
the important ones:
Indian Fisheries Act 1897 and its Amendments 1920 and 1980; Indian Ports Act 1902;
Merchant Shipping Act 1974; Wildlife Protection Act 1972; Water (Prevention and Control