220
s. Ramachandran
- Construction of thermal power plants;
- All activities with investments exceeding Rs. 5 crores.
Ocean Part (proposed)
• Prohibited activities in category I:
In the ecologically sensitive areas, construction of civil and other man-made
structures like breakwaters for harbour, floating industries, laying of pipelines, reclamation of sea and its bed, sea bed mining and ship breaking activities are prohibited.
However, they can be permitted at a no-impact distance from the outer limit of ESA.
Discharge of untreated and treated domestic, industrial, aquaculture wastes, nuclear and thermal power plants, dredged materials and operational discharges are
prohibited in ESA (may be permitted beyond no-impact distance from the outer
l,imits).
• Permissible activities in Category II and III:
- Waste disposal after proper treatment as per standards;
- Disposal from marine and brackishwater aquaculture as per the guidelines and
standards;
- Construction of ports, harbours, breakwaters and dredging of navigational channels can be regulated according to the guidelines;
- Sea bed mining based on EIA Studies;
- Construction and operation of OTEC plants;
- Construction and operation of oil platforms;
- Movement of ships and tankers.
11.5
Conservation Measures
To protect ecologically sensitive areas, the government has declared three national
marine parks.
11.5.1
Gulf of Mannar (Tamilnadu) - 78°08'E-79° 30'E Long. and 8° 35'N-9° 25'N Lat.
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park was established in the year 1983 to conserve
and restore the ecosystems of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar in the southeast
coast of India. Subsequently, the Gulf of Mannar marine biosphere reserve was set up
in February 1989 jointly by the Government of Tamilnadu and Government of India. It
is the first of its kind in India and probably, in southeast Asia. Lying between India and
Sri Lanka, covering an area of about 10 500 km>, it runs along (mainland) India coast
to about 170 nautical miles and includes about 21 islands in the 560 ha. The Gulf of
Mannar area is known for its biological wealth. Along the east coast of India, the coral
formation is mainly confined to Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay only. A total of 94 species of corals belonging to 37 genera have been recorded here. Although the coral reef
formations are estimated to cover an area of 100 km 2 (Wafar 1986), the actual reef area
is only 10 km 2 • More than 106 species of marine algae and 11 species of sea grasses occur here. A variety of marine invertebrates are found in abundance. The Kurusadai island in this region is commonly known as the paradise of zoologists. The endangered
s. Ramachandran
- Construction of thermal power plants;
- All activities with investments exceeding Rs. 5 crores.
Ocean Part (proposed)
• Prohibited activities in category I:
In the ecologically sensitive areas, construction of civil and other man-made
structures like breakwaters for harbour, floating industries, laying of pipelines, reclamation of sea and its bed, sea bed mining and ship breaking activities are prohibited.
However, they can be permitted at a no-impact distance from the outer limit of ESA.
Discharge of untreated and treated domestic, industrial, aquaculture wastes, nuclear and thermal power plants, dredged materials and operational discharges are
prohibited in ESA (may be permitted beyond no-impact distance from the outer
l,imits).
• Permissible activities in Category II and III:
- Waste disposal after proper treatment as per standards;
- Disposal from marine and brackishwater aquaculture as per the guidelines and
standards;
- Construction of ports, harbours, breakwaters and dredging of navigational channels can be regulated according to the guidelines;
- Sea bed mining based on EIA Studies;
- Construction and operation of OTEC plants;
- Construction and operation of oil platforms;
- Movement of ships and tankers.
11.5
Conservation Measures
To protect ecologically sensitive areas, the government has declared three national
marine parks.
11.5.1
Gulf of Mannar (Tamilnadu) - 78°08'E-79° 30'E Long. and 8° 35'N-9° 25'N Lat.
The Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park was established in the year 1983 to conserve
and restore the ecosystems of the Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar in the southeast
coast of India. Subsequently, the Gulf of Mannar marine biosphere reserve was set up
in February 1989 jointly by the Government of Tamilnadu and Government of India. It
is the first of its kind in India and probably, in southeast Asia. Lying between India and
Sri Lanka, covering an area of about 10 500 km>, it runs along (mainland) India coast
to about 170 nautical miles and includes about 21 islands in the 560 ha. The Gulf of
Mannar area is known for its biological wealth. Along the east coast of India, the coral
formation is mainly confined to Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay only. A total of 94 species of corals belonging to 37 genera have been recorded here. Although the coral reef
formations are estimated to cover an area of 100 km 2 (Wafar 1986), the actual reef area
is only 10 km 2 • More than 106 species of marine algae and 11 species of sea grasses occur here. A variety of marine invertebrates are found in abundance. The Kurusadai island in this region is commonly known as the paradise of zoologists. The endangered