CHAPTER 11 • Coastal Zone Management in India - Problems, Practice and Requirements
223
zone to promote the optimal utilisation of marine and coastal resources and to help
in coastal zone management.
• Sea Level Monitoring and Modelling (SELMAM). This project envisages assessment
of variations in the sea level due to climate and other changes and impact of such
variations on the coastal belt of India.
• National Ocean Information System (NOIS). Under this programme National Marine Data Centres (NMDC) have been established in 13 specialist institutions in specific areas of activity located in different parts of India. The objectives of the NMDCs
are collection, validation, collation, storage and dissemination of data and information to users. These data are living and non-living resources, protecting from coastal erosion and accretion; and help the scientists and decision makers in the coastal
management practices.
• Col;lstal Ocean Monitoring And Prediction Systems (COMAPS). This programme was
initiated in 1991, under this programme, data on 25 water quality parameters (physical, chemical and biological) are collected at 77 locations with the help of 11 Research
and Development organisations on a routine basis. Based on the data collected under the COMAPS programme, the areas of concern were identified and intensive
monitoring of marine pollution is done.
11.S
Requirements in India
11.S.1
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan
As in most of the developing nations, the coastal environmental problems and issues
in India are also concerned with the following three main conditions; environmental
degradation, resources reduction and user conflicts. The integrated coastal zone management plan has been recognized as a tool for addressing these issues and identified
as a means to achieve the sustainable development options that ensure livelihood security and environmental stability in coastal zones. India is still lacking a comprehensive ICZM plan.
In developing an ICZM plan, many approaches are possible, depending on the status of ~oastal resource use and areas to be covered. Where the conflicts have already
surfaced it is most pragmatic to use a "problem oriented" approach. In case where
coastal resources are not under threat, the more classical system of a resource based
approach is possible.
The primary focus of the planning effort should be identifying the problems and
the issues to be addressed, deciding on the type of management mechanism to be used,
determining the points at which management intervention will be exercized and ways
and means by which such management interventions will be integrated with the existiog framework.
.
It is necessary that consultative processes are built into the planning effort. Coastal
zone management planing requires the cooperative effort of State and Central Governments. If adequate consultations are not carried out from the commencement of
the planning effort, serious conflicts may arise at the implementation stage, thereby
making the plan unimplementable (DOD 1996).
223
zone to promote the optimal utilisation of marine and coastal resources and to help
in coastal zone management.
• Sea Level Monitoring and Modelling (SELMAM). This project envisages assessment
of variations in the sea level due to climate and other changes and impact of such
variations on the coastal belt of India.
• National Ocean Information System (NOIS). Under this programme National Marine Data Centres (NMDC) have been established in 13 specialist institutions in specific areas of activity located in different parts of India. The objectives of the NMDCs
are collection, validation, collation, storage and dissemination of data and information to users. These data are living and non-living resources, protecting from coastal erosion and accretion; and help the scientists and decision makers in the coastal
management practices.
• Col;lstal Ocean Monitoring And Prediction Systems (COMAPS). This programme was
initiated in 1991, under this programme, data on 25 water quality parameters (physical, chemical and biological) are collected at 77 locations with the help of 11 Research
and Development organisations on a routine basis. Based on the data collected under the COMAPS programme, the areas of concern were identified and intensive
monitoring of marine pollution is done.
11.S
Requirements in India
11.S.1
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan
As in most of the developing nations, the coastal environmental problems and issues
in India are also concerned with the following three main conditions; environmental
degradation, resources reduction and user conflicts. The integrated coastal zone management plan has been recognized as a tool for addressing these issues and identified
as a means to achieve the sustainable development options that ensure livelihood security and environmental stability in coastal zones. India is still lacking a comprehensive ICZM plan.
In developing an ICZM plan, many approaches are possible, depending on the status of ~oastal resource use and areas to be covered. Where the conflicts have already
surfaced it is most pragmatic to use a "problem oriented" approach. In case where
coastal resources are not under threat, the more classical system of a resource based
approach is possible.
The primary focus of the planning effort should be identifying the problems and
the issues to be addressed, deciding on the type of management mechanism to be used,
determining the points at which management intervention will be exercized and ways
and means by which such management interventions will be integrated with the existiog framework.
.
It is necessary that consultative processes are built into the planning effort. Coastal
zone management planing requires the cooperative effort of State and Central Governments. If adequate consultations are not carried out from the commencement of
the planning effort, serious conflicts may arise at the implementation stage, thereby
making the plan unimplementable (DOD 1996).