Chapter 17
Sustainable Developmental Planning in Ecologically
Sensitive Dahanu Region on the West Coast of India
P. Khanna . P. Ram Babu . S.K. Gadkari
17.1
Introduction
India has a coast line of 12 700 km with identified maritime areas of 452 000 km 2 (shelf
to 200 m depth) and 2015000 km 2 (exclusive economic zone). The coast has 357000 ha
of mangroves and also coral reefs. The average annual marine catch of fish during
1991-1993 is 2.462 million t and the decadal growth rate is 68%. Marine fish resources
support the economic activities of 2-3% of working population in coastal districts of
India. There as 11 marine protected areas covering an area of 276 042 ha and 4 regional
priority sites in the open seas and coastal regions.
Out of 71 coastal districts in India fall under high threat potential as per the coastal area
threat ranking by World Resources Institute based on the criteria of existing population,
road and pipeline densities. There are 11 cities with a population more than 1 million along
the coast line, and the decadal population growth rates of these cities range from 25-75%.
In view of the high anthropogenic pressure on the Indian coastal resource endowment
constituting mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, wetlands and marine biodiversity; and
changes in land use in coastal regions threatening the livelihood of fishermen and ecosystem health, the Ministry of Environment and Forests declared in February 1991, coastal
stretches as Coastal R~gulation Zones (CRZ) for regulation of activities in the CRZ. The
CRZ includes coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which
are influenced by tidal action (in the landward side) up to 500 m from the High Tide Line
and the land between High and Low Tide Lines. The restrictions on land use in these
regions is based on the diteria of eco-sensitivity of the region and the present land use.
During the last 5 years, many developmental proposals including citing of industries (e.g.
steel complex in the coast of Ganjam district in the state of Orissa), infrastructure (e.g. development of railways along west coast of the state of Goa), regional plan (e.g. regional plan of
Dahanu Taluka along the west coast at a distance of 50 km from Bombay Metropolitan Region) and aquaculture (e.g. intensive aquaculture activity along east and west coasts) met either with resistance from the public or public interest litigations in different courts of India.
In Dahanu region, siting of a thermal power plant and urban development encroached
upon wet lands and mangroves threatening the livelihood of fishermen, and ecosystem
health of the creek. The state of Maharashtta is mandated, under a declaration by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India (1991), to protect the land cover
and land use of Dahanu region, through a regional plan. The perceived inaction of the
Government of the state ofMaharashtra and unabated industrial and residential growth
in the region has been a matter of public interest litigation in the Honourable Supreme
Court of India since 1994. The case study delineated below outlines the situation and
remedial measures with reference to the matters r~ed in the public interest litigation.
Sustainable Developmental Planning in Ecologically
Sensitive Dahanu Region on the West Coast of India
P. Khanna . P. Ram Babu . S.K. Gadkari
17.1
Introduction
India has a coast line of 12 700 km with identified maritime areas of 452 000 km 2 (shelf
to 200 m depth) and 2015000 km 2 (exclusive economic zone). The coast has 357000 ha
of mangroves and also coral reefs. The average annual marine catch of fish during
1991-1993 is 2.462 million t and the decadal growth rate is 68%. Marine fish resources
support the economic activities of 2-3% of working population in coastal districts of
India. There as 11 marine protected areas covering an area of 276 042 ha and 4 regional
priority sites in the open seas and coastal regions.
Out of 71 coastal districts in India fall under high threat potential as per the coastal area
threat ranking by World Resources Institute based on the criteria of existing population,
road and pipeline densities. There are 11 cities with a population more than 1 million along
the coast line, and the decadal population growth rates of these cities range from 25-75%.
In view of the high anthropogenic pressure on the Indian coastal resource endowment
constituting mangroves, coral reefs, estuaries, wetlands and marine biodiversity; and
changes in land use in coastal regions threatening the livelihood of fishermen and ecosystem health, the Ministry of Environment and Forests declared in February 1991, coastal
stretches as Coastal R~gulation Zones (CRZ) for regulation of activities in the CRZ. The
CRZ includes coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which
are influenced by tidal action (in the landward side) up to 500 m from the High Tide Line
and the land between High and Low Tide Lines. The restrictions on land use in these
regions is based on the diteria of eco-sensitivity of the region and the present land use.
During the last 5 years, many developmental proposals including citing of industries (e.g.
steel complex in the coast of Ganjam district in the state of Orissa), infrastructure (e.g. development of railways along west coast of the state of Goa), regional plan (e.g. regional plan of
Dahanu Taluka along the west coast at a distance of 50 km from Bombay Metropolitan Region) and aquaculture (e.g. intensive aquaculture activity along east and west coasts) met either with resistance from the public or public interest litigations in different courts of India.
In Dahanu region, siting of a thermal power plant and urban development encroached
upon wet lands and mangroves threatening the livelihood of fishermen, and ecosystem
health of the creek. The state of Maharashtta is mandated, under a declaration by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India (1991), to protect the land cover
and land use of Dahanu region, through a regional plan. The perceived inaction of the
Government of the state ofMaharashtra and unabated industrial and residential growth
in the region has been a matter of public interest litigation in the Honourable Supreme
Court of India since 1994. The case study delineated below outlines the situation and
remedial measures with reference to the matters r~ed in the public interest litigation.