314
P. Khanna . P. Ram Babu . S.K. Gadkari
17.2
Dahanu Region - Pressure, Response and Consequences
Dahanu Taluka, geographically located between 19°15' -20 0 8'N Lat. and 72°32' -73°7'E
Long., is bounded by Palgarh, Jawahar, Talsari and Wada Talukas in the state of
Maharashtra in India. The Taluka including 25 km buffer zone has rich land, forest,
aquatic and aesthetic resources. The coast line is about 85 km long. The area under
wetlands and mudflats constituted 9 546 ha in 1989; tlIe tropical moist teak bearing and
mixed deciduous forests and mangroves covered an area of 66261 ha; and plantations
cover an area of 5 189 ha.
The imperatives for the protection of the sensitive aquatic ecosystem, drainage in
tlIe coastal zone, land suitable for agriculture/horticulture, rich forest resource endowment, and socio-cultural and economic status of tribals limit the levels and characteristics of the anthropogenic activities in this region. In view of this, the Ministry of
Environment and Forests declared the Dahanu Taluka as environmentally sensitive, and
delineated restrictions on the industrial activities and land use changes. The coastal
regulation zones promulgated in February 1991 regulate tlIe landuse witlIin 500 m buffer
zone of high tide line in tlIe face of increasing population pressure in the coastal areas,
and on sensitive aquatic ecosystems in respect of urbanization and industrialization.
Despite these regulations, the industrial and settlements development continued
unabated resulting in land use/land cover changes and damage to aquatic ecosystem.
17.2.1
Land Use Changes
The following are the critical land use cover changes observed in Dahanu region during 1989-96 (Fig. 17.1) tluough tlIe analysis of remotely data:
• Dahanu Taluka
- Wet lands covering an area of 273 ha have been encroached for other landuses.
- There has been a significant increase in the built-up area by 13% at tlIe expense
of wetlands tlIat comprise essentially of mudflats and vegetation.
- The landmass covered by orchards has increased by 112% at the expense of crop
land and fallow land.
- The landmass covered by dense forest and degraded forest has decreased by
2590 ha which has resulted in an increase in the area to the same extent of in the
forest blanks.
- Landmass covered by fallow land has decreased by 25% resulting in tlIe development of scrub and land by 19%.
• Dahanu Taluka and 25 km Buffer Zone
- Wetlands covering an area of 3793 ha (about 40% of the total wetlands) have been
encroached for otlIer landuses
- Decrease in the cropland and plantations has paved the way for significant increase in orchards (19.6%)
- The decrease in tlIe forested landmass comprising tlIe dense forest and degraded forest has resulted in proportionate increase in'tlIe scrub and grass lands, and fallow lands.
P. Khanna . P. Ram Babu . S.K. Gadkari
17.2
Dahanu Region - Pressure, Response and Consequences
Dahanu Taluka, geographically located between 19°15' -20 0 8'N Lat. and 72°32' -73°7'E
Long., is bounded by Palgarh, Jawahar, Talsari and Wada Talukas in the state of
Maharashtra in India. The Taluka including 25 km buffer zone has rich land, forest,
aquatic and aesthetic resources. The coast line is about 85 km long. The area under
wetlands and mudflats constituted 9 546 ha in 1989; tlIe tropical moist teak bearing and
mixed deciduous forests and mangroves covered an area of 66261 ha; and plantations
cover an area of 5 189 ha.
The imperatives for the protection of the sensitive aquatic ecosystem, drainage in
tlIe coastal zone, land suitable for agriculture/horticulture, rich forest resource endowment, and socio-cultural and economic status of tribals limit the levels and characteristics of the anthropogenic activities in this region. In view of this, the Ministry of
Environment and Forests declared the Dahanu Taluka as environmentally sensitive, and
delineated restrictions on the industrial activities and land use changes. The coastal
regulation zones promulgated in February 1991 regulate tlIe landuse witlIin 500 m buffer
zone of high tide line in tlIe face of increasing population pressure in the coastal areas,
and on sensitive aquatic ecosystems in respect of urbanization and industrialization.
Despite these regulations, the industrial and settlements development continued
unabated resulting in land use/land cover changes and damage to aquatic ecosystem.
17.2.1
Land Use Changes
The following are the critical land use cover changes observed in Dahanu region during 1989-96 (Fig. 17.1) tluough tlIe analysis of remotely data:
• Dahanu Taluka
- Wet lands covering an area of 273 ha have been encroached for other landuses.
- There has been a significant increase in the built-up area by 13% at tlIe expense
of wetlands tlIat comprise essentially of mudflats and vegetation.
- The landmass covered by orchards has increased by 112% at the expense of crop
land and fallow land.
- The landmass covered by dense forest and degraded forest has decreased by
2590 ha which has resulted in an increase in the area to the same extent of in the
forest blanks.
- Landmass covered by fallow land has decreased by 25% resulting in tlIe development of scrub and land by 19%.
• Dahanu Taluka and 25 km Buffer Zone
- Wetlands covering an area of 3793 ha (about 40% of the total wetlands) have been
encroached for otlIer landuses
- Decrease in the cropland and plantations has paved the way for significant increase in orchards (19.6%)
- The decrease in tlIe forested landmass comprising tlIe dense forest and degraded forest has resulted in proportionate increase in'tlIe scrub and grass lands, and fallow lands.