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Impact On Resource Utilization - 19042023

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Abhishikta Das
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22 views3 pages

Impact On Resource Utilization - 19042023

Uploaded by

Abhishikta Das
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS ALONG THE INDIAN COASTAL

PLAIN AND ITS IMPACT ON RESOUCE UTILIZATION


The Indian Ocean matters today, more than ever. The Indian Ocean basin is of particular
importance for India, India is geographically located at the Ocean’s centre, and has over
7,500 kilometres of coastline and it is the region’s most populous country and geopolitical
keystone. Coastal zone is defined as extending from the coastal plains to the outer edge of the
continental shelves, approximately matching the region that has been alternately flooded and
exposed during the sea level fluctuations. The protection and sustainable utilization of marine
resources in the coastal zone(s) has become an issue of great scientific concern to ocean
scientists in these days of cultural and economic growth.

Some environmental problems along the Indian coastal plains and their effects on resource
utilization are enlisted:

Coastal pollution:
 India generates 55 million tonnes of municipal waste annually, of which only 37
percent is treated, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.
 Growing population, rapid urbanisation, shifting consumption pattern and changing
lifestyles have resulted in the mismanagement of plastic waste, leading to the
accumulation of municipal solid waste.
 The country’s coastline contributes to its ecological richness, biodiversity and
economy. Every year, thousands of tonnes of garbage, composed of plastics, glass,
metals, sanitary products, clothes, etc., are dumped into it. However, plastics
contribute a major portion of about 60 per cent of the total marine debris that reaches
the oceans.
 Currently, India is reeling under the marine debris crisis, which poses serious threats
to its particularly rich marine biodiversity. Some 15,343 tonnes of waste dumped in
the south Asian seas daily are generated from 60 major Indian cities, according to
UNEP.
 Human activities on land are the biggest sources of marine pollution. The major sea-
based sources of marine pollution include discarded fishing gear, shipping activities,
and legal and illegal dumping.
 The alarming rate of pollution is decreasing the frequency and amount of fish catch by
workers on a consecutive basis. This is also influencing the loss of coastal ecology
and further increasing the degradation of coastal ecosystem.

Soil erosion:
 Recreational activities (sun bathing, picnicking, swimming, surfing, fishing, boating,
diving, etc.) may be affected if existing beaches are reduced in width or disappear
altogether.
 Harbour and coastal erosion may adversely affect peoples’ incomes due to a loss of
rural productive land.
 Environmental impacts from erosion include the destruction of animal habitats and
aesthetic losses.
 Fishing industries that are dependent on coastal habitats can suffer great economic
impacts from changes caused by coastal erosion, and the loss of tourism can result in
similar repercussions.
 Political and social tensions may arise as a result of the measures undertaken to
address harbour and coastal erosion. For example, the large investment required in
coastal and harbour areas may not be considered an appropriate economic response by
people living elsewhere.
 Strong littoral drift resulting in sand movement can also be considered as one of the
major reasons for coastal erosion.
 The reduced productivity of businesses that rely on infrastructure which is affected by
erosion (such as the transportation network), or which incur costs in mitigating
erosion, will have a knock-on effect on the local economy.
 Dredging, sand mining and coral mining have contributed to coastal erosion causing
sediment deficit.
 Natural hazards like cyclones, thermal expansion of seawater, storm surges, tsunami
etc due to the melting of continental glaciers and ice sheets as a result of climate
change hamper the natural rhythm and precipitate erosion.
 For example, West Bengal suffered erosion along about 60.5% of the coast (323.07
km) over the period from 1990 to 2018. This is followed by Kerala (46.4%) and
Tamil Nadu (42.7%) respectively.

Climate change impacts:


 Indian coasts are highly vulnerable to the sea level rise, due to the extensive low-lying
area, high population density, frequent occurrence of cyclonic storms, high rate of
coastal environmental degradation and non-sustainable development.
 Rising sea level may degrade the rich cultivable land and freshwater resources,
causing damage to coastal biodiversity and affecting food security.
 Frequency and intensity of cyclonic storms are increasing. Floods associated with
heavy rainfall often paralyses life in the coastal cities.
 Damage to the nursery areas for fisheries may affect Indian economy, as India is one
of the major exporters of fishery products. Changes in SST, upwelling and coastal
circulation has already affected the fish population, affecting the livelihood of
millions of poor.
 Coastal zones are already under threat from environmental degradation through
ballasting and introduction of invasive species, industrial pollution, groundwater
overdraft, sand mining, development activities and river input of polluted sediments.
 Several social issues such as migration to interior and conflicts over the allocation of
land and water can be expected in near future. Finding an adaptation strategy and
efficient measures for the protection and sustainable management of coasts are vital in
poverty eradication and in maintaining economic development.
 There is an increasing rate of loss of socio-economic structures dues to alarming rate
of flood and cyclones.
 There is a huge impact of rise of sea level on submergence of islands and coastal
inhabited areas.
 The natural resource stock of the coastal regions are at greater risk as there is an
alarming rate of loss of this resources due to the impact of climate change.

In order to aid these issues, a critical review of the existing strategies, policies, coastal zone
regulation act and constitutional provisions, and an assessment of the efficiency of the
administrative and legal mechanisms in the implementation of policies and regulations should
be made and guidelines for the development of an appropriate environment policy and
adaptation strategy and for their effective implementation must be provided.

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