(a) whether the Government have prepared any action plan for the
proper conservation of coastal and marine environment;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether any Ocean Awareness Programme has been launched by
the Government; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and achievements made thereunder
during the Ninth Plan?
MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT, MINISTER OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTER OF OCEAN DEVELOPMENT (DR. MURLI MANOHAR JOSHI)
(a), (b), (c) & (d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT AS REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a), (b), (c) AND (d) OF
THE STARRED QUESTION NO.233 REGARDING CONSERVATION OF COASTAL
AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT PUT UP BY SHRI K.P. SINGH DEO FOR ANSWER
IN THE LOK SABHA ON 19.03.2002
(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. Under the programme of Integrated Coastal and Marine Area
Management (ICMAM), the Department of Ocean Development have developed a
draft ICMAM Plan for Chennai demonstrating the use of scientific tools and techniques
like GIS, remote sensing and mathematical modelling which are useful in analysing
issues and problems like coastal erosion, accretion, pollution and for conservation of a
lake ecosystem, namely Pulicat. Attempts are being made to prepare similar plans for
Goa and Gulf of Kachchh.
Under a Programme of Ministry of Environment & Forests, action plans for
management of mangroves and corals have been prepared by the coastal States and
Union Territories. Further, as per the requirement of Coastal Regulation Zone
Notification, 1991, of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, each of the coastal
States/ Union Territories have prepared coastal zone management plans, which aim
to protect coastal ecosystems like mangroves, coral reefs, etc, taking into
consideration the region-specific issues along the coastal zone. Thirty mangrove and
4 coral reef areas in the country have been identified for extensive conservation and
management. Overall increase of 615 sq. kms of mangrove area in the country has
been noticed during the period 1991-1999.
(c) & (d): The Department of Ocean Development has not launched any specific
Ocean Awareness Programme. However, to project and create awareness on ocean
technology and other developmental activities in the ocean sector, the department
participates in exhibitions in the country and abroad. Further, the department also
provides part funding for the conduct of seminars/workshops on ocean related topics.
During the 9th Plan period the department had participated in 17 major exhibitions and
part financed the conduct of over 120 scientific seminars/symposia dealing with
subjects in the ocean sector.