Karnataka's Coastal Landscape

COASTAL REGULATION ZONE
Given the environmental, economic and social importance of coastal ecosystems, the Government of India's notification of 19 February 1991 declared coastal land up to 500 metres from the high tide line along the seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters as "Coastal Regulation Zone" (CRZ). The high tide line is defined as the line up to which the "highest high tide reaches at spring tides". In order to control excessive exploitation of coastal resources and unrestricted development, the notification prohibited certain activities within the CRZ. Among other things, it included the setting up and expansion of industrial operations and processes except those directly related to waterfront or needing foreshore facilities. However, the notification provides that the CRZ's extent can be modified while preparing the 'coastal zone management plan' and it cannot be less than 100 metres from the high tide line.

The Government of India has set up the 'National Coastal Zone Management Authority' and similar State authorities to regulate the CRZ. The State Governments are required to prepare 'coastal management plans'. Thus, the Central and the State Governments control the development in coastal areas. Ministry of Environment & Forests must clear development projects after assessment of their environmental impact. However, the procedure is frequently changed to suit the requirements of interest groups. Despite all these checks, the Karnataka High Court appointed committee had identified 45 violations of the CRZ Notification along the Karnataka coast. Under the authority to modify the distance from the high tide line, the State Government has amended the coastal regulation zone to accommodate industrial and tourism projects while prohibiting the low-income fisher folk from constructing their huts.

POPULATION & LIVELIHOOD
The coastal area's average population density is 253 persons per square kilometre. According to the Census 2001, Dakshina Kannada has the highest density at 337 persons. Udipi district's density is 290 persons and Uttara Kannada: has 132 persons per sq. km. The increasing human activities are adversely affect the coast's ecosystem. The loss of natural resources is changing the livelihood patterns of traditional coastal communities. The area is still predominantly agrarian with about 60 percent of the workforce employed in agriculture and allied activities including growing cash crops of coconut, areca nut and other horticultural products. More than 70 percent of cropland is under cereals with rice as the principal crop. Fishing is the other major source of livelihood with about 1,00,000 people directly engaged in fishing and another 2,00,000 in associated activities like fish processing, direct selling, marketing, etc. Traditionally, fishing communities sustain themselves by fishing in sea, estuaries, rivers and inland waters. But most of them are engaged in deep-sea fishing. Annually, about 1,51,000 metric tonnes of marine products are landed along the coast. The increasing mechanisation of fishing sector is marginalising the traditional fishermen. They are unable to compete with mechanised trawler owners in capital inputs and their boats do not have the reach and capacity of mechanised boats.

Industrial activity along the coast has been increasing. Besides a large number of medium and small-scale industrial units, many large industries have also come up. These provide direct employment to nearly 2,00,000 people. Some areas of the coast have also been identified as 'special tourism area'.

IMPACT OF DEVELOPMENT
The effluent and emission discharged by large industries and power plants are having an impact on the coastal ecosystem. The adverse changes in the composition of fish catch, both qualitative and quantitative, have been documented. The other factors that are having adverse effect are unregulated beach tourism, intensive aquaculture, reclamation of wetlands for industrial use. Insofar as the exclusive economic zone is concerned, allowing increasing number of high-technology trawlers and permitting them unregulated fishing is severely damaging the marine biodiversity besides jeopardising the survival of traditional fishing communities.

CONSERVING THE COASTAL ECOSYSTEM
To conserve the fragile coastal ecosystem, extensive studies are necessary to determine its 'carrying capacity' as also the type of developmental activities that would not damage its ecological integrity. The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 1991 is the most important legal framework for coastal ecosystem conservation. It initially stipulated a 500-metre area from the high tide line as 'no development zone'. Among other things, it includes inter-tidal land between high tide and low tide lines and also ecologically sensitive and important areas. It was later reduced to 200 metres under pressure from various interest groups. The Notification requires the State to prepare and the Centre to approve a 'coastal zone management plan'. The State Government prepared it after the Supreme Court's directive in 1996.

In order to conserve the coastal Karnataka's rich biodiversity, the Central and State Governments must take certain steps. The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 1991 should be redrafted to remove the legal loopholes and ambiguities that it is riddled with. The frequent changes in the categorisation of the areas within the CRZ should be avoided. An independent scientific body should prepare the coastal zone management plan. All stakeholders should be given an opportunity to discuss its draft version before finalisation. The State Government should prepare a comprehensive environment management plan for the entire coastal Karnataka, which should form the basis for its economic development.

(Text by AJOY BAGCHI)
SOURCE: M N Madhyastha : National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan - Midterm Progress Report on West Coast Eco-Region; D Shankar Narayan : The Coastal Challenge; Debi Goenka : The Fragile Coastline; US Fish & Wildlife Service and Dakshina Kannada Parisarasaktha Okkoota ®)