How to protect the Coastal Areas of India?

India has a long coastal area. Hence, there is a need to protect the cultural, aesthetic and ecological values of coastal areas. At the same time, the coastal activities should not mar the principles of environmental protection and development. Hence, we need specific efforts to protect our coastal ecosystem/ To protect coastal ecosystem we’ require the following features:

(i) Measures are to be taken to reduce coastal pollution.

(ii) Practicing of shrimp-culture should be discouraged as it pollutes the coastal environment in the form of discharge of polluted water from the shrimp ponds.

(iii) The life of offshore living organisms should be protected against the impact of discharge of toxic substance in the coastal ecosystem.

(iv) Overcrowding of industries in coastal areas should ‘be avoided.

(v) Life and habitats of fishermen population in coastal areas are to be regulated.

(vi) Construction activities in coastal areas are to be restricted.

(vii) Sea food industry is to be arranged properly.

(viii) Fishing activities are to be controlled during breeding seasons.

(ix) Cyclone protection barriers should be developed to protect the coastal population during the times of cyclone.

(x) Proper planning, coordination and monitoring are to be undertaken for aquaculture, fish culture and shrimp culture activities in the coastal regions.

(xi) Locomotion and breeding habits of seashore living organisms are to be carefully protected.

(xii) Coastal area development could be monitored with the appointment of experts in the fields of oceanography, marine biology, biology, sociology, and economics and so on.

(xiii) Specific grass root level regional planning machinery should be created with devices of inter-sectoral coordination.

(xiv) Possible ways of developing tidal power with the help of safe and eco-friendly technologies are to be explored and adopted.

(xv) Climatic changes, tidal changes and their consequence on life and habitat of coastal population are to be monitored periodically.

(xvi) Sea transport particularly in ports, harbours and beaches are to be properly regulated.

(xvii) Regular surveillance of accumulation of pollutants in and around the coastal environment through the activities of human and livestock population should protect scenic beauty of the coastal environment.