Call for integrated approach to coastal zone management

http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/04/stories/2007110460680600.htm

Call for integrated approach to coastal zone management
Staff Reporter
“The Government is trying to understand the coastal ecology in a better manner”
— Photo: T.Singaravelou CONSULTATIVE MEETING: C. V. Shankar, Officer on Special Duty, Relief and Rehabilitation (centre); Ramaswamy, secretary, Auroville Foundation (right); and Puducherry PWD Chief Engineer C. Anandane, at a consultation meeting at Auroville on Saturday.
PUDUCHERRY: The need for an integrated approach to coastal zone management in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry was stressed by speakers at a consultative meeting on ‘Restoration and protection of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry coastlines,’ in Auroville on Saturday.
The speakers also called for a joint meeting of members of the Coastal Zone Management authorities of the two States. World Bank aid
C.V. Shankar, Officer on Special Duty, Relief and Rehabilitation, in his address, said the Tamil Nadu Government was initiating an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan with assistance from the World Bank.
The plan was being prepared now and Danish Hydraulics Institute (DHI) had been appointed to conduct a study. The Government was trying to understand the coastal ecology in a better manner.
Before constructing harbours and ports, the State Government wanted to ensure that the structures were perfect in a particular setting. “We want to study the East Coast at least for a couple of seasons with the data that we already have,” he said.
Regarding the issue of maintenance, he said the Government, in consultation with local bodies, was developing a permanent non-lapsable maintenance fund.
Secretary to the Government of Puducherry, Public Works Department, A. Anbarasu said the territorial Government too would take steps for an integrated coastal zone management plan.
The Puducherry Government was preparing a comprehensive capital dredging scheme at a cost of Rs. 13-14 crore and this would help compensate at least a portion of the sea erosion.
Plans charted out by Puducherry for coastal management would be shared with the Government of Tamil Nadu, he said. Balanced approach
Collector of Villupuram Brajendra Navnit called for adopting a balanced approach while providing any solution to problems of erosion.
Prashant Hedao, planning coordinator, Auroville Coastal-area Development Centre, stressed the need to understand issues such as the natural processes in the sea and land, the socio economic forces including population dynamics, land use changes and livelihood issues before embarking upon coastal management programmes.
Auroville Foundation Secretary M. Ramaswamy, in his introductory remarks, said the focus of the meeting was to bring out long-term solutions to the problems of erosion and establish an effective mechanism to coordinate the implementation of these solutions.
Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Tamil Nadu, Govindarajan, said Governments must ensure free flow of funds for coastal management projects.
Dr. Tarapore of DHI-India; Chief Engineer, PWD, Puducherry, C. Anandane; M.D. Kudale, Chief Research Officer, Central Water and Power Research Station; John Jacob Puthur, Naval Hydrographer; and Aurofilio Schiavina, Coastal zone consultant, presented papers on relevant topics.
The meeting was jointly held by the Auroville Coastal area Development Centre (ACDC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Pondicherry Citizens Action Network.