Lok Sabha Question No. 4586 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-14
Subject: Marine Ecosystems
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: M. CHANDRAKASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4586

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2016

## MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

## 4586. SHRI M. CHANDRAKASI:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  marine  ecosystems  in  Indian  seas  have  been  damaged/disturbed  due  to sea-warming, acidification, oil spill and other factors and if so, the details thereof alongwith its impact on marine life forms;
- (b) the details of research activities being undertaken by the Ministry to assess level of deterioration of sea environment in India seas and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the steps being taken to safeguard the natural habitat of marine species and the interests of fishing sector?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (SHRI Y. S. CHOWDARY)

- (a) Yes  Madam.  Although  there  is  no  significant  damage  reported,  research  studies indicate  that  there  were  disturbances  in  marine  ecosystems  in  the  seas  around India which are sporadic and episodic in nature.  These changes are due to warming of  sea  water,  coastal  pollution,  mass  bleaching  of  Indian  corals  etc.    These  are caused both by anthropogenic and natural variability viz., oceanic processes, manmade pressures, global warming events like Indian Ocean Dipole/El Nino Southern
- Oscillation, etc.
- (b) The  Ministry  has  been  implementing  a  program  for  assessment  of  health  of  the coastal  waters  of  India  by  periodically  monitoring  the  pollutant  levels  in  the seawaters  of  India.  There  were  occasionally  marginal  increases  in  the  levels  of pollutants in few locations in the Indian coast. The increase in marine pollution was specific  to  a  few  locations  and  increasing  trend  is  localized  in  nature  primarily relating  to  nutrient  flux  like  nitrate  and  microbial  activity  due  to  discharge  of untreated  domestic  sewage  in  coastal  waters.  The  data  on  coastal  pollution  is being provided to the Ministry of Environment and Forests to minimize pollution load
- into the coastal waters.
- (c) A massive sewage treatment scheme has been implemented for treatment sewage of  Mumbai.  Incentives  have  been  provided  to  the  industries  for  installation  of pollution control equipment. Common Effluent treatment plants have been installed in several industrial estates for treatment of wastes from small and medium scale industries. The Ministry of Earth Sciences is also undertaking satellite based Indian Coral  Watch  studies  and  issuing  their  monthly  status  bulletins.  The  Ministry  of Environment & Forests and Climate Change is also performing studies to manage and  conserve  these  fragile  ecosystems.  NCSCM  has  mapped  the  boundaries  of coastal  ecologically  sensitive  areas  (ESAs)  (CRZ  I  areas)  areas  which  include mangroves, coral reefs, salt marshes, seagrass beds, turtle nesting grounds, etc., for the entire country as per the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2011 notification, issued under the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

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