Lok Sabha Question No. 1066 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-02
Subject: Report on National Assessment of Shoreline Changes along Indian Coast
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1066

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2024

## Report on National Assessment of Shoreline Changes along Indian Coast

## 1066 SHRI CAPTAIN BRIJESH CHOWTA

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Report  on  the  'National  Assessment  of  Shoreline  Changes  along  Indian Coast' has been acted upon with regard to safeguarding the coastline of the country;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  of  measures  for  shoreline  protection  that  have  been  implemented especially for the coast of the State of Karnataka;
- (c) whether  the  Coastal  Management  Information  System  (CMIS)  has  undertaken  or proposes to undertake any study of coastal Karnataka or has plans for site specific coastal protection structures, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether there has been any study regarding the loss of marine life species on the western coast of the country, especially coastal Karnataka, if so, the details thereof along with the steps to reversing the same and conservation of existing species?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) to  (b):  National  Assessment    of  Shoreline  Changes  along  Indian  Coast  is  a  report published    by  the  National  Centre  for  Coastal  Research  (NCCR),  Ministry  of  Earth Sciences which summarizes the methods of analysis, interprets the results and provides information on shoreline changes and rate of changes. This report is based on satellitebased shoreline change analysis along the entire Indian coast using multi-spectral satellite images  along  with  the  field-surveyed  data.  As  per  this  study,  about  33.6%  of  coast  is eroding, 26.9% is accreting and 39.5% is in stable state.

The report  has  been  used  in  the  preparation  of  Shoreline  Management  Plan  as  per  the provisions  of  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  Notification,  2019  under  the  Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Shoreline  change  analysis  was  carried  out  for  313  km  long  shore  of  Karnataka  and approximately 50% of Karnataka's coast is in stable conditions, 26% and 24% is under accretion and erosion respectively.

The shoreline protection measures have been taken across the country, which includes:

-  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  notified  Coastal  Regulation Zone  (CRZ)  Notification,  2019  with  a  view  to  conserve  and  protect  coastal  stretches, marine areas and to ensure livelihood security to the fisher and other local communities. The coastal  regulations,  however,  permit  setting  up  of  erosion  control  measures  in  the coast.  The  notification  also  provides  for  No  Development  Zones  (NDZ)  along  various categories of coastal areas to protect India's coastline from encroachment and erosion.
-  The  Government  of  Karnataka  has  prepared  the  Shoreline  Management  Plan  in compliance to the provisions of CRZ Notification, 2019. Government of Karnataka has approached World Bank for assistance under the K-SHORE project of World Bank.

(c)  Coastal  Management  Information  System  (CMIS)  activities  include  collection  of  various offshore  and  onshore  coastal  data  for  better  scientific  planning,  design,  construction  and maintenance of site-specific coastal protection structures at vulnerable coastal stretches including an integrated data bank. Under CMIS, nine parameters such as wave, current, tide, nearshore & offshore  bathymetry,  river  current  discharge,  wind  velocity,  wind  direction,  relative  humidity, shoreline  mapping  (high  tide  line,  low  tide  line),  beach  profile  (cross-  shore  profile),  rainfall, temperature,  suspended  and  seabed  sediments  are  observed.  Eight  sites  have  been  established under the CMIS for data collection, which support the measures to tackle coastal erosion in a scientific manner, keeping in view the long-term perspective and challenges of climate change. Data collected is shared with respective State Governments as per their requirement. There is no provision  of  undertaking  study  on  coastal  protection  measures  in  the  approved  scheme  under CMIS.

(d)  Academic  institutions  have  periodically  conducted  studies  on  conservation  of  coastal  and marine  species  and  their  habitats  in  India.  There  is  no  specific  report  on  loss  of  marine  life species on western coast of the country, including the State of Karnataka. However, the Wildlife Department of Karnataka has taken the following steps for conservation of marine species, which includes:

- i. Establishment  of  Coastal  and  Marine  Cell  at  Karwar  and  Mangaluru  to  protect  and conserve marine species and their habitat with dedicated team of staff members.
- ii. Awareness  programmes  are  carried  out  for  local  fishermen,  general  public,  students' police, forest personnel, coast guard etc.
- iii. Beach cleaning drives involving school/college students, NGOs and other departments.
- iv. Rescue and rehabilitation of stranded animals.
- v. Protection of marine species is ensured through strict protection measures.
- vi. Research on the species recovery of Arabian Humpback whales is carried out.
- vii. Conservation activities for Olive Ridley Turtles are carried out annually. Incentives are given  to  local  fishermen  for  identifying  and  supporting  conservation  of  Olive  Ridley Turtle in coastal areas.
- viii. The database on the stranded marine life is prepared.
- ix. Marine Park is established in Honnavar for conservation of marine species.
- x. Livelihood  improvement  activities  such  as  Oyster  cultivation,  mud-crab  culture,  green mussel cultivation etc. are initiated for local people.

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