Lok Sabha Question No. 149 (STARRED), answered on 2016-07-27
Subject: Marine Habitat Research
Ministry: EARTH SCIENCES
Asked by: PR. SENTHILNATHAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *149

## TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

## MARINE HABITAT RESEARCH

- *149  SHRI PR. SENTHILNATHAN:

Will the Minister of EARTH SCIENCES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has allocated adequate funds and technology  support  for  marine  habitat  research  in  the  country particularly  the  coastal  areas  of  Tamil  Nadu  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) the funds allocated during the last three years and the current year so far, year-wise;
- (c) whether the Union Government has conducted any research on the changes undergone by marine habitation and marine organisms due to tidal changes, environment pollution and undersea tremors/tsunamis/hurricanes/floods etc.;
- (d) if  so,  the  details of the major changes reported during the last 2-3 decades to Marine Habitat; and
- (e) the steps taken to protect marine life and environment?

ANSWER MINISTER FOR MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MINISTRY OF EARTH SCIENCES (DR. HARSH VARDHAN)

(a)-(e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT LAID ON THE TABLE OF THE LOK SABHA IN REPLY (a) to (e) TO STARRED QUESTION NO. *149 REGARDING 'MARINE HABITATION RESEARCH' TO BE ANSWERED ON WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 2016

- (a) Yes, Madam. The Government of India set up the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management  (NCSCM)  under  the  Ministry  of Environment  Forest  &  Climate  Change  at  Chennai  during  2011-2012. The  Centre  has  undertaken  various  research  studies  with  respect marine environment, ecology and habitat of entire Indian coast including  the  islands.    The  Centre  provides  knowledge  support  on policy and  scientific matters  related to integrated  Coastal  Zone Management  (ICZM)  and  conservation  of  coastal  resources  along Indian coast including the islands. NCSCM has mapped the Ecologically Sensitive  Areas  (ESAs)  for  Tamil  Nadu  and  assisted  the  Tamil  Nadu State Government in preparing the Detailed Project Report for implementing ICZM in the state.  The extent of ESAs as per CRZ 2011 for the state of Tamil Nadu are as follows:
- (b) the year-wise funds allocated to support marine habitat research and technology development  are as follows:

|   No. | Ecologically Sensitive Area                                                                                       |   Area (Km2) |
|-------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|--------------|
|     1 | Mangrove                                                                                                          |       119.13 |
|     2 | Corals                                                                                                            |        23.3  |
|     3 | Seagrass                                                                                                          |       398.81 |
|     4 | Salt Marsh                                                                                                        |        59.4  |
|     5 | Horseshoe crab habitat                                                                                            |         0    |
|     6 | Turtle Nesting Sites                                                                                              |         2.78 |
|     7 | Sand Dune                                                                                                         |        31.03 |
|     8 | Mudflat                                                                                                           |       189.43 |
|     9 | Protected Area (Reserve Forest, National Park, Marine Protected Area, Wildlife Sanctuary & Other Protected Areas) |       888.11 |
|    10 | Archaeological & Heritage Site                                                                                    |         0.79 |

| Year    |   Allocation ( Rs in crores) |
|---------|------------------------------|
| 2013-14 |                        99.13 |
| 2014-15 |                       149.95 |
| 2015-16 |                        99    |
| 2016-17 |                       126.27 |

- (d) Although  there  is  no  systematic  research  to  study  for  long-term decadal scale changes due to tides, tsunami, hurricane, floods which are  episodic  in  nature,  a  few  studies  were  conducted  to  address  the effects  of  pollution  in  the  coastal  areas  of  India.    These  studies indicate that a marginal increase in microbial activity in some coastal areas of the country due to discharge of domestic sewage.  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.  In order to monitor the  changes  in  specific  coastal  ecosystems  due  to  pollution  and various stressors, NCSCM has developed (i) Framework for Cumulative Environment Impact Assessment for Gulf of Kachch and (ii) Ecosystem Health  Report  Cards  for  Chilika  lake,  Gulf  of  Kuchchh.  NCSCM  has undertaken  studies  on  the  impact  of  tropical  cyclone  (Lehar)  on  the seagrass ecosystems in Ross and Smith Islands in Andaman, wherein about 2 ha of seagrass beds have been destroyed. Studies on the coral reefs in Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar show that about 25% of the reefs have  bleached  during  April-May,  2016  due  to  elevated  sea  surface temperature and further studies on their recovery are underway.
- (e) The Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change has declared 25 marine protected areas in peninsular India and 106 Marine Protection Areas (MPAs) in the country's islands under the Wild life Protection Act (1972) to protect the wildlife and their habitat. The coastal ecologically sensitive areas have been mapped and the activities within such areas are regulated as per Coastal Regulation Zone Notification (2011) aimed at protecting the coastal and marine habitats.

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