INDIAN OCEAN: ISSUES OF COASTAL DEVELOPMENT
8th of June 2021 is celebrated as the World Oceans Day, to disseminate the significance of oceans and the execution of SDG14,”Conserve and sustainably use of the oceans, seas and marine resources “, by 2030. Oceans cover nearly 70% of our planet and is the source of 50% of oxygen of the planet. Indian Ocean which is the third largest ocean, where the coastal ecosystem has been reduced to one of the most fragile ecosystem of our planet. The impact of changes in the coastal environment in this region is largely due to Tourism Development, Ports and Harbours , rapid Urbanisation programmes, Coral mining and overuse of Technology. Global climate change has also seriously impacted the biodiversity of the region.
India has a coastline of nearly 7,500 km and about 25% of her 1.4 billion people live within 50 kms of coastline. Considerable part of this stretch is covered by Mangrove forest which amounts to 67%, that ensures protection to coastline and minimises disasters. They serve as a niche for large variety of organisms and also is considered as best Carbon Scrubbers since they are considered as helpful in Carbon sink. It is established that the wind speed of cyclone Bulbul which had hit Odisha and West Bengal, two states in India in 2019, was reduced by 20km/hr because of Sundarban mangrove forest. However proper management plan for preservation and sustenance of mangrove forest have not been adequately addressed.
Sundarbans Mangrove forest was declared a ‘Reserve forest' in 1996 and a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997, but is degrading due to the sea-level rise in Bay of Bengal. However, Cyclone Amphan in 2020, damaged considerable area of it. Indian Ocean region has been vulnerable to various disasters over the years. [Example- Tsunami,(2004) Aila(2009), Amphan(2020) and Yaas(2021) the latest]. These disasters lead to massive destruction of property and livelihoods. As a follow up of such concerns in India, several guidelines and policies have been issued, under the principle Act entitled “Environment Protection Act,1986 “ in congruence with UNCLOS(1982). Application of rules and regulations has been minimal in reality.
Apart from it the other factors affecting the coastal ecosystem includes- overexploitation of fishery resources, wildlife crime, aquaculture, ocean acidification etc. Hence, the World Ocean Day celebrations will remind us about the significance of oceans for our planet. All stakeholders, from policy makers to common man, need to realise the necessity of sustainable management of oceans.
