|
|
|
Specification for coastal regulation zone chart and its development
Dr. R.B. Singh and S.S. Chauhan
Principal Civil Hydrographic Officer
National Hydrographic Office,
Dehradun, India
Abstract
Coastal Zone is always on the forefront of civilization and has been by far the most exploited geomorphical unit of earth. Its easy access and resourcefulness have always attracted human activities, but its complexity in understanding has led to misuse and abuse. In recent time, the coastal zone of world is under increasing pressure due to high rate of human population growth, development of various industries, fishing, mining, discharge of municipal sewage and industrial waste effluents. This industrial development on coast has resulted in degradation of coastal ecosystems and diminishing the living resources. Coastal area is vital to the prosperity of the country and are biologically most productive area, supporting wealth of living marine resources. Thus there is urgent need to conserve the coastal ecosystems and habitats by implementing the coastal regulation zone notification and integrated coastal zone management study.
The term coastal zone means the coastal water, wetland and shore land strongly influenced by marine waters. In other word, this is the area of interaction between land and sea, which is influenced by both terrestrial and marine environment. The coastal zone includes the area between high and low tide line, up to 10 nautical miles toward the sea from high tide line and up to 20 km. from high tide line towards land side. Environmentally affective coastal zone management requires accurate, up to date and comprehensive scientific data on which policy decision can be based. A basic problem in coastal zone study is limited availability of coastal data. Specific chart showing high and low tide lines as well as wetland and land use categories in coastal regulatory zones on large scale are extensively used for implementing guidelines for protection of coastal zone resources and habitats.
In view of above, there is a need to prepare coastal regulation zone plan and coastal zone management charts as per International standard of quality and accuracy for use by coastal states and coastal zone users. In the present paper, an attempt has been made to general discussion on planning of special coastal regulation zone chart for managing coastal zone and coastal features for sustainable use by demarcating high and low tide line on chart with the help of hydrographic survey carried out by Naval Hydrographic Department. The notification issued by government of India in connection with conservation of coastal resources and habitats has been discussed. The prohibited and regulation of permissible activities in coastal regulation zone along with coastal area classification are also reviewed in this paper.
Introduction
In recent time, the coastal zone of world is under increasing pressure due to high rate of human population growth, development of various industries, mining, fishing, industrial waste effluents and discharge of municipal sewage. Such industrial development along the coast has resulted in degradation of coastal ecosystems and diminishing the coastal resources. Thus there is an urgent need to protect the coastal ecosystems and habitats by implementing the coastal regulation zone notification and integrated coastal zone management study. Healthy coastal life needs understanding and proper planning of environment, on and around the coast. Perhaps with these views only the ministry of Environment and forest, Government of India issued a notification in the year 1991, under Environment protection act of 1986, declaring coastal stretches as coastal regulation zone (CRZ) and regulating activities in CRZ.
India has a coast of about 7516 km long and 4198 islands are spread along the main coast of Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep group. The coastal zone means the coastal water, wetland and shore land strongly influenced by marine water. This is the area of interaction between land and sea, which is influenced by both terrestrial and marine environment. The coastal zone includes the area between high tide line (HTL) and low tide line(LTL), up to 10 nautical miles towards the seaside from HTL and up to 20 km from HTL towards the land side. The accurate demarcation of shoreline is very important for planning purposes. The prime requisite of coastal regulation zone plan chart is basically to manage coastal and coastal zone features for sustainable use by demarcating high and low tide line on chart with the help of hydrographic surveys.
Environment protection act
In order to conserve resources by controlling their depletion and manage development activities, Government of India had promulgated the Environmental (protection) act 1986. The ministry of Environment and Forest has notified in February 1991, the coastal stretches from HTL to 500 mts. towards land and from HTL to LTL towards sea as coastal regulation zone(CRZ). In view of above there is necessity to prepare CRZ plan and CZM charts for our coastal zone as per International standard of quality and accuracy for coastal zone users. Latest Hydrographic surveys of LTL, HTL, 200 mts. Line and 500mt line are the input source for the preparation of CRZ planning charts. Naval Hydrographic Department (NHD) of India is responsible for delineation of high tide line and low tide line, which are baseline for preparation of CRZ plan chart. Since NHD has the professional capacity and technology, the ministry of Environment and Forest has requested to NHD to verify coastal regulation zone plan prepared by states for precise depiction of HTL, LTL and control marks and prepare guidelines for CRZ/ coastal zone management chart
|
|
|