Coastal and marine pollution in India. In India most contamination from land base sources industrial and domestic wastes and agriculture run-off. Other activities are also becoming more significant like shipping and related actions ship breaking,

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COASTAL AND MARINE POLLUTION IN INDIA

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INTRODUCTION:

The change in physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water and sediments is called coastal pollution.

A coastal zone can be described variously. One possible definition is “the coastal zone represents that part of the land affected by its proximity to the sea, and that part of the ocean affected by its proximity to the land” (US commission of marine Science, Engineering and Resource).

Other possible definition is “the coastal zone as extending from the coastal plains to the outer edge of the continental shelves, approximately matching the region that has been alternately flooded and exposed during the region that has been alternately flooded and exposed during the sea-level fluctuations of the late Quaternary period” (LOICZ). This second definition is of the coastal domain from 200 meters above to 200 meters below sea levels.

It is known universally that coastal areas are among the most sensitive zones around the world with the innumerable fleet of oil tankers, fishing vessels, cargo ships and cruise ships that navigate through the ocean and fish in our fiscal zone, our coastal zone and marine world are continuously under the danger of pollution. It is not surprising therefore that the government would want to apply every attempt to try and prevent such disaster from occurrence.

The coastal area from 200 meters above to 200 meters below sea level:

  • Occupies 18% of the surface of the world.
  • Around a quarter of worldwide prime productivity occurs in this area.
  • Around 60% of human inhabitants live.
  • Population of over 1.6 million people with two third of world cities are located.
  • Supply’s around 90% world fish catch.

The coastal ocean accounts for:

  • 8% of the ocean surface.
  • Greater than 0.5% of the ocean volume.
  • Around 14% of global ocean production
  • Up to 50% of global oceanic denitrification.
  • 80% of the global organic matter interment.
  • 90% of the global sedimentary mineralisation.
  • 75-90% of the global sink of suspended river load and its connected rudiments/pollutants.
  • In excess of 50% of present day global carbonate deposition.

(Elrich de Sa, 2003)

In India most contamination from land base sources – industrial and domestic wastes and agriculture run-off. Other activities are also becoming more significant like shipping and related actions – ship breaking, ship building and port activities. The industries located at the coastal side use sea-water as resource and the coastal area as a sink of changed sea-water (Temperature and Density). This creates newer and straighter threats to receptive eco areas.

The extensive coastline of India is spotted with 11 major ports, which are managed by the port trust of India under central government influence and 139 minor operable ports under the influence of the respective state government. India has a coastline of 7500 Km and 2000 Km wide Exclusive Economic Zone. Almost 30% of human population is supported by India’s Coastline. The Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal are rich fishing grounds. The 7th largest marine fishing nation in the world is India.

PROBLEMS:

Mangroves can be killed by intense or sticky oil that covers the trees breathing pores the surface roots which depend on the pores for oxygen.

The history of human civilization says that aquatic environmental pollution did not receive much awareness until a threshold stage was reached with unfavourable consequences on the ecosystem and organism. Facts of contamination sources and impacts on ecosystem are significant not only for superior understanding on the ecosystem responses to pollutants but also to prepare prevention measures.

ARGUMENT:

Aquatic pollution has become a global concern, but even so, most developing nations are still producing huge pollution loads and the trends are expected to increase.


KEY ISSUES:

Goa:

Estuarine and coastal waters are clean, though there is enormous sediment load from mining actions. The Mandovi-Zuari estuarine receives over 30 MLD of partly treated household dirt and 15 MLD of farming and industrialized effluents. Goa is still stated as least polluted sate so far due to huge forest cover, less population and fewer industrial activities, but on the other it also posed a threat due to mining activities, tourism and waste.

Gujarat:

Over 200 MLD of effluents which are acidic, oxygen depleted and sediment laden is been discharged by the industries that manufacture bulk chemicals, dyes, pharmaceuticals and phosphorus pesticides. These effluents affects the water quality of Narmada, Tapti and Mahi rivers, which contains heavy metals, phenols, nitrogen and phosphorous.

Mumbai and around:

The Kalu River situated on the north of Mumbai, flowing through the industrial towns of Kalyan, Ulhasnagar and Ambarnath has a mercury concentration more than 100 ppm. Over 50 MLD of effluents is been received by Thana creek in Mumbai, where huge mercury levels are present in the water, sediments and living organisms.

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Kolkata:

Heavy metals such as Ni, Cu, Cd and Zn are present in Hoogly river water and these effluents have infected fish and shell fish. Up to 10 ug/g of pesticides have been found in the sediments near Haldia River. There river waters is been infected by e-coli, shigella, salmonella and other human pathogens, which gives indication of severe sewage contamination.

Kochi:

Chemical industry effluents and untreated sewage is been received by Periyar river. With no pollution abatement made, incident of ulsuration in shrimp and fish, and frequent fish mortality have affected traditional fishing.  


COASTAL SEAS AND ...

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