Natural Resource Management

15.3. SPECIAL AREA PROGRAMMES

15.3.1. Hill Areas Development ownership in the design and implementation

Programme of strategies for conservation of biodiversity
and sustainable livelihoods. The quantum
of fund is decided on the basis of area and
Introduction
population.

The Hill Area Development The Nilgiris District forms an integral

Programme (HADP) is in operation from part of the Western Ghats. It has an area
the Fifth Five Year Plan (1975 – 1980) in of 2549 sq km. It is bounded on the north
sensitive hill areas of the Country. In Tamil by Karnataka state, Northwest by Kerala
Nadu, the programme commenced in the state, Southeast by Coimbatore District and
Nilgiris District with 100 percent financial Northeast by Erode District in Tamil Nadu.
assistance from the Government of India with The entire district is hilly and is divided into
a view to supplement the efforts of the State two natural zones namely the Nilgiris Plateau
Government in preservation, protection and and the Wynad table land. The average
enrichment of the biodiversity of the Nilgiris elevation is 2000 meter above mean sea level.
District. Later, the funding pattern altered The geographical area of 2.54 lakh hectares
to 90 percent grant from the Government has 56.03 percent forest area of 1.42 lakh
hectares, which is the highest among the 32
districts in the State. The net sown area is
78,800 hectares (30.96 percent). Non-food
crops like tea and coffee are cultivated in
nearly 65 percent of this area.

The Nilgiris District is diverse in

its habitation pattern and consists of four
Blocks, four Municipalities, one cantonment,
eleven Town Panchayats and thirty-five
Village Panchayats. Under the programme,
forestry, soil conservation and horticulture
were the core sectors till 1995-96. From
1996-97 onwards, emphasis has also been
laid on the socio-economic and developmental
needs of the District. Hence, funds have been
provided for various sectors including welfare
of vulnerable social groups, development of
local bodies, human resources development,
medical and public health, tourism, animal
Fig.15.3.1: The Nilgiris - Queen of Hills husbandry and dairy development and roads
in order to increase productivity of land, for
of India and 10 percent loan from the State economic up-liftment of tribes in isolated
Government. The aim of the programme is settlements, and to strengthen infrastructure
to ensure ecologically sustainable socio- and basic amenities so as to improve the
economic development of the Nilgiris District. quality of life of local people and ensure
The process adopted, focuses on the needs people’s participation in all developmental
and aspirations of local communities, thereby activities.
promoting their participation and sense of

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 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

Box 15.3.1.1: Objectives of the Hill Area Development Programme

• To develop the ecology and environment, through eco-preservation, eco-restoration
and eco-development.
• To stimulate socio-economic growth and development of infrastructure in the district.
• To involve the people and meeting their basic needs through improved management of
their land and water resources.
• To give adequate and safe drinking water by development of gravitational sources of
water.
• To improve health facilities including infrastructure facilities in primary health
institutions.
• To evolve a proper land use pattern keeping the socio-economic and ecological
parameters in view.
• To develop horticulture and plantation crops.
• To improve livestock and cattle husbandry in order to increase the income of rural
households.
• To find the appropriate technology and scientific inputs, which would suit local
conditions and harness local resources.
• To dovetail traditional practices with appropriate technology to serve the needs of the
people living in the Hill areas.

Performance during the Eleventh

conservation, welfare of SC/ST, forestry,
Five-Year Plan horticulture, development of local bodies, and
roads sectors. Since 2002-03 onwards, the
The Union Planning Commission, emphasis has gradually shifted to watershed
Government of India has released a sum based development with the aim of attaining
of `211.48 crore for the different schemes sustainable development of the area. 60
implemented under the HADP in the Nilgiris percent of the total funds have been allocated
District during the Eleventh Five Year Plan. to the identified priority watersheds. The
A major portion of allocation under HADP financial and physical performance is given
was earmarked for the core sectors of soil in Table 15.3.1.

Table 15.3.1: Eleventh Plan Expenditure - HADP

(` Crore)
Eleventh Plan
S.No. Name of the Sector
Expenditure
1 Soil Conservation 21.51
2 Forestry 18.44
3 Horticulture 11.39
4 Animal Husbandry & Dairy Development 2.74
5 Medical & Health 3.36
6 Minor Irrigation 4.95

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S.No. Name of the Sector Eleventh Plan Expenditure

7 Tourism 9.61
8 Roads 13.36
9 Sericulture 0.51
10 Welfare Of SC 26.33
11 Welfare Of ST 11.02
12 HADP Cell 5.15
13 Human Resources Development 10.80
14 Geo Tech Cell 1.00
15 Remote Sensing & GIS 1.82
16 Evaluation 0.70
17 Tech. Cell, Secretariat 0.95
18 Development of Rural Local Bodies 18.64
19 Development of Urban Local Bodies 24.94
20 Research, Training and Documentation 0.91
21 Entry Point Activities 1.58
22 Water Shed Administration & Monitoring 1.75
23 Gap Filling Infrastructure 13.92
24 Social Welfare 4.68
25 Disaster Management and Mitigation 1.44
Total 211.48
Physical
37 Macro Watershed have been prioritized for
HADP adopts the Integrated Common taking up works. During the Eleventh Plan
Watershed Management Approach to achieve period, 28 macro watersheds comprising of
the objectives of the programme. Under 208 micro watersheds have been selected
this approach, the resources information and taken up for treatment. A total area of
of watersheds were gathered and analyzed 28,046.65 ha. has been treated during the
through Remote Sensing techniques, based Eleventh Five Year Plan period.
on which ISRO, Bangalore, have delineated
75 macro watersheds in the district in co- Green initiative
ordination with Agriultural Engineering,
Horticulture, Forest and other departments. Under soil conservation, gully control
The Nilgiris district is drained by major measures, landslide and mitigation works,
rivers like Bhavani, Moyar and Kabini which channel alignment and allied works, terrace
are tributaries of the Cauvery and Pandiar, support wall, bench terracing, staggered
forming these 75 Macro watersheds. Out of 75 trenching and sinking of community irrigation
macro watersheds identified in this District, wells were undertaken.

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 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

Fig.15.3.2: Provision of foot bridge in Fig.15.3.3: Eco park at Ooty

rural Ooty

Under forestry sector, afforestation in mushroom production, floriculture, and

the degraded and denuded forest and their research & development are undertaken.
maintenance, shola afforestation and its Other developmental activities such as
maintenance, soil and water conservation provision of drinking water, construction
activities inside forest areas, forest protection of group houses, primary health centres,
works, special works for wildlife management construction of Anganwadis, improvement of
and eco tourism in forest areas, were roads, approach paths/roads, construction
undertaken. Under horticulture sector, of school buildings, drying yards etc are also
promotion of coffee, spices, fruit plantations taken during the Plan period. Strenuous
besides restoration of traditional agricultural attempts are made to include NGOs, local
farming practices, extension of area under farmers associations, local user groups and
economic plantations such as arecanut local people in the implementation of the
and coconut, medicinal plant cultivation, different schemes under HADP.

Fig.15.3.4: Agriculture Development in HADP

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The following assets as given in Table 15.3.2 were created under HADP:
Table 15.3.2: Assets created under HADP

Assets created No. Assets created No.

New Orphanage Building 1 Tea harvesting Machines 200

Development of
Construction of Anganwadi centers 40
Ethnographic Park and Arboretum *

Building for Casualty ward, ICU to Water Harvesting Structures / Gabion

3 1188
Government Head quarters hospital Checks / Silt traps

Maternity Centre 1 Drying Yards 30

Establishment of She
Primary Health Center 1 4
Buffalo farms for tribal

Supply of Giriraja/ Birds to 5000

Construction of Seed Storage Godowns 2
supplement income units

Creation of farm ponds and

Low Cost Houses to SC / ST 1129
development of Aqua culture practices *

Providing Solar lanterns to ST People 990 Construction of School Buildings 90

Providing Solar Water heaters to GTR,

Providing Computers to Schools 66
ADW & Backward class hostels *

Construction of Library Building &

Development of Parking Lots 3 3
Gymnasiums

Establishing Road side Gardens 5 Play grounds 30

Automated post harvest handling Construction of indoor /outdoor

units for Washing /Sorting of 7 Stadiums in Coonoor, Kotagiri & 3
vegetables Gudalur

Water Supply 132 Community Centers 25

* Not quantified

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 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

Fig.15.3.5: Basic Amenities Fig.15.3.6: Post Harvest Fig.15.3.7: Construction of

to ST hamlets handling Unit at M-Palada farmers training centre in
Ooty

Approach and Strategy for the The activities proposed under

Twelfth Five Year Plan different sectors are listed:

The Twelfth Plan will build on the Soil erosion and soil quality: The
successful efforts of previous periods and Soil erosion and soil quality continue to be
introduce innovations towards ensuring the most serious problems threatening the
people’s involvement to achieve programme ecology of this fragile district. The loss of
goals. As in previous plans, out of 75 macro fertile topsoil is almost impossible to replace,
watersheds identified in this district, 37 resulting in poor agricultural yields and
macro watersheds have been prioritized for simultaneously silting up major reservoirs.
taking up works. The balance 38 watersheds The major activities proposed under soil
are fully covered with reserve forests that conservation during the Twelfth Five Year
are excluded for treatment. Out of 37 Plan are water harvesting structures, gabion
priority watersheds, 3 macro watersheds of check dams, channel alignment and lining
Payyampuzha, Chaliyar and Mukkattihole works, landslide treatment and mitigation
were taken up in the Eleventh Five Year works, and construction of collection wells.
Plan and will be saturated by 2014-2015.
Another 10 macro watersheds, which had Forestry Sector: Forest conservation
been treated in the first phase 1999-2003 has been given top priority and major
and now proposed from the year 2011-12, activities proposed are protection of shola
are included for treatment during the Twelfth and other endemic eco-systems of the
Five Year Plan period. A total of 13 macro Nilgiris; and construction, improvement and
watersheds comprising 96 micro watersheds maintenance of trekking sheds under eco-
with total area of 27,782.22 ha will be taken tourism. Schemes for welfare of tribals living
up for treatment. Watershed Associations in remote forest areas include provision of
will be constituted in each of these macro drinking water facilities, employing them
watersheds and registered under the in anti-poaching activities, construction of
Societies Act and will function as the general check dams in Reserve forest areas and forest
body comprising of all willing members of protection works like fireline scrapping works,
the communities within the watershed. In urban/avenue planting, supply of seedlings
order to ensure day-to-day management of to the public, creation of eco-awareness
watershed activities, local level institutions among local people and improvements of
like Watershed Committees and the User roads in forest areas.
Groups will be promoted. The groups will
be funded through revenue generation and Horticulture: The activities proposed
are production of improved high yielding tea
people’s contributions.
clones; in-filling and replanting in old tea

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areas of SC/ ST/ SHGs farmers; production of and provide essential amenities in schools
economic plants and vegetable seeds in State by constructing additional classrooms,
horticulture farms; production of avenue tree formation of playgrounds, provision of
plants, shade trees of various species; supply toilet facilities, drinking water facilities and
of agricultural implements; supply of organic eco-awareness programmes among students.
manure; neem cake; vermicompost; and
infrastructure development in horticulture The activities of the different sectors
gardens. A major initiative that began in the will be dovetailed with those of the other line
last year of the Eleventh Five Year Plan is the departments to bring about greater synergy.
creation of farmer clusters to promote joint The local public along with competent
purchase of inputs, planning and marketing NGOs will also be actively involved in the
and a transformation in cropping practices, Integrated Watershed Approach. The felt
towards sustainable horticulture and organic needs of the community will be identified
farming. through Participatory Rural Appraisal and
regular meetings of all the stakeholders
Animal Husbandry: The sector has of the Watersheds and the proposals thus
been identified as a major thrust sector finalized will be included in the Perspective
aimed at improving livelihoods of the poor Plan prepared for the period of five years.
and especially tribals of the district. After The activities proposed will also be actively
an initial start, 5000 units of Giriraja/ reviewed and monitored during execution.
Vanaraja birds are planned for distribution in
2011-12 and will be scaled up in the future Twelfth Five Year Plan Outlay
to many multiples. As the cattle population
has reduced from about 3.5 lakh in previous The outlay proposed for HADP in the
years to about 35,000 (10 percent) currently, Twelfth Five Year Plan is `316.80 crore, to be
a major plan for restocking with suitable spent over five years at `63.36 crore per year.
breeds is under consideration.
Around 60 percent of the annual
Road sector: It is proposed to take outlay under HADP is proposed to be
up widening and improvement, formation of earmarked for undertaking works in the
new roads etc to improve connectivity in the identified priority watersheds on Integrated
district. Watershed basis and remaining 40 percent
is proposed for other than watershed works
Welfare of SC/ST: It is proposed to which include 15 percent for maintenance of
provide basic amenities to SC/ST habitations assets created under HADP and 10 percent
in the district by providing water supply, towards establishment costs.
footpath, drain, road/path, streetlights,
tribal shelter etc.

Tourism and Medical & Public

Health: It is proposed to provide basic
infrastructure facilities.

Development of Local Bodies:

Sanitation, water supply and improvements
to roads are the major activities proposed to
be taken up in the financially weaker local
bodies.

Human Resources Development: It Fig.15.3.8: Water Conservation Works Under

is proposed to create additional infrastructure HADP

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 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

15.3.2 Western Ghats Development of India and State Government in the ratio
Programme (WGDP) of 90:10. Although began as a beneficiary-
oriented economic development programme,
Introduction the emphasis has shifted towards
socio-economic growth, development of
The Western Ghats region in Tamil infrastructure and promotion of ecology.
Nadu ranges from Gudalur Taluk in the Nilgirs Under WGDP, 70 percent of resources are
district and ends up at Agastheeswaran earmarked for schemes in these priority areas
Taluk in Kanniyakumari district. Since the such as soil and water conservation, forestry,
Nilgiris district is covered under Hill Area gap filling and other infrastructure. Most of
Development Programme, it is excluded for the schemes aim at promoting sustainable
the implementation of WGDP. Western Ghats livelihoods.
region, therefore, falls in 33 taluks of eight
Performance during the Eleventh Five
districts, - Coimbatore, Tirupur, Dindigul,
Year Plan
Theni, Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli
and Kanniyakumari. The total area covered During the Eleventh Plan period,
under WGDP is 26,000 sq.km. which is 20 Agriculture and allied activities, including
percent of the total area of Tamil Nadu. soil and water conservation measures, were
taken up in 166 watersheds at a cost of
`101.16 crore. Horticultural activities such
as production and distribution of planting
materials and development and maintenance
of horticultural farms were undertaken.
Forestry, eco-restoration, eco-protection, eco-
development, eco-stabilization, avoidance of
human animal conflict, tribal development,
soil and water conservation measures, gap
filling infrastructure, welfare of SC/ ST
were taken up. The other activities taken
up under WGDP were animal husbandry,
sericulture, fisheries, rural roads, tourism,
Fig.15.3.9: Terraced fields in minor irrigation, khadi and village
Western Ghats Mountains in Kodaikanal, industries, renewable energy, development
Tamil Nadu in town panchayats, etc. From the year
2010-2011, implementation of schemes
Box 15.3.2.1: Salient features of under this programme emphasises the
WGDP watershed approach. In order to ensure that
• Development with watershed as basic implementation is consistent and an integrated
treatment unit. approach with full local participants, a pilot
strategy was adopted for implementation
• Focus on soil and moisture conservation
in Dindigul, Madurai and Theni districts
measures and conservation of bio-
through Tamil Nadu Watershed Development
diversity.
Agency (TAWDEVA), while the remaining
• Participatory approach through districts continue to operate through the line
involvement of PRls and NGOs. departments. The remaining districts will be
progressively transferred for implementation
The Western Ghats Development through TAWDEVA.
Programme commenced in 1975-76, initially
with 100 percent Central Assistance and
currently shared between the Government

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Table 15.3.3: Eleventh Plan Expenditure – WGDP

(` Crore)
Eleventh Plan
S. No. Sector
Expenditure
1 Soil Conservation 36.63
2 Forestry 19.10
3 Gap Filling Infrastructure 9.40
4 Tamil Nadu Watershed Development Agency 6.98
5 Rural Roads 5.02
6 Adi Dravidar Welfare 3.92
7 Tribal Welfare 3.75
8 Horticulture 2.50
9 Tourism 2.45
10 Development of Town Panchayat 2.28
11 WGDP Technical Cell (TC-I) 1.58
12 Sericulture 1.51
13 Fisheries 1.43
14 Non-Conventional Source of Energy (Renewable Energy) 1.00
15 Minor Irrigation 0.92
16 Khadi & Village Industries 0.85
17 Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development 0.78
18 Evaluation 0.71
19 Organic Farming 0.21
20 Preparation of Detailed Project Report (TAWDEVA) 0.14
Total 101.16

Approach and Strategy for the Twelfth • Creation of awareness among the
Five-Year Plan people and educating them on the
severe consequences of ecological
The WGDP basic objectives will be degradation and for securing their active
retained which are as follows: participation in eco-development schemes.
• Maintenance of ecological balance The Western Ghats region is
essential for the life support system. facing considerable soil erosion and
eco-degradation. The WGDP therefore aims
• Preservation of genetic diversity.
at development in a holistic manner with
• Restoration of ecological damage caused Special Area Programmes. Watershed is
by human interaction. adopted as the basic treatment unit for
augmentation and stabilization of production

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 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

and productivity, minimizing ecological these objectives. A major initiative began in

degradation, reduction in regional disparity the last year of the Eleventh Five year plan is
and opening up of greater livelihood the creation of farmers clusters to promote
opportunities for the rural poor. The broad joint purchase of inputs, planning and
objectives under WGDP are maintenance marketing and a transformation in cropping
of environmental stability through forest practices towards sustainable horticulture
preservation, conserving natural heritage and organic farming. Animal husbandry is
by preserving the remaining natural forests, visualized as a vital component of these aims
checking soil erosion and denudation of the and initiatives taken in the previous years
catchment areas of rivers, lakes, marshes, are to be amplified.
reservoirs and springs in the interest of
soil and water conservation, increasing the Twelfth Five Year Plan Outlay
sustainability of forest/tree cover through
afforestation and social forestry programmes, With a view to achieve the above
meeting the livelihood requirement of fuel, objectives and to undertake the above
fodder, minor forest produce and small timber activities, the outlay for implementation of
of the rural and tribal population and for WGDP during the Twelfth Five-Year Plan
creating a massive people’s movement with period is proposed at `113.85 crore with
the involvement of women towards achieving annual projection of `22.77 crore per year.

Fig.15.3.10: Western Ghats, Tamil Nadu

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15.3.3 Eastern Ghat Development Eastern Ghats and 4 districts in Southern

Programme( EGDP) Eastern Ghats. The major hills in Eastern
Ghats are: a) Javadhu hills (Vellore district),
b) Pachaimalai (Trichy & Salem districts),
Introduction
c) Kollimalai, Servarayan and Bodamalai
The Eastern Ghats in Tamil Nadu (Salem district), d) Kalrayan hills (Salem and
is spread over in an area of about 3.25 Villupuram district), Chitteris and Melagiris
million ha in 16 districts - 3 districts in (Dharmapuri).
coastal Eastern Ghats, 9 districts in central

Fig.15.3.11: Eastern Ghats– Tamil Nadu

Box 15.3.3.1: Threats to Eastern Ghats

Eastern Ghats have rich sources of manganese, bauxite, graphite, limestones, gemstones,
magnetite etc and are easily accessible for encroachment for human habitation and cultivation.
Due to heavy pressure, list of threatened species in this area is increasing day by day which
requires immediate attention to restore the original ecosystem.

Problems and constraints • Incidents of fire due to phases of burning

during process of shifting cultivation.
The general problems and constraints
• Low economic status and fragmentation of
encountered in Eastern Ghat areas are:
land holdings.
• Soil erosion, poor fertility status of soil,
• Periodic droughts and floods due to heavy
and stream bank erosion in some rivers.
run-off and siltation of river beds.
• Large-scale deforestation.
• Uncontrolled mining activities.
• Degraded and gullied common lands
• Declining ground water table due to
and grassing lands due to large-scale
excessive use and withdrawal of ground
exploitation.
water and lack of water harvesting / water
• Lack of information on farming and conservation measures.
cropping systems.
• Inappropriate land use system.
• Lack of good water management system
and practices in the irrigated areas.

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 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

Objectives and Strategies of the Eastern Ghats Development Programme

Box 15.3.3.2: Objectives and Strategies

Objectives
• Biodiversity conservations
• Providing vegetal cover to the degraded and highly eroded forest areas
• Improvement of water yield and ground water
• Prevention of soil loss
• Skill development and generation of employment opportunities for the local
people / tribal to improve their socio-economic status
• Creation of eco-awaerness
• Research of specific problem related area
Strategies
• Watershed based development
• People’s participation to meet their basic needs in consonance with their
ecological and livelihood security

Performance during the Tenth and During the Eleventh Five Year Plan,
Eleventh Five Year Plan an amount of `5.00 crore was proposed for
taking up a pilot project area, so that this
During the Tenth Five Year Plan period, can be developed as a model and this lead
an amount of `1.00 crore was sanctioned to further developmental activities in other
during 2005-06 for the implementation of parts of the Eastern Ghats area. It was also
Eastern Ghats Development Programme. proposed to utilize a part of the fund for
Against this, an amount of `0.96 crore preparing a detailed project report on this
was spent on various activities by different programme. However no project was taken
departments. up during the Eleventh Five Year Plan period.

Twelfth Five Year Plan proposal

In the Twelfth five-year plan,in the

Eastern Ghats districts, 50,000 hectares
shall be identified as high priority area and
proposed for treatment with planting, fire
control measures. Forest consolidation
activities, soil and water conservation works
and community development works in a span
of five years shall be taken up with a proposed
amount of `40.00 crore.

Fig.15.3.12: Eastern Ghats– Tamil Nadu

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15.3.4. Coastal Area Development

Programme
the State. The coastal area is characterized
Introduction
by the rich natural resources and intense
human activities.
Coastal area may be regarded as
the land immediately behind the shore. The
The coastal area in Tamil Nadu is
coastline of Tamil Nadu extends over 1076
susceptible to cyclones periodically, which
km in length commencing from Pulicat
cause damage to life and property. The
lake to Kanniyakumari with about 80-96
coastal area supports several important
km width with an average elevation of 77m
economic activities such as fisheries, ports,
above the sea level. The geographical area of
industries and tourism. Most ecologically
the 11 coastal districts accounts for nearly
critical and threatened areas in the coastal
one-third of the total geographical area of
areas are coastal wet lands especially lagoons
and estuaries and their mangrove swamps.
The coastal areas provide food and shelter
for waterfowls, fishes, crustaceans, molluscs
including some of the world’s lucrative

Fig.15.3.13: Coastal area - Tamil Nadu

Coastal Area: Problems and Potentials

Problems Potentials
The problems are sea water intrusion The potentials are sandy tracts that could
which affects drinking water in coastal be used for agricultural production by growing
areas, swamps, which occupies large area vegetables and fruit crops by using drip irrigation.
and is unproductive creating environmental The excess rain water and flood water could be
problems, sea erosion due to monsoon wind, used by the farmers to grow fish, which will bring
waves etc. more income to them. Further, there is a great
scope for promotion of tourism in the entire costal
belt.

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 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

fisheries. Mangroves and coral reef system the coast. Globally, 60 percent of the world’s
are important for protecting shorelines and population lives in Low Elevation Coastal
coastal lines against erosion. Thus coastal Zones (less than 10 metres above sea level).
areas play a prominent role in the human life. The Low Elevation Coastal Zones represents
2 percent of the world’s area but 10 percent
Objectives of its population. Coastal zones are the
most urbanized with 80 percent of coastal
• To protect heritage and cultural populations living in cities. 14 of the world’s
sites and fragile ecosystem. Promote 19 largest cities are port cities and Chennai
natural resources by conservation- is one of them. Tamil Nadu has a vast stretch
based development in order to achieve of coast, which is very vulnerable.
continuous improvements in the quality of
Major coastal activities: Major coastal
human life.
activities responsible for coastal/marine
• Foster sustainable human development pollution in Tamil Nadu are discharge and
through an employment based economic disposal of treated (1.8 mld)/untreated
growth strategy. sewage and industrial wastes; discharge on
• Develop integrated area development industrial coolant waters, harbour activities
projects covering capture fisheries, such as dredging, cargo handling, dumping
brackish water, aquaculture and coastal of ship wastes, spilling of cargoes such as
forestry and agro forestry. chemicals and metal ores, oil transport,
fishing activities such as mechanized fishing
• Establish cyclone and disaster mitigation vessels movements, draining of waste oil,
measures and infrastructure. painting of fishing vessels, scrapping of
• Develop monitoring mechanisms for metal lining of fishing vessels, dumping of
ensuring the health of coastal ecosystem wastes and trash fishes, oil exploration and
and conservation of coastal bio-diversity. oil refining activities, recreation and tourism
activities, salt production etc. These can be
Performance during the Tenth and classified and categorized in different ways
Eleventh Five Year Plan according to the nature, source, physical
state etc. The most widely known, according
During the Tenth Five Year Plan period, to nature and source are sewage, heavy
an amount of `1.00 crore was sanctioned metals, pesticides and oil.
during of 2005-06 for the implementation of
• Coastal area management is an important
Integrated Coastal Area development. Against
aspect of land use management given the
this, an amount of `0.93 Crore was utilized.
vast stretch of coastal area in the State.
During the Eleventh Five Year Plan, Coastal area rehabilitation, prevention of
an amount of `5.00 crore was proposed for sea water intrusion, and seawater farming
taking up works mainly by Forest department, are some of the important strategies. The
Agriculture department and other Allied techniques for rehabilitation of coastal
departments. However, no programme was areas consist of planting Casuarina up
sanctioned and the amount was not utilized. to 10 m width along the coast and inner
areas with cashew nut interspersed with
Twelfth Five-Year Plan Proposed coconut. The plantation gives economic
returns after 5 years. The tree species
Programmes
suggested for the regions are: Casuarina
More than half of the world’s equisetifolia, Cocos nucifera, Ficus spp.
population lives within 60 km of the sea, and Calophyllum inophyllum, Anacardium
three quarters of all large cities are located on occidentale, Mangifera indica, Thespesia

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populnea etc. and among grasses – facilities such as cold storages, provision of
Sporobolus spp., Cynodon dactylon, communication (road network), open water
Panicum maximum, Cenchrus spp. aquaculture, fish drying, drying fish nets,
Chloris spp., etc. Shelterbelt plantations berthing of fishing crafts, construction of
and Mangroves protect the shore from whole sale / retail fish markets, etc., in
the sea and the sea from the shore the existing fishing harbors and landing
besides enriching the eco system. Studies centres and also the traditional land area
conducted after Tsunami struck the practices and access to coastal land of
coast, indicated that the villages which Fisheries needs to protected. Freshwater
had the protection of Mangrove forests aquaculture/Brackish water aquaculture
and shelterbelt plantations in Pudukottai, potential areas should be vested with
Nagapattinam and Cuddalore etc., districts Fisheries Department. This will enable
suffered minimum damage to the property the Fisheries Department to use these
and minimum loss of lives compared to resources in a sustainable manner for
the villages which had no protection from the benefit of fishermen community.
bio shields. The Shelterbelts shall be Flood plain area can be used for fish seed
developed in consultation with experts by rearing for a short duration - may be for 3
planting tree and shrub species. Similarly to 4 months, during the non-flood period.
Mangroves shall also be developed in the The flood plain areas in Tamil Nadu
coastal area with different species. have to be identified and earmarked for
this purpose. This activity can empower
• Seawater Intrusion Monitoring System:
alternative employment opportunities to
This project aims to install a “Seawater
the fisherwomen in fish seed rearing.
Intrusion Monitoring System in Tamil
Nadu”. A network of 300 observation • Sea grass and seaweeds: Sea grasses
piezometers along the 902 km coastal line occur in the inter tidal and mid tidal zones
of Tamil Nadu will be installed; monthly of shallow and sheltered areas of sea, gulf,
water quality samples will be taken and bays, backwaters and lagoons. They are
analysed; the extent and rate of sea water submerged monocotyledonous plants and
intrusion will also be monitored on monthly are adapted to the marine environment
basis: the outcome of the monitoring will for the completion of their life cycle under
be used to mitigate the seawater intrusion water. They form a dense meadow on sandy
by taking suitable mitigation measures and coral rubble bottom and sometimes in
like regulation and groundwater schemes the crevices under water. Training shall
in vulnerable areas. This project is vital be imparted to the fisher women on the
for the state as the seawater intrusion is cultivation of Seagrass and seaweeds for
practically irreversible and prevention is various ends – products with an efficient
the only way-out. buy-back system.
• Coastal areas have to be earmarked for • Minor ports should be developed in the
fishery activities such as aquaculture, coastal area where the potential for fishing
infrastructure development, etc. Remote is very less.
Sensing and Geographical Information
• The Coastal Area Development Programme
system (GIS) shall be used for identifying
is very much inter-twined with the Disaster
the potential areas for all fishery related
Mitigation Measures. The suggested safety
activities along the coastal line. Unutilized/
measures in coastal areas are :
Defunct saltpans can be used for
integrated fish farming. The defunct and • Construction of cyclone shelters.
unutilized saltpans have to be earmarked. • Plantation of mangroves and coastal
Coastal lands need to be earmarked forests along the coastline.
for creating shore based infrastructure

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 Twelfth Five Year Plan Tamil Nadu

• Development of a network of local • Development of Bio-Shields - The narrow

knowledge centers (rural/urban) along the strip of land along the coastline of Tamil
coastlines to provide necessary training Nadu is highly vulnerable to natural
and emergency communication during calamities. Their impact can be mitigated
crisis time by carefully designed windbreaks with
appropriate tree vegetation, namely
• Construction of location specific sea
Bioshields. These locations may also have
walls and coral reefs in consultation with
public spaces for awareness generation
experts.
and demonstration of safety measures.
• Development of well-designed break
• Identification of vulnerable structures
waters along the coast to provide necessary
and appropriate retrofitting for tsunami/
cushion against cyclone and tsunami
cyclone resistance of all such buildings as
hazards.
well as appropriate planning, designing,
• Development of tsunami detection, and construction.
forecasting and warning dissemination
Centers. Proposed Outlay for the Twelfth Plan
period is `10.00 crore.

Fig. 15.3.14: Windhardy Casuarina

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