CESS NEWS ISSN 0972-3633 CESS NEWS Newsletter of the Centre for Earth Science Studies Vol. 17 June, 2007 No. 2 Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP) of Lakshadweep Islands

ICZM is a continuous and dynamic process by An approach for the Development of which decisions are made for the sustainable ICZMP use, development and protection of coastal and In order to prepare the ICZM plan, the spatial marine areas and resources. This is carried out by and temporal data on the various physico- harmonious decisions of all sectors and levels environmental features were generated. of government in consistent with the national Integrated planning for the island areas including policies. In other words, ICZM is a unitary landuse, resources and pollution management programme – it has to manage development as is needed to resolve competition and conflict well as conserve natural resources, while that occur frequently among the various end addressing the concerns of all relevant sections users. Certain sectorally oriented applications Acropora, the commonly occurring coral species in the of the society and economy. might co-exist in a multiple use approach while Lakshadweep islands The coastal areas and small islands are always others might have to be severely restricted. exposed to ecological, economic and natural The relative isolation, small size, narrow range ICZM’s role is to sort out the uses and hazard vulnerabilities. The concept of Integrated of natural resources and susceptibility to natural recommend the optimal mix. To carry out the Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP) is to hazards were some of the major developmental ICZM approach, the detailed landuse mapping facilitate the sustainable development and constraints and driving forces for developing on cadastral scale, which was hitherto not management of the limited resources of eleven ICZM in the Lakshadweep islands. available was prepared for all the inhabited inhabited islands of Lakshadweep, including islands. Bangaram. Continued in page 2 Lakshadweep Administrator visits CESS CESS observes World Environment Day Biodiversity conservation and responsible Eco-tourism for Pathiramanal A multideciplinary research This joint project envisaged scientific conservation programme on Pathiramanal, an and restoration of the flora and fauna with peoples’ island in the Vembanad lake, falling participation to make the island a sought-after within the administrative tourist destination. Environmental management boundaries of Muhamma Grama plan and computerized information system have Panchayat, has been completed by been developed for the island. Peripheral CESS with the financial assistance intervention of regeneration and conservation of Shri. B. V. Selvaraj IAS, Administrator, Union Territory of Lakshadweep of the Kerala State Council for mangroves and other plant species is another (centre) having discussion with Dr. M. Baba, Director, CESS during his visit Science Technology and to the Centre. Dr. M. S. Syed Ismail Koya, Director, S&T Department, UT Continued in page 4 Environment (KSCSTE). Lakshadweep is also seen (left) (Report on page 4) Subsequently, the Centre has In this issue...... prepared an action plan with the cooperation * ICZMP for Lakshadweep Islands...... of the Grama Panchayat, to protect the * CESS Research Council reconstituted biodiversity and to promote responsible eco- tourism in Pathiramanal. This tiny island with * Lakshadeep administrator visits CESS an area of just 24 ha, is a haven for hundreds * Pathiramanal island development.... of rare migratory birds. The island is home for * Rain water harvesting : a success story 88 species of birds, 160 species of plants, 23 * CESS and the ICARB campaign...... varieties of spiders and 34 types of butterflies * Earth Day 2007 celebrated...... besides supporting 58 types of fishes in the * State of environment of panchayats..... surrounding water. * Plus all regular features Dr. Thomas Isaac, Kerala Finanace Minister inaugurates the Pathiramanal seminar at Muhamma on June 5, 2007 Committed to Our Earth Our Future 1 ICZM..Lakshadweep...... continued fishery resource exploitation and catch From the Director’s Desk from page 1 enhancement, tourism, infrastructure The Environment Day was Major settlements/built-up areas, sand development, environmental awareness, observed all over the world on dunes and agricultural areas are some of the implementation of CRZ rules, environmental June 5th. This year’s focal theme landuse categories demarcated on the map. quality enhancement and alternate employment was ‘planet earth’. CESS with its In addition to this, the elevation mapping generation were some of the major goal of ‘protecting our earth , our of the island with reference to Mean Sea Level management issues considered while developing future’ has been in the forefront, (MSL) was also carried out to understand the the ICZM Plan in the islands propagating the message of micro-geomorphological features of the Stakeholders’ participation in ICZM protecting the planet earth. CESS has gone one island. Majority of the islands have an step further by implicating some important For any plan to be successful the interaction elevation of 3 to 4 m above MSL. Patches of with the stakeholders is a must. There are programmes as stated in this issue of CESS high sand dunes of > 5 m were observed at News. apprehensions among the island communities Kavaratti, Amini, Androth, Agatti and Based on the request from the Muhamma about the different issues, resource availability Panchayat in the Alappuzha district of Kerala Minicoy islands. In many islands, destruction and developmental programmes undertaken and timely funding from KSCSTE, a one year of sand dunes are noticed due to by the Lakshadweep Administration. In this action research programme was taken up for anthropogenic activities. In the marine areas context, the ICZM Plan was discussed at responsible ecotourism development, linking of the island, fishing and boating facilities, different levels with various stakeholders’ conservation with economic opportunities ports, jetties, boat anchorages, water sports throughout the process of its development. through showcasing of local environmental facilities, canning factories, oil terminals, waste The different management options for resources in the Pathiramanal island in the outfalls and transportation systems are some implementation were evolved through Vembanad lake. After detailed investigations an of the multiple uses. All these were mapped. ecotourism plan was developed with extensive interaction with Island Council and prominent In the island, tourism is another activity, that members of the local community. stakeholder interaction. Now, the Tourism has both resource and landuse components, Department has developed a project based on The ICZM Plan preparation was a challenging leading to occasional conflicts. With closer the recommendations of CESS. This task for CESS considering the quantum of work programme has already received financial approval dependance on marine resources, tourism can and logistic constraints for data collection and from the Government of India. There is already cause depletion of these resources. All these stakeholder interaction in the island. For the a budgetary allocation from the Government of compelling arguments for multiple use strategies first time, ICZMP has been prepared for all the Kerala for implementing this project. for coastal resources allocation have been collated inhabited islands including Bangaram by taking Similarly an Integrated Coastal Zone and plans were prepared on a cadastral database. into account the resources and the issues. The Management Plan was prepared for All these data sets were integrated with the Lakshadweep Administration is implementing Lakshadweep islands on behalf of the Ministry development plan of the islands and an ICZMP a project for safe sewage disposal. A desalination of Environment, Government of India. The was prepared. In this ICZMP, the conservation, plan prepared based on extensive surveys, data plant as recommended in the ICZMP has been preservation and development zones were also installed at Kavaratti island. The tourism & analysis and stakeholder interactions has now identified and action plans recommended. Coastal been approved by the National Coastal Zone coastal protection aspects are also being erosion and shore protection, fresh water Management Authority. Different action plans implemented in the islands. for the betterment of the environment, such as management, conservation of coral reefs/ -Dr. T.N.Prakash implementation of sewage treatment system and mangroves, sewage and solid waste treatment, coastal protection plans have already been taken up by the island administration. A desalination plant has been commissioned to conserve the limited groundwater resources. Another programme initiated on behalf of the Local Self Government Department is the training programme for the preparation of state of environment reports for the local bodies. Training of the trainers for this programme was initiated in the Engandiyoor Panchayat in the Thrissur District. CESS always strives to promote science-society interaction and responds positively to any request from the society and the Government for the betterment of the environment. CESS also tries to interact with sister organizations and related departments and engage consultants wherever necessary to examine the issue at hand holistically. These action research projects are some of successful interventions of CESS for improving the environment and for sustainable development. ICZMP map of Kavaratti Island Dr.M.Baba

2 Committed to Our Earth Our Future RAIN WATER HARVESTING: SUCCESS STORY OF PUBLICATIONS A CESS INITIATIVE C. P. Rajendran, Kusala Rajendran, R. Anu, Anil A 35,000 cubic metre capacity artificial rain Earnest, Terry Machado, P. M. Mohan, and Jeffrey water reservoir was created in the premises Freymueller (2007): Crustal Deformation and of the Film and Video Park under the Seismic History associated with the 2004 Indian Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Develop- Ocean Earthquake: A Perspective from the ment Corporation (KINFRA) under the Andaman–Nicobar Islands. Bulletin of the guidance of CESS. It was a small abandoned Seismological Society of America, Vol. 97, No. pond widened and deepened to a one acre 1A, pp. S174–S191. storage space for collecting rain water from N. Babu, D. S. Suresh Babu and P. N. Mohan the roof top and courtyards of all the Das (2007): Impact of tsunami on texture and buldings in the Park. mineralogy of a major placer deposit in southwest coast of India. Environmental Geology, The optimal use of the ground water Rain water falling over an area of about 52, 71-80. available in this coastal hamlet of 60 acres forms the catchment of this arti- D. S. Suresh Babu, D. Padmalal and P. R. Arun Menamkulam, near the Kazhakuttam ficial water body. An earthern bund and (2007): Watershed analysis of two forest junction and the Technopark is also taken flood overflow spillways were also catchments from Western Ghats, south India care of by the groundwater experts. All constrcuted to drain out excess water over and its significance for mitigation of reservoir the establishments in Film and Video Park the reservoir capacity. A number of infil- siltation. Jour Geol. Soc. India, Vol.69, No. .5, are depending on this water resource tration wells were also dug to collect sub- 1077-1087 throughout the year for their require- surface water. T. S. Shahul Hameed, N. P. Kurian, K. V. ments. Thomas, K. Rajith and T. N. Prakash (2007): Wave and current regime of the south west coast CESS RESEARCH COUNCIL of India, Jour. of Coastal Research, 23(5), 1167- RECONSTITUTED 1174. The Research Council of CESS was recon- C. K. Sasidharan (2007): Introducing Social stituted with Dr. Shailesh R Nayak , Direc- water management concept in Water tor, Indian National Centre for Ocean In- Management of Rural Area: Example from formation Services (INCOIS), Ministry of Tirurangadi Block, Kerala, in ‘Groundwater Earth Sciences, Hyderabad as Chairman. 2007’, Vol.II, pp 15-22 Other members are Dr. Prithvish Nag, Di- Students get a feel of the Micro rain radar and Disdrometer PROJECTS COMPLETED rector, National Atlas & Thematic Mapping installed in the Atmospheric Sciences Division for rain- Organization, Prof. V. Sundar, Head, De- fall and climate related studies Feasibility of Quarrying Operations at Kottukunnu, Nellanadu (Project Report : Dr. partment of Ocean Engineering, I I T, Ma- and teachers from different schools in and Ajayakumar Varma) dras, Dr. V.S. Hegde, Dy. Director, ISRO around the Thiruvananthapuram city were Environmental Impacts of Mining and Pro- Headquarters, Dr.P.V.Joseph, Visiting Pro- invited. Fifteen laboratories of the Centre cessing of China clay: A Case Study from fessor, Cochin University of Science and were opened to the public. Two video films Velichikkala, Kollam District Kerala (Project Technology and Dr. V. Prasannakumar, on natural hazards produced by CESS were Report : Dr. D. Padmalal) Head, Department of Geology, University screened. of Kerala. Dr.M.Baba, Director, CESS is the A quiz competition for students was EXHIBITION Member Convenor. The first meeting of organised in the afternoon. A talk on the the reconstituted Council was held during conservation efforts of the Pamba, the holy CESS participated in the exhibition or- 4-7 June, 2007 river of Kerala, was made by Sri. N. K. ganized by the Revenue Department in Sukumaran Nair, General Secretary, Pamba connection with the inauguration of State Samrakshana Samiti, after the competition. Disaster Management Authority from 9- Dr.E.P.Yesodharan, Executive Vice 10 May, 2007 at Central Stadium, EARTH DAY 2007 FOCUSSED ON President, Kerala State Council for Science, Thiruvananthapuram. CLIMATE CHANGE Technology and Environment gave the NOMINATIONS The focal theme of Earth Day 2007 was Earth Day message to the students, guests ‘Global warming and climate change’. The and staff of CESS and gave away the prizes Dr. M. Baba and N. P. Kurian were nomi- Global Warming due to Green House Effect to the winners of Quiz competition. The nated as members of the Tsunami Core has altered the global atmospheric processes meeting was chaired by Dr. M. Baba, Group of the National Disaster Manage- and patterns. The world today is facing the Director, CESS and Dr. D. S. Suresh Babu, ment Authority. massive environmental challenge to Scientist offered the vote of thanks. maintain a habitable Earth. CESS, as it Dr. R. Ajaykumar Varma was nominated had done in the past, observed Earth Day as member of the Working Group for on April 23, 2007. Two hundred children drafting on Environmental Policy for the State. Committed to Our Earth Our Future 3 Lakshadweep STATE OF ENVIRONMENT OF PANCHAYATS: CESS JOINS Administrator visits CESS HANDS WITH PEOPLE Shri. B. V. Selvaraj IAS, Administrator, Union Developmental programmes aimed at rapid Territory of Lakshadweep visited CESS to economic growth and improvement in the have discussions with the scientists on the standard of living of the people may affect the ongoing projects related to the islands and environment of a locality. Impact on the for further strengthening of the UTs Dr. M. Baba, Director CESS, inaugurates the environment could be big or small and it could workshop at Engandiyur, Thrissur Dt. relationship with the Centre. The be negative or positive. In most cases, in our administrator expressed appreciation for the CESS PARTICIPATED IN THE country, such impacts are often ignored or not ICZM Plan prepared for the eleven inhabited ICARB CAMPAIGN properly taken care of before launching a islands of the Territory. Shri. Selvaraj discussed CESS participated in the Integrated Cam- developmental programme. The lack of in detail the management action needed for paign for Aerosol Radiation Budget and environmental considerations during safe and scientific disposal of the sewage for Trace Gases (ICARB) coordinated by the implementation of developmental projects is the Kavaratti island under the UNDP Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre to measure one of the major reasons for the worsening the carbon monoxide in the marine atmo- sponsored pilot project. He pointed out that state of the environment. Uncontrolled and sphere over Bay of Bengal and the Arabian sewage disposal is a major problem faced by unscientific sand mining and quarrying activities, Sea. CESS also monitored surface ozone the island because of their miniscule size and reclamation of wetlands and other water fragile ecology. He had detailed parleys wiith during this campaign that was conducted under the ISRO-Geosphere Biosphere bodies, increased water pollution, increase in the scientists on the innovative protection solid waste, damages to the ecology and bio- mechanisms required for the islands beaches. programme involving twenty seven re- search institutions in the country, like the diversity, rapid spreading of contagious Administrator appreciated the involvement diseases, etc. are some of the major threats of CESS in the National Tsunami Warning PRL Ahmedabad, IITM Pune, IIT Kanpur and IMD. every region of our State currently face. A large System and also requested to give priority in number of cases are pending in different SEMINAR/CONFERENCE/ undertaking the tsunami modeling courts that have stalled many projects and WORKSHOP programme for Lakshadweep islands. programmes aimed at economic development Dr. R. Ajaykumar Varma attended Kerala Envi- Pathiramanal...... continued from page 1 ronmental Congress and presented a paper on on environmental grounds. programme got underway as part of the project. ‘State of Pollution of the Wetlands of Kerala – A CESS has initiated a programme with the Establishing a gateway at Kaipuram boat jetty, a Review’ on May 8, 2007 organized by Centre for people and the NGOs in the state for natural history museum, an aquarium, a butterfly Environment Development, Trivandrum. environmental evaluation and impact park, bird watching tower, a wilderness walk, a Dr. R. Ajaykumar Varma attended a two day work- assessment of developmental programmes at floating walkway around the island and rejuvenating shop on ‘Urban Sanitation Policy’ at Hyderabad, during 12-13 June 2007, organized by the Minis- the local level. Such an exercise will result in the freshwater pond are some of the other schemes try of Urban Development, Government of In- scrutiny of the projects and lead to viable implemented soon as per recommendations given dia and sponsored by the Water and Sanitation suggestions and guidelines. Preparation of the by CESS. The Agricultural University, the Kerala Programme of the World Bank. State of Environment of Panchayats , thus, Forest Research Institute and the FIRMA, an Sri. C. K. SasidharanEARTH presented DAY 2007 a paper on ‘Intro- will lead to proper implementation of NGO, will be developing different programmes to ducing social water management concept in water achieve the project goals. The Tourism Department management of rural area: example from programmes that lead to sustainable growth. executes the project with the Muhamma Grama Tirurangadi Block, Kerala’ in the National Semi- This method, besides solving many problems Panchayat undertaking the overall management. nar on ‘Ground Water 2007 – Agricultural Devel- locally, will lead to global environmental opment and Rural Drinking Water’ organized by CESS observed this year’s World Environment protection and better understanding of our Day (June 5, 2007) by organizing a seminar at the All India Central Ground Water Board Offic- ers Association at Bhopal during 4 – 5 April 2007 own environment by the common man. Muhamma and presenting the action plan for The State level inauguration of the Pathiramanal. Dr. T. M. Thomas Issac, Finance ESSAY COMPETITION training of trainers programme coincided with Minister, Government of Kerala has inaugurated Sri.K.R.Satheesan, Clerical Assistant of the the seminar. The government, according to the Centre has won second prize in the all Kerala a workshop on the preparation of ‘State of minister, has already made budgetary allocation of essay competition organised to commemorate Environment Panchayat report, for peoples Rs. 50 lakhs to start the implementation of the the 50th anniversary of the first democrati- representatives, NGOs, officials etc., in plans. The Minister also informed that the cally elected government in Kerala conducted Engandiyur Panchayat in Thrissur district Government of India has agreed to support this at the University College, Trivandrum. during 16-17 June,2007. Dr. Ajaykumar unique initiative with Rs. 5 crores. The seminar was Varma and Dr. C. N. Mohanan, Scientists of attended by 300 people composed of stakeholders, RETIREMENTS CESS coordinated the programme, with local people, panchayat functionaries, NGO activists, Smt. Sarojini Amma, Office Assistant, Sri. K. K. assistance from the Local Administration representatives of the research institutions and the Varghese, Technical Officer, Smt. C. Thulasi and Department, Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad. departments of tourism and fisheries. Dr.Srikumar Smt. Lyla Beevi, Typists of CESS retired from Dr. M. Baba, Director, CESS inaugurated the Chattopadhaya, Scientist, CESS coordinated the the services of the Centre during April-June pe- programme. project. riod. Edited by the Publication Committee & Published by the Director, Centre for Earth Science Studies, P.B. No. 7250, Thiruvananthapuram 695 031, India. Phone: 0471-2511500 Fax: 0471-2442280, E-mail: [email protected], Website: http://www.cessind.org Printed at SB Press, Thiruvananthapuram 4 Committed to Our Earth Our Future