RAMANATHAPURAM DISTRICT

1 DISTRICT

1. Introduction district is simple and flat. and are flowing in the district and i) Geographical location of the district they will be dry during the summer season. Ramanathapuram is one of the The total geographical area of the district is coastal districts bounded on the north by 4,175 sq.km

Sivagangai and Pudukottai districts, on the ii) Administrative profile east and south by the Bay of Bengal, and on the west by and comprises 7 districts. The district headquarters is located taluks, 11 blocks and 2362 villages. With at Ramanathapuram. The district lies repaid to the hierarchy of administrative between 9 o 05 and 9 o 5’ North Latitude and arrangement, there are 2 municipalities, 7 78 o 1’ and 79 o 27’ East Longitude. The town panchayats and 429 village panchayats general geographical information of the in the district. Revenue divisions and taluk Name of Taluks comprised Total no. Total no. of Total no. of the division in the division of firkas revenue villages hamelet villages Ramanathapuram 7 67 529 Ramanathapuram 7 98 635 1 2 31 6 93 367 6 46 207 Paramakudi 5 49 352 6 45 241 Total 38 400 2362

2 Blocks and Panchayats Mineral 2005-2006 Sl. No. of No. of Block name production No. panchayats hamlets Crude oil 4,548.358 MT. 1 Tiruvadanai 47 310 2 R.S.Mangalam 35 325 Natural gas 226742372 cum 3 Paramakkudi 39 163 Gravel 25,974 cum 4 Bogalur 26 91 5 Nainarkoil 37 113 Earth 14,294 cum

6 Kamudi 53 346 ii) Agriculture and horticulture 7 Mudukulathur 46 169 8 Kadaladi 60 285 Ramanathapuram district is deficient 9 Ramanathapuram 25 120 in rainfall. There are no major rivers 10 Tiruppullani 33 240 providing perennial water supply for 11 28 200 cultivation. Though a dry district, agriculture is extensively undertaken by irrigating the Total 429 2362 land from tanks and wells. The rainfall during the Southwest monsoon is rather iii) Meteorological information poor. The rain during Northeast monsoon season is the major one but is not steady. The climate of this district in the Whatever rainfall occurs, it is utilised to the inland plains is generally hot and dry with a best advantage through a large number of low degree of humidity except within a tanks and wells in the district. Paddy is the radius of about 20 km from the coast, where most important food crop of the district. the temperature is tolerable and cool on account of the sea breeze. The district has a Paddy hot tropical climate with temperature ranging In Ramanathapuram district, paddy is from 22.3 o C (min) to 37.8 o C (max) and the main the food crop cultivated in more than relative humidity is high at 79% on an 63% of the net area sown. It is cultivated average and it ranges between 80 and 90% in both as irrigated and rainfed. Rainfed coastal areas. Though the average rainfall is sowing generally commences from August 827 mm per annum most of the rain fall and will extend upto October. In early sown occurs within a span of 45 days. March to area, farmers used to raise medium and long May is the summer season, June to duration varieties of paddy. There is no September is south-west monsoon and marked area for late sowing, but when the October to December is north east monsoon. monsoon rains are delayed, the sowing will Most of the precipitation occurs during be also taken up late. In the late sown areas North east monsoon. medium and short duration paddy varieties

are sown. Farmers are having 10 local 2. Resources availability paddy varieties in addition to high yielding

varieties with the duration ranging from 105- i) Land resources (soil types) 130 days and they will choose varieties

according to the need. Red gram is sown as Most of the soil type is clay (45%) a mixed crop with rainfed areas and also followed by coastal alluvial soil (17%) and grown in garden lands to a limited extent. In sandy loam (15%). There is no scope for tankfed ayacut area irrigated paddy is sown large scale mining in the district. generally during August to November.

3 Sometimes sowing will be further extended upto December according to the filling of Minor millets rainwater in the tanks and also release of water from Vaigai dam to the Vaigai fed Minor millets are generally sown system tanks. between July and November and the area is spread over whole of the district. Cholam Cotton Rainfed cholam sowing is taken up in dry lands between July and September. Rainfed cotton sowing is taken up Beyond September there would not be any during September-October. The sowing will sowing of cholam crop and cumbu crop will be extended sometimes upto December be sown as alternate crop in these areas. A depending upon rainfall. Rice fallow cotton lablab pulse is also sown as mixed crop. is generally sown in Paramakudi and Cumbu Kamuthi taluks during January-February months. Rainfed Cumbu sowing is generally taken up between September to Pulses November. Only in Red gram is sown during June to the sowing will be extended upto August. Black gram, green gram and December. Irrigated cumbu is taken up from cowpea are sown as rainfed crop in February, March to June, July. September, October months. Red gram is Ragi sown as mixed crop with millets and groundnut. Black gram and green gram are Rainfed ragi sowing is taken up sown as pure crop as well as mixed crop in during September and October. Irrigated cotton and sugarcane. The cowpea is sown as ragi is mainly sown in September to October pure crop and also in some places as mixed in East Ramanathapuram where the crop is crop with millets. sown in tankfed ayacut.

Normal area productivity and production of major crops Sl. Productivity per ha Production in Crop Aarea in ha No. in kgs. metric tones 1 Paddy 1,28,000 2,552 3,27,859 2 Cholam 2,117 862 1,825 3 Cumbu 889 1,123 998 4 Ragi 1,448 1,331 1,927 5 Minor Millets 404 448 181 7 Pulses 3,362 491 1,651 8 Cotton 2,733 2.40(Bales) 6,559 9 Groundnut 6,112 88.5 5,409 10 Sunflower 145 351 51 11 Gingelly 1,636 404 661 12 Chillies 16,292 808 13,164 13 Coriander 1,748 254 443 14 Coconut 7,942 14,000 1,112 lakh nuts 15 Sugarcane 231 124 28,644

4 Groundnut and gingely richest coastal regions in all of mainland of . Some of the islands are veritable Groundnut and gingely are cultivated ‘biologist’s paradise’ It holds within high mostly in rainfed condition, during the genetic diversity. It is equally rich in algae, months of December-January and April – seagrasses, coral reefs, pearl banks, sacred May. chank bed, fin & shell fish resources, Chillies mangroves, endemic and endangered species. The seagrass beds form an important Chillies are cultivated in both rainfed habitat for the highly endangered sea and irrigated condition. Chillies are directly mammal, the Dugong dugon commonly sown in the month of September. The called as sea cow. transplanted chillies will be taken in the fortnight of November.

iii) Forest resources

Forest Area

There are 18 forest areas in Ramanathapuram district constituting a total area of 5,356.85 ha 13 forest areas fall under the Reserve land category with 4,139.39 ha (41.39 sq.km) and category of reserve forest areas is 702.46 ha. Unclassified forest is Coral reefs of available in 515 ha in the district. The district total area of forest under green cover Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve classification is 22,149 ha Dense and sparse (GOMBR) was declared in 1989 as the first forest spread over an area of 742 ha and 538 Marine Biosphere Reserve in the country. It ha respectively. There is no grass land and encompasses the entire extreme south eastern degraded forest area covering this region. Indian part of sea extending between The forest area has not shown much Rameswaram and Kanyakumari to an extent fluctuation over the years. The Forest of 10,500 sq.km including the Gulf of Plantations have been restricted to the Mannar Marine National Park of 560 sq.km existing forest areas in Ramanathapuram (the core zone of biosphere reserve), which district. About 2,562.65 ha of manmade includes 21 uninhabited islands and forest area is available in the district. Fuel surrounding shallow coastal waters. wood is the only manmade forest plantation Considering the necessity for participatory in the district. The villages located in the co- management in the lines of Eco- taluks of Thiruvadanai, Muthukulathur and development, Government of India with Rameswaram abut forest areas in the district. Government of introduced a Out of these taluks, Thiruvadanai has more GEF-UNDP funded project on number of villages abutting the forest area. “Conservation and sustainable use of Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve’s coastal Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere biodiversity” to address the threat issues of Reserve Gulf of Mannar. Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve Trust, a special body of the Designated as a Biosphere Reserve, was also formed the Gulf of Mannar is one of the biologically in 2002.

5 The Trust is implementing various reserves of ilmenite and garnet are 4,165 and activities to bring in participatory Eco- 1,219 tonnes respectively. management in the lines of Eco- Graphite development. It encourages basic inventory and management oriented research activities. Graphite bearing zones have been It facilitates awareness and capacity building met between 3 m and 32 m at several among various stakeholders of the area. It horizons in the boreholes. The percentage of promotes alternative livelihood and vocation graphite in the rock varies from 18% to diversification through skill up-gradation and 23%. The graphite bearing zone has been employment. The multi dimensional proved along the strike direction for a approach of the Trust in simultaneously distance of 2000 m. The total preliminary addressing the variety of threat issues of estimated reserves are of the order of Gulf of Mannar has taken nearly five years 1,80,000 tonnes of graphite bearing rock. to percolate down and reach up to the bottom of the fishery system in the area by 2008. Gypsym

iv) Mineral resources The total reserves of this area are estimated to be of 33,500 tonnes of which The eastern portion of the district about 10,000 tonnes have already been consists of rocks formed in beds of mined. shallow lakes and coastal backwaters where the salt and mud brought by the rivers are Limeshell deposited. The sedimentary rocks extend into the whole of Tiruvadanai, Sub-recent shell limestone occurs at Ramanathapuram and Mudukulattur taluks. about 0.8 km north of Ramanathapuram. These sediments, mostly of clay and The total reserves are of the order of 81,300 sandstone, have been deposited for several tonnes. million years from what is known in types of Limestone clays geological parlance as Gondwana age, to the present day. They contain limestones. Three bands of good quality Limestone of different grades, clays, crystalline limestone occur in the vicinity of euchres, gypsum, graphite and limonite (1) Pandalkudi, (2) Palavanattam and (3) sands are the minerals of economic value Chinnayyapuram. found in the district. v) Water resources Clay: The district has 2 rivers viz Vaigai China clay with an average thickness and Gundar, but they are not perennial. of 0.91 mm. occurs over an area of 2.59 Vaigai river starts in Gandamanaickanur sq.km in area. The total hills of traverse through estimated reserve area of the order of 4.06 Paramakkudi and Ramanathapuram taluks in million tonnes upto a depth of 3.05 mm. a South-Easterly direction feeding a large

Garnet and ilemenite sands number of tanks. It joins the sea near Attangarai. The Gundar river from the The beach sands along the coast of Eastern slopes of the Varushanadu and Ramanathapuram district carry small Andipatty ranges above Watrap flows quantities of garnet and ilmenite ranging in through and empties into the length from a few meters to 8 km and in Gulf of Mannar. Vaigai river basin, Pambar thickness from 0.6 to 2.5 cm. The total & Kottakaraiyar and Gundar,are the three

6 catchment areas of river basin in the district. In Ramanathapuram district 7 fish The existence of over 5,000 number of tanks processing factories are functioning in Tondi in the district makes it known as the Lake and Mandapam. Prawn, squids, cuttle fish, District of the State. crabs and fish are processed and exported to foreign countries. Many small vi) Fisheries production entrepreneurs are involved in fish drying and

The Ramanathapuram district has dried fish is used in poultry and cattle feed 271 km of coast line of which 130 km is in manufacturing.

Palk bay and 140 km in Gulf of Mannar. vii) Heritage resources Ramanathapuram coast is well known for pearl fishing. The Pandya kings who ruled Rameswaram over this district exploited the pearl fisheries of the east coast. The Cholas who succeeded The holy abode of the hindu god, Pandyas not only patronized pearl fishing but is a virtual paradise for the devout. also developed it with great care in the Palk No hindu’s journey is complete without a bay and Gulf of Mannar. Marco Polo (1260- pilgrimage to both Varanasi and 1300) who traveled here during this period Rameswaram for the culmination of his says in his account that the pearl fishing was quest for salvation and is hallowed by the monopolised by Pandyas. The large quantity epic ‘Ramayana’. Folklore mentions about of pearls collected from the pearl beds were god Ram’s presence in this land, after his 14 year exile. exported to Mediterranean countries.

The Regional center of the Central Local legend has it that Rama was Marine Fisheries Research Institute helped back into Rameswaram and Mandapam which was established in 1947 into India by his brother Lakshman and has developed proven technology for the Hanuman along with his band of thousands culture of pearls, edible oyster, clam mussel of monkeys, after finally emerging victorious and seaweed. Commercial pearl farming has against the demon – . They helped come up near Kurusadai island and the build a bridge with rocks from the sea and Tamil Nadu Fisheries Development shores to cross the ‘Sethu canal’ and Corporation Limited maintains it. reach India. Lord Rama is also believed to have sanctified this place by worshipping Ramanathapuram district has distinct and glorifying Lord and hence marks chank fishery. Jadhi Chanks are abundant in the confluence of and Vaishnavism the and Gulf of Mannar. More and is thus revered by both Shaivites and than 2000 fishermen are engaged in active Vaishnavites alike and thus there is a strong chank diving and sacred chank collected by belief that bathing in the 22 ‘Theerthams’ or divers are marketed in West Bengal for natural springs is a step forward in making ornaments. This contributes enlightenment. Therefore, Rameswaram has significantly to the development of fisheries. rightly been declared as one of the National Pilgrim Centres in the country.

About 160 prawn farms are operating Further down, the geographical in the district which follows intensive type of terrain and landscape naturally tapers slowly prawn culture. Prawns harvested from these but sharply toward the end, converging and farms are exported to Japan, USA and gently sinking into the sea at – European countries, which earn sizable the country’s tip in this part of the foreign exchange for the country. peninsular. This natural phenomenon has a

7 lot of significance and most people revere Villoondi Theertham the thought and hope to attain salvation as a Villoondi literally translated stands culmination of their prayer, sacrifice and for ‘buried bow’. It is quite well known that penance in this holy place. With this Lord Rama always carried a bow. According backdrop, it is proposed to construct a yoga- to legend, at this sacred spot, located around cum-meditation centre at Rameswaram 7 km from the main temple on the way to which any tourist can use to attain solace and , is this puranic place, significant discover oneself through the Vedic science because it was at this place where Lord Ram of yoga and meditation. This could also is said to have quenched the thirst of Sita by pave the way for the establishment of dipping the bow into the sea water. Even to a Vedic College where all students could this day, tourists throng this place to see be imparted with knowledge and inputs on where potable water is available within the Hindu religion and mythology, the , vicinity of sea water. Upanishads and the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Badrakali Amman Temple

Ramanathaswamy Temple A kilometer away from the main sanctum sanctorum is the Badrakali The legend says that Hunuman was Amman Temple with Devi as its sent by Lord Rama to bring a to chief deity. It is very popular among Devi worship at an appointed auspicious hour. As Durga’s worshippers hailing mainly from Hunuman arrival was delayed, Sita moulded West Bengal. This temple is en-route to the a lingam for Rama’s timely worship. It is Gandhamathana Parvatham. the main deity being worshiped as Gandhamathana Parvatham Ramanathaswamy. Disappointed Hunuman was later consoled by Rama by installing the A hillock situated 3 km to the north Lingam which was brought by him a little of the temple is the highest point in the north of Ramanatha, and decreed that the island. There is a two storeyed mandapam, Hunuman’s lingam should have precedence where Rama's feet. (padam) is found as an over the Ramanatha in all honours. imprint on a chakra. Pilgrims throng in thousands to worship Gandhamathana Theertham Parvatham.Sukreevar temple and Theertham The calm shallow water-spread of the are situated on the way to Gandhamadana sea, present hardly 100 meters in front of Parvatham. the temple gopuram is considered as Dhanushkodi sacred. A dip in the Agnitheertham is considered to remove the sins of the The Southernmost tip of the island is pilgrims. The other theerthams (holy water called Dhanushkodi. It was completely tanks) in and around the temple are also washed away by a cyclone in 1964. But important for pilgrims. the Kothandaramasamy Temple here remains

Jadayu Theertham intact. It is 18 km away from Rameswaram and can be reached by road. A popular Jadayu, king of the birds, who fought belief is that, it is where Vibishana a brother in vain with Ravana, the demon to save Sita, of Ravana surrendered before Rama. is said to have fallen down here as his wings Dhanush-kodi has a fine beach, where sea were severed. Sand dunes surround the surfing is possible. temple and the pond. The water in the pond is as sweet as that of a tender coconut.

8 'Arudhra' festival in December attracts a large number of devotees.

Erwadi

The tomb of Sultan Ibrahim Syed Aulia, who came from Arabia via Cannanore is about 800 years old. Pilgrims from far off countries like Sri , Malaysia and Singapore are visiting this tomb. Santhanakoodu Festival is celebrated in February-March and it attracts thousands of pilgrims.

Dhanushkodi Satchi Hanuman temple Kurusadai Island This is where Hanuman is said to This Island lies to the west of have delivered the good news of Sita's well the between the mainland being to Rama with an evidence and the island. It is a Marine Biosphere, a choodamanai (Jewel) of Sita. paradise for the marine biologists and nature lovers. Marine wealth abounds here Oriyur attracting many a scholars and researchers to this Island. It is about 4 km from Oriyur is one of the most revered Mandapam. One should approach fisheries pilgrim centers for Christians the world over department for permission to visit this as it is home to the martyrdom of St. John island. Off Kurusadai Island one could see De Britto, a Portugese Jesuit better known as plenty of coral-reef, fish. Dolphins and sea- ‘Arulanandar’. It was in this place that the cows ( Dugong dugon ) are also often saint was beheaded in 1693 and the sand witnessed. dune is said to have turned red, believed to be stained by the blood of the saint. Here, Ramanathapuram one can see a magnificent shrine with its

An ancient town, and is now the head Portugese façade that contains a captivating quarters of the district. It was from here the statue of Arulanandar offering his neck in (Chieftains) ruled this humble submission to the executioner. territory. Ramalingavilasam Palace with good painting and tomb of Thayumana Annai Indira Gandhi Bridge

Swamigal, are the places worth visiting. A The 2.2 km long length bridge museum is functioning here. connecting the Rameswaram island and the mainland is the longest bridge in India constructed over a bay. It is also called as

It is situated at a distance of 72 km Pamban Bridge. Similarly the railway from Rameswaram is Uthirakosamangai bridge connecting the island is noted for its There is an ancient Siva temple, where the unique opening mechanism to pass the ships presiding deity is carved in Emerald. Annual through the sea.

9 Pamban bridge viii) Biodiversity multifarious anthropogenic activities in recent years, the Government and other The diverse nature of ecosystems in national and international organizations the Gulf of Mannar entire stretch from evinced great interest to protect and conserve Ramanathapuram through Tuticorin and this ecosystem. Towards this, the Global to Kanyakumari supports a wide Environment Facility (GEF) through United variety of significant species including 117 Nations Development Programme (UNDP) species of corals, 13 species of seagrasses, has facilitated the project on “Conservation 641 species of crustaceans, 731 species of and Sustainable Use of Gulf of Mannar molluscs, 441 species of finfishes and 147 Biosphere Reserve’s Coastal biodiversity” species of seaweeds apart from the which is being carried out by the Gulf of seasonally migrating marine mammals like Mannar Marine Biosphere Reserve Trust whales, dolphins, porpoises and turtles. A (GOMBRT). Coral reefs in the Palk Bay unique endemic species of Balanoglossus – region are distributed on the Northern side Ptychodera fluva , a living fossil that links from Rameswaram island to Vedhaalai, invertebrates and vertebrates, has been covering a distance of about 25km In the recorded only at Kurusadai. The coral reef Palk Bay, corals were found to be disturbed resources of the Gulf of Mannar are unique. by human impacts through oil pollution, They grow surrounding all the 21 islands. waste discharge from processing units and They offer shelter to a variety of organisms discharge of domestic household wastes and protect the mainland from storms, from the nearby Mandapam town. currents and shore erosion. The Gulf of Mannar harbours In view of the sensitive nature of the mangroves of considerable diversity which Gulf of Mannar Marine Biosphere support a variety of biological organisms. It Ecosystem and the threats faced by it due to is believed that the region was once covered

10 with thick mangrove forests. There are industries. The Government on with its indications that there was over-exploitation part also has set up few establishments in the that led to vanishing of mangroves species. public / co-operative sectors for providing As a result, species such as Bruguiera employment to local population. The chief gymnorrizha and Acanthus ilicifolius could industries found in the district are not be collected earlier in Rameswaram in handloom weaving of textiles, spinning and recent years, and similar are the cases with weaving of textiles in factories, salt and Pemphis acidula in Pamban and Acanthus chemical industries, cement, matches, ilicifolius on Krusadai Island. crackers and fireworks and printing and allied industries. 3. Impacts i) Urbanization Handloom weaving of cotton textiles is an ancient occupation followed in this Surface water and ground water are district. The important handloom centres are the major sources for protected water supply situated in Paramakkudi taluk. Silk weaving, system in municipalities and town using China Silk as raw material, is practised panchayats respectively. The estimated in Ramanathapuram and Paramakkudi. sewage generation is 56 lakh litres among Textile mills are functioning in the district, municipalities and 72.80 lakh litres among which produce a variety of yarns. Mat town panchayats. Nature of disposal through weaving is followed in the vicinity of river is 56 lakh litres in municipalities and Ilaiyankudi. Boxes and other articles from 25.9 lakh litres in town panchayats, with the palmyrah leaves are being manufactured in a direct disposal to sea is 46.90 lakh litres. The number of places in Ramanathapuram taluk. town panchayats have complete open Coconut coir fibre making is followed in the drainage system and the municipalities have district, the important centre being partial underground pipe system. The solid There has been no discharge waste generation from the municipalities and of industrial effluents in river basin/other town panchayats are 15 tonnes and 21.75 water bodies in Ramanathapuram district. tonnes, respectively. The solid waste iii) Natural hazards collection in municipalities and town panchayats is 15 tonnes and 20.3 tonnes. No data available regarding the Overall the solid waste generated adds up to natural hazards in the coastal areas of this 36.75 tonnes with a collection efficiency of district. However, it obvious that erosion, 96.05%. It was observed that about 86% of accretion, sea level rise and the impacts of the solid wastes are compostable on wet climate change are no different from other basis 14% of rag, wood matter, glasses, brick districts. and stone, etc, are non-compostable in the district. iv) Natural disaster prone areas ii) Industrial development (effluent Ramanathapuram district is highly discharge / pollution – air water land etc.) drought prone because of the lack of rain and rivers. Floods and cyclones are rare in this The district is considered as an district. During 1964 cyclone the industrially backward area and the Southernmost tip Dhanushkodi was washed Government is giving incentives like away with much causality. Dhanushkodi allotment of sites at cheaper rates, adequate town went under the sea water during that power supply and loans on low rates of time. Since most of the district lies along the interest to entrepreneurs for setting up coast, the district is always prone to tsunami.

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ii) Coastal protection initiatives 4. Government initiatives

The island of act as a huge i) Initiatives to improve fisher folk barrier even in the case of future tsunami and livelihood damage to this coast was minimum during

Following are the schemes from Tamil the earler tsunami . Further, the stretch of the Nadu Government to improve fisher folk coast is in a bay formation with not much livelihood littoral drift activity. Moreover islands of the Gulf of Mannar, dynamic resources like • National Savings- cum- Relief scheme coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses of for Marine Fishermen both Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay act as bioshield to protect the coast of this district. • Savings- cum- Relief scheme for Marine Fisherwomen Stretch from to Nambuthalai • Enhanced Financial Assistance of Rs.2000/- to Marine Fishermen Families This stretch of the coast covers during Fishing Ban period. Devipattinam, Thirupalakudi, Morpannai, Mullimanai and Nambuthalai. For all the • Special Allowance of Rs.4000/- for above stretches, the details of the shoreline fishermen families during Non-fishing changes are not clearly evident. From local period. public, it was heard that there is continuous erosion but not alarming. Only during • Group accident insurance scheme for cyclones, damages have taken place. fisher-folk. Tsunami did not affect this area. For Nambuhalai, between the shoreline and an • Fishermen personal accident insurance existing road there are number of hutments scheme. which are not permanent type may be relocated. No hard measures are suggested • Motorisation of traditional Crafts. for this location as the sediment transport is almost nil and the shoreline oscillations are • Cash awards to 10 th and 12th students just temporary. Enormous amount of sea belonging to fishermen community. grass is available. Plantations are recommended. • Payment of daily relief to the missing fishermen family while conducting iii) Awareness initiatives fishing in the sea. [ Various awareness creation activities • Fishermen Welfare Board schemes. have been made among the fisher folk on • Scheme of creating employment tsunami and CRZ issues by different opportunities to educated fishermen Government and Non Government youth through up gradation of skills in organizations. Maritime Education and Nautical Sciences.

12 iv) Bio diversity

Coral and seagrass restoration has • been done by Suganthi Deavadason Marine Designated a Biosphere Reserve, The Research Institute in Gulf of Mannar coast of Gulf of Mannar is one of the the district. Mangrove restoration has been biologically richest coastal regions in done by the Forest Department. all of mainland of India with corals, seagrasses, mangroves and other important flora and fauna. 5. Summary / Conclusion • Gulf of Mannar Biosphere Reserve • Ramanathapuram is one of the (GOMBR) was declared in 1989 as coastal districts bounded on the north the first marine Biosphere Reserve in by Sivagangai and Pudukottai the country. districts, on the east and south by the Bay of Bengal, and on the west by • The district has 2 rivers viz. Vaigai Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar and Gundar, but they are not districts with an area of 4,175 sq.km perennial.

• Ramanathapuram district comprises • of 7 taluks, 11 blocks and 2362 Ramanathapuram district has 271 km villages. With regards to the of coastal line of which 130 km in hierarchy of administrative Palk bay and 140 km in Gulf of Mannar. arrangement, there are 2 municipalities, 7 town panchayats • The district is considered as an and 429 village panchayats in the industrially backward area as there district. are no major industries in the district.

• Most of the soil type is clay (45%) • Ramanathapuram district is highly followed by coastal alluvial soil drought prone because of the lack of (17%) and sandy loam (15%) and rain and rivers. there is no scope for large scale

mining in the district. • The island of Sri Lanka acted as a • Ramanathapuram district is deficient huge barrier during tsunami along in rainfall. There are no major rivers with coral reefs, mangroves and providing perennial water supply for seagrasses of both Gulf of Mannar cultivation. and Palk Bay. Coral and seagrass restoration has been done by • In Ramanathapuram District, paddy Suganthi Deavadason Marine is main food crop cultivated in more Research Institute in Gulf of Mannar than 63% of the net area sown. coast of the district.

• • There are 18 forest areas in Mangrove restoration has been done Ramanathapuram district consti- by the Forest Department. tuting a total area of 5,356.85 ha

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