Staff Reporter

Puducherry: The need for an integrated approach to coastal zone management in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry was stressed by speakers at a consultative meeting on Restoration and Puducherry coastline,’ in Auroville on Saturday.

The speaker also called for a joint meeting of the Coastal Zone Management authorities of the two States.

C. V. Shanker, Officer on Special Duty, Relief and Rehabilitation, in his address, said the Tamil Nadu Government was initiating an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan with assistance from the World Bank.

The plan was being prepared now and Danish hydraulics Institute (DHI) had been appointed to conduct a study. The Government was trying to understand the coastal ecology in a better manner.

Before constructing harbours and ports, the State Government wanted to ensure that the structure were perfect in a particular setting. “We want to study the East Coast at least for a couple of seasons

With the data that we already have,” he said.

Regarding the issue of maintenance, he said the Government, in consultation with local bodies, was developing a permanent non-lap-sable maintenance fund.

Secretary to the Government of Puducherry, Public Works Department, A. Anbarasu said the territorial Government too would take steps for an integrated coastal zone management plan.

The Puducherry Government was preparing a comprehensive capital dredging scheme at a cost of Rs. 13-14 crore and this would help compensate at least a portion of the sea erosion.

Plans charted out by puducherry for coastal management would be shared with the Government of Tamil Nadu. He said.

Collector of Villupram Brajendra Navnit called for adopting a balanced approach while providing any solution to problems of erosion.

Prashant Hedao, planning coordination, Auroville Coastal-area Development Centre stressed the need to understand issues such as the natural processes in the sea and land, the socio economic forces including population dynamics, land use changes and livelihood issues before embarking upon coastal management programmes.

Auroville Foundation Secretary M. Ramaswamy, in his introductory remarks, said the focus of the meeting was to bring out long-term solutions to the problems of erosion and establish an effective mechanism to coordinate the implementation of these solutions.

Chief Engineer, Public Works Department, Tamil Nadu, Govindarajan, said Governments must ensure free flow of funds for coastal management projects.

Dr. Tarapore of DHI-India; Chief Engineer, PWD, Puducherry, C. Anandane; M.D. Kudale, Chief Research Officer, Central Water and Power Research Station; John Jacob Puthur, Naval Hydrographer; and Aurofilio Schiavina, Coastal zone consultant, presented papers on relevant topics.