Web of Life

While reading the EIA, the following doubts emerge which are sought to be cleared. The introductory part of NEERI’s report openly admitting that dredging across Adam’s Bridge and in the Palk Strait, and the dredging along the proposed transit, is critical to the project related issue. Other doubts to be cleared are:

- The Presence of Corals along the proposed ship canal alignment in Adam’s Bridge area has not been observed.

- It is also intimating us that ecological important species along the proposed alignment is not significant.

- The report has not assessed the affected population on Land Acquisition and Resettlements.

- 6 Km 2 areas in the sea floor of Adam’s Bridge will be permanently lost.

- Report instruct to control over marine pollution.

- Dispersal could occur to alien rare species in proposed alignment.

- Dhanushkody areas traditional fishing will be totally affected.

- It is also estimated that, 84.5 million cubic meter of sand and spoil would be dredged from the project area. Out of this, a small quantity will be discharged in Pamban Island and the remaining in Bay of Bengal. Here we want to know,

a) whether Neeri has worked out the ‘under current’ of sea water on the excavation area as well in discharging area.

b) It is also not mentioned the exact location, where the dredged materials going to be discharged in Bay of Bengal.

- In the EIA report, under 6.1, ‘construction phase’, it is said that the dredged sand and spoil will be discharged in Pamban & Bay of Bengal. Contradictory to this statement, in the same EIA report, in 6.2, ‘operational phase’, it is reporting that dredged materials will be mostly silt and clay and will not be disposal in sea.

- NEERI asking a strict vigilance of crude oil tankers to avoid oil spill in the sea. If oil spill happened due to unavoidable circumstance, the agency has not suggested any remedial measure.

- The Agency suggesting that a trained pilot or environmental watcher should be board in the ship to watch marine mammals. Is this suggestion is possible in practical day-to-day life. Say for e.g., if a vessel sail during night or in rainy or in dark cloudy day, this suggestion will be a meaningless one.

Notably, NEERI has not considered the most important international instruments, UN Law of Sea Convention 1982 and its 2 protocols anywhere in its report.

Problems Facing on Implementation of SSCP: Geological: There will be a dredge of sea floor of 12.8 meter deep, 300 meter wide for 2 way traffic.

If this happens to be sudden, tilt in the sea bed, may cause numerous violent process, as like; a major change in drift, possible change in gravitational pull etc.

This whole SSCP area is a biologically rich and rated among the highly productive sea of the World. The zooplankton was dominated by copepod. Macrobenthos were represented by 78 varieties, meiofauna comprised larval polychaetes, nematodes, worms and shrunken bodies of a new forms.

Coral Reefs: Coral reef system as also the ecosystem of the tropical rain forest, are the most matured marine ecosystems of our planet. They play an important role in global biochemical processes and in the reproduction of food resources in the tropical regions. Coral reefs act as a barrier against wave action along coastal areas thus preventing coastal erosion.

In addition, coral reefs protect mangroves and sea grass beds in certain areas, which are the breeding and nursing grounds of various economically important fauna. Coral reefs are also important breeding, spawing, nesting, and feeding areas for many economically important varieties of fishes and other marine organisms. Coral reefs are a distinctive shoreline habitat of stunning visual appeal found only between latitudes 30oN and 30oS.

They grow only where sea surface temperatures are above 20oC, the seabed is kept silt-free by prevailing currents and waves, and there is intense surface sunlight.

Most living coral communities do not grow at depths of more than 50 m, although some grow at depths of 100 m. The people living along the coast obtain a considerable proportion of their food and earnings from the productivity of coral reefs.

Coral reef ecosystems are very sensitive to external impacts both natural and manmade, which violate their homeostasis (Sorokin 1992).

Mangrove, sea-grass and sea algal eco-systems have not been affected much by the acts of anti-environmental elements; the important coral reef system continues to be targeted. According to the Wildlife Warden of the Gulf of Mannar National Park, Naganathar, [ The Hindu, Tuesday, Jun 08,2004] that the Forest department officials could not take any action against the `so-called groups’ because the matter was in court.

Considering the importance of preserving the eco-system, the department would prefer an appeal in the Madras High Court to get vacated the stay, which was in favour of limestone industrialists, he said. Environmentalists feel that unless tough action is initiated against the "anti-environmentalists," the lives of nearly five lakh fishermen would be affected. For, breeding and feeding of fish cannot take place in the absence of coral reef, which serves as a habitation for more than 750 fish varieties.

In GOM, Geomorphologically, coral reefs in this area are of fringing type, though some patchy corals are also observed in between Appa Island and Pilliyarmuni Island, and in some areas like Bharathi nagar coast and southeast coast of Kariya Shuli Island. The major causes of coral reef degradation are:

- Over fishing and destructive fishing practices

- Sea weed collection

- Commercial shell collection

- Coral mining

- Poor land use practices

- Coastal urban development

- Harbour and dredging activities

- Industrial development and pollution

Rainfall in both GOM and PS is estimated around 900 mm annually. This is due to coral reef as per scientist version.

According to the above reports, the project implementation may destruct coral reefs which, in turn, would tend to cause:

- High sea tides

- Surges might occur

- Hurricane, cyclone etc might take place

Marine Mammals

National Marine Park or Biosphere Reserve: The Tamil Nadu Forest Department and the Ministry of External Affairs have already declared 21 islands in 623.12 hectors, as National Marine Parks.

But now the Government of India through the NEERI says that the proposed alignment will be far away from this National Marine Park. i.e., ‘Van Tivu’ - the nearest island will be about 6 km and ‘Shingle’ island will be 20 km.

Marine Mammals: Rare Species like sea turtles, dolphins, sea cows, sacred sharks, thorny sea horse*, dugongs and whales are already located and these areas said to be their natural habitat and grazing region. There are also dangers of oil spills and other forms of pollution.

One expert from Sri Lanka Lareef Zubair, formerly of the Institute of Fundamental Studies, Kandy, wrote in a Sri Lankan newspaper ‘Daily News’ dated 07-04-1999, that the SSCP would disturb the marine life in the Palk Strait ‘gravely’.

Archaeological: We have come to know in our life time itself that Dhanskodi, a part of India’s coastal area submerged in 1964 due to land submission. In the Sangam period, we have learnt about the city of Poompukar etc.

Even though the NEERI reports deny the existence of archaeological structures under the sea bed, we insist to investigate more on this. Otherwise, after the dredging, there is possibility of loosing the archeological treasures that may be lying beneath the sea.

Oceanographic : A fear has also been expressed that, after the Gulf of Mannar is dredged to cut the ship canal, nearly 85 islets in the Western coastal region of Sri Lanka will be submerged into the sea. According to Oceanographers’ view, Indian Ocean around the tip of the Indian peninsula is an ancient area in natural transition which has not yet completed its full formation.

This section is the most complex relief and the earth crust is still in motion. According to Mr. K. Arulandam, Oceanographer at the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency [NARA], since implementation of the project would cause an impact on environment affecting marine life, remedial measures should be taken to care (‘Hindustan Times ‘, 15-06-2004).

Socio-Economic: Fishing has been the sole occupation of 20 million fisher folks

Theni Population : 1093950: Males : 552986; Females : 540964 living along the coast of Gulf of Mannar and in Palk Strait. They have been in close proximity with the sea, so that, their life-style, culture, community and social life have centered on the sea.

The main livelihood activities of the fishermen residing in the villages adjoining to the coastal area are (i) fishing, (ii) seaweed collection, (iii) chanks collection, (iv) coral mining, (v) fire wood collection and (vi) agriculture.

There are 87 fish landing stations between the south of Point Calimere and Pamban and 40 fish landing stations in the Gulf of Mannar. The fisher folk want irksome fishing regulations to be repealed. As of now, fishermen are allowed to venture into the sea between 5 am and 9 pm for three days in a week. However, bad weather conditions keep them shore-bound for 45 days in a year.

The NEERI report accepts that 200 out of 600 varieties of fishes are commercially important. If we look at the past, fish production in 1992-1996 recorded 55,325 tonnes. In 2001, a huge increase of 2,05,700 tonnes has been registered because of coral reefs.

There are 138 villages and towns spread in 5 districts through the coastal area from Gulf of Mannar to Palk Strait in Tamil Nadu State. More than 50% of the fishing populations in this area are in debt. If this project is implemented, socio-economic problem will multiply due to unemployment.

Scientists of the Fisheries

College and Research Institute at Tuticorin have recorded a new species of Hippocampus histrix, known as `thorny seahorse,’ for the first time on the Indian coast.

In all, 35 species of seahorses have been reported across the globe. The one recorded now was collected recently on the Kaswari Island, near Tuticorin, at a depth of 15 metres by T. Vaitheeswaran, senior research fellow working on an ICAR research programme.

According to V. K. Venkataramani, professor and principal investigator, four species of the genus Hippocampus - Hippocampus kuda, H. trimaculatus, H. kelloggi and H. fuscus - have been reported to occur in the Gulf of Mannar region. Hippocampus histrix is known to occur only in Indo-Pacific waters, Tanzania and from South Africa to Hawaii.

Two numbers of this species, which were collected, were females each measuring 10 and 10.50 cm and weighing 10 and 10.50 gm.

Dr. Venkataramani said the species was distinguished from others by a medium-size coronet, having four long and sharp spines and a prominent snout with a single cheek spine. Another prominent spine is present in front of the coronet. "Because of numerous spines present all over the body, this species is known as thorny seahorse."

The colour of Hippocampus histrix is generally yellow with spines ending in dark colours. The keel region has a black lining. It inhabits coral reefs, algae and seagrass beds and attains maturity in about 10 months. It grows to a length of 10-12 cm. The maximum length reported is 17 cm and its lifespan is 2-4 years.

Used in medicines

This species feeds on polyps, medusae and zooplankton in and around coral reefs and in seagrass beds. It has been used in the preparation of traditional medicines, particularly in China and Thailand for the past 600 years. Dried fish are also used in preparation of tonics.

According to R. Santhanam, dean of the college, the appearance of this species on the Indian coast could be due to seasonal monsoon currents in the coastal region and the rich presence of coral reef habitats in the Gulf of Mannar region.