Que. Comment on the resource potentials of the long coastline of India and highlight the status of natural hazard preparedness in these areas.

भारत की लंबी तटरेखीय संसाधन क्षमताओं पर टिप्पणी कीजिए और इन क्षेत्रों में प्राकृतिक खतरे की तैयारी की स्थिति पर प्रकाश डालिए।

Structure of the Answer

(i) Introduction: Introduce the economic potential of India’s coastline and highlight the vulnerabilities to natural hazards requiring comprehensive preparedness.

(ii) Main Body: Discuss the resource potential and assess hazard preparedness along India’s coastline with detailed analysis and relevant recent examples.

(iii) Conclusion: Conclude by emphasizing the need for sustainable coastal development and robust hazard management policies for long-term resilience.

Introduction

India’s long coastline, spanning over 7,500 kilometers, provides immense economic and ecological benefits, including trade, fishing, tourism, and energy resources. However, these regions also face significant threats from natural hazards like cyclones, tsunamis, and coastal erosion, necessitating effective preparedness.

Resource Potentials of India’s Long Coastline

(i) Vibrant Fisheries and Aquaculture Industry: India’s coastline contributes to over 7% of global fish production, providing employment and livelihood for millions. The “Blue Revolution scheme” has further enhanced coastal fisheries, particularly in states like “Kerala” and “West Bengal.”

(ii) Strategic Ports and Global Trade: Major ports along India’s coast, such as “Mumbai, Chennai, and Visakhapatnam,” facilitate 95% of India’s foreign trade by volume. The “Sagarmala project” is boosting port-led industrialization and enhancing connectivity for maritime trade.

(iii) Offshore Oil and Gas Reserves: Coastal regions like “Mumbai High” and the “Krishna-Godavari Basin” are rich in oil and natural gas, contributing significantly to India’s energy security. Ongoing exploration in these basins is vital for reducing dependency on energy imports.

(iv) Renewable Energy (Wind and Tidal Power): India’s coastline, particularly along “Tamil Nadu and Gujarat,” has immense potential for offshore wind energy. Projects under the “National Offshore Wind Energy Policy” aim to harness 30 GW by 2030, bolstering India’s renewable energy capacity.

(v) Tourism and Biodiversity Hotspots: Coastal regions like “Goa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Odisha” are popular tourist destinations, contributing significantly to the tourism economy. Eco-tourism initiatives, such as in the “Sundarbans,” promote sustainable tourism while protecting fragile ecosystems.

Status of Natural Hazard Preparedness

(i) Cyclone Risk and Management: The eastern coastline, particularly “Odisha and Andhra Pradesh,” is highly vulnerable to cyclones. While warning systems have improved, such as in the case of “Cyclone Fani (2019),” post-disaster infrastructure resilience and community recovery need strengthening.

(ii) Tsunami Preparedness Post-2004: The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami exposed vulnerabilities in India’s disaster preparedness. Since then, the establishment of the “Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC)” has improved warnings, but areas like the “Andaman & Nicobar Islands” still face response challenges.

(iii) Coastal Erosion and Sea-Level Rise: Rising sea levels due to climate change are impacting coastal cities like “Mumbai and Chennai.” Projects like the “Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZM)” are addressing erosion, but implementation is lagging in regions like “West Bengal.”

(iv) Flooding and Saltwater Intrusion: Flooding during high tides and storm surges is a persistent issue in low-lying areas like “Kochi and the Sundarbans.” Saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels is further reducing agricultural productivity in coastal regions.

(v) Institutional Framework and Policy Response: While policies like the “National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP)” are in place, coordination between state and central agencies remains a challenge. Recent gaps during “Cyclone Amphan (2020)” revealed the need for more effective disaster management and resilient infrastructure.

Critical Analysis of Hazard Preparedness

(i) Strengthened Early Warning Systems, but Delayed Response: Early warning systems for cyclones and tsunamis have improved, but their effectiveness is compromised by delayed evacuation and response, as observed during “Cyclone Amphan (2020).” Coastal villages often lack quick access to shelters.

(ii) Infrastructure Development Lags in Rural Areas: Urban coastal centers like “Mumbai” are better equipped for disaster response compared to rural areas like “Odisha’s coastal villages,” where housing and infrastructure are still highly vulnerable to cyclones and floods.

(iii) Climate Change Increasing Risk Exposure: With rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events, India’s coastal communities are increasingly at risk. “Kolkata’s” coastal districts are particularly vulnerable to flooding, highlighting the urgent need for robust climate adaptation strategies.

(iv) Institutional Coordination Challenges: While India’s disaster management framework is robust at the policy level, gaps in coordination among state agencies hinder effective implementation, as observed during the management of “Cyclone Gaja (2018)” in Tamil Nadu.

(v) Community-Level Preparedness Needs Attention: Many coastal communities, especially in fishing-dependent regions like “Kerala,” remain under-prepared for disasters despite awareness campaigns. Local-level disaster preparedness and response training need more focus to enhance resilience.

Way Forward

(i) Strengthening Coastal Infrastructure Resilience: Implement resilient infrastructure like cyclone shelters, especially in vulnerable states such as “Odisha” and “Andhra Pradesh,” to ensure faster recovery from natural disasters.

(ii) Improving Community Preparedness: Expand community-based disaster preparedness programs in regions like “Kerala” and “Tamil Nadu,” ensuring that fishermen and rural populations receive adequate training on evacuation and post-disaster recovery.

(ii) Integrated Coastal Management: Effective implementation of the “Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)” project should be prioritized in states like “West Bengal” to combat coastal erosion and protect fragile ecosystems from climate change.

(iii) Enhancing Renewable Energy Projects: Promoting offshore wind and tidal energy projects in regions like “Gujarat” will provide cleaner energy sources while reducing the risk of environmental degradation.

(iv) Robust Climate Change Adaptation Policies: Strengthen climate adaptation frameworks for coastal cities like “Mumbai” and low-lying areas such as the “Sundarbans” to mitigate the impacts of rising sea levels and prevent displacement of communities.

Conclusion

India’s vast coastline offers tremendous resource potential, from fisheries and energy to tourism and trade. However, natural hazards like cyclones, tsunamis, and rising sea levels pose serious threats, requiring stronger infrastructure, policy interventions, and community-level preparedness to ensure sustainable development.