integrated coastal zone management project west ... - Iczmpwb.org

173environmental and social conditions through formulation and implementation of approvedappropriate mitigation measures against potential adverse environmental and social impactsdue to intended “developmental” activities of specified nature and/or magnitude. Roles andresponsibilities of regulatory agencies have been clearly spelt out in these acts andnotifications so that the domains of regulatory framework are clearly understood whileimplementing the environmental and social safeguards.D. 2 Base line Environment situation370.A detailed enumeration of the base line environmental situation of the coastal region isperhaps outside the scope of this document. Discussion under Section – I, D. 6 on key issuesin coastal zone management of West Bengal outlines the relevant aspects of base lineenvironmental situation of the coastal zone of West Bengal. The raw data corresponding tothese discussions are available with the monitoring agencies like West Bengal PollutionControl Board, Central Pollution Control Boards, etc. Specifically amongst the environmentalparameters, quality of coastal water is showing deteriorating trends mainly from discharge ofeffluents from industries around Haldia region, discharge of untreated sewage from cities andtowns present in the catchments of estuaries of the Sundarban region and from sea sideresorts fringing the Digha-Sankarpur coast, pollution by pilgrims annually visiting Sagarisland during the month of January, pollution from discharge from ships calling at Kolkataand Haldia ports and pollution from large scale immersion of idols especially in the Hugliriver annually during the months of September-October. The impact of deteriorating waterquality in many cases is reflected in the aquatic ecology with pollution resistant species faroutnumbering the pollution sensitive species. Collection of fish frys in the coastal waters ofSundarban and associated destruction of reject biota are having an adverse effect on theaquatic bio-diversity. Dredging of ship channels certainly is disturbing the bottom dwellers inthe Hugli estuary whose impact is largely uncharted.371.The agencies preparing the DPRs will collect and collate the relevant base line data thatare being generated by different agencies under their regular and specific activities. This baseline data base will provide the necessary platform on which the initial environmentalexamination of each component of ICZM will be carried out, as part of the DPR, to assess thepotential environmental impact including social impact and to formulate the requiredenvironmental and social mitigation measures.D.3 Environment Management Framework372. Most coastal zone management (CZM) efforts have been developed in response tocrises. The CRZ notification of 1991 is the first codified effort in India in CZM but it also