Report on Lakshadweep Wetlands/coral reefs. - of Planning ...

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Fig. 7. Underwater diving by LCRMNTeam for coral reef surveyIt was noted that more than 20participants from the islandgroups have been impartedtraining in diving and surveytechniques, and that theinformation collected wassubjected to quality checks andcross checks jointly by the Indianand Australian trainees.4.4 Marine BiodiversityCorals are represented by 148 species; ornamental fish by 296 species; fishby 126 families and 601 species; crustaceans by 68 species; molluscs by 227species; sponges by 91 species; mangroves by 2 species; seaweeds by 114species; echinoderms by 78 species, sea grass by 6 species; sea turtles by 4species; 101 species of birds and 12 species of cetaceans.In Pitti Island – around 1.21 ha of sandbank situated about 24 km northwest ofKavaratti is an Island of Birds. This PittiIsland is a breeding ground for 4 speciesof terns. Pitti is of great importancesince such breeding colonies are veryrare in the Indian territory.4.5 Issues of the IslandsChanging life style and the increasingpopulation Pressure have led toincreased generation of sewage andsolid wastes.Fig. 8 Pitti Island bird sanctuary• Population pressure placed an enormous strain on the quantity of freshwater available, leading to saline water intrusion.• Changing demographic pattern and lifestyle, coupled with resourceharvest from the reefs have brought many reefs in the Lakshadweep tovarious degrees of stress.8
• Coastal erosion is a serious problem faced by the islands every yearresulting in loss of land. Maximum erosion observed over a period of 35-40 years were in the range 28 to 44 m.• Degradation of lagoon and coral ecosystems (eutrophication) throughdevelopmental activities and land based pollutants.• Stress on the lagoon and its resources, Unplanned and unmanagedfishing, tuna and bait fishing, reef walking, octopus hunting, shellcollection, coral harvesting, tourism and related activities such as diving,snorkeling, operation of glass bottom boats, etc.• Dependence on one desalination plant recently set up, for supply of safedrinking water.• Diesel as the sole source of electricity generation.• Poor Connectivity between islands and main land.• Lack of alternate livelihood options.4.6 Organisational gapsThe Team observed that the manpower available for implementation of coralconservation and management or the marine ecosystem and resourceconservation for that matter in the island groups is grossly inadequate.There are hardly 6 persons including the Deputy Conservator of Forests, whohas also taken charge recently, 4 Environment Wardens (Field level) andone Technical Officer (in the HQ) to implement the coral reef conservationand restoration programme in all the islands of Lakshadweep, as comparedto 40 staff in the Dept. of Science & Technology. The entire LCRMNprogramme is implemented by the Department of Science & Technology,even though it is fully funded by the Ministry of Environment & Forests. Itwas also observed that there are no promotional avenues for theEnvironment Wardens (EWs) or the Technical Officer (TO), as they are at thelevel of Technical Assistants in GOI. The only Class-I post is the Dy.Conservator of Forests, to which these EWs or TOs are not qualified.The Team was informed by the DCF that a proposal for creation of 65 postsunder the Dept. of Environment & Forests, in the 11 th Plan period wasapproved by the Planning Commission. A copy of the letters incorrespondence between the Lakshadweep Administration and the Ministry ofEnvironment & Forests, GOI, was also made available to the Team Members.A perusal of the papers indicated that the proposal was very sketchy, not inthe prescribed format, no proper justification/duties and responsibilities foreach post has been given, the sequence of the posts contained in the list was9
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Report on Lakshadweep Wetlands/coral reefs. - of Planning ...

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