LEVERAGING INDIA'S LONG COASTLINE: RESOURCE POTENTIAL

Published on 18 Feb 2025

India's expansive coastline spanning over 7,500 kilometers presents a spectrum of energy prospects, from conventional to renewable sources, amidst the backdrop of natural hazards. 

Resource potential of India’s coastline

• Fisheries

• Abundant marine life: India's coastal waters are teeming with a diverse range of fish, shrimp, and other seafood, making it a global leader in fish production.

• Employment generation: The fishing industry provides livelihood to millions, especially in coastal communities.   

• Aquaculture potential: Coastal areas offer suitable conditions for aquaculture, promoting sustainable fish farming.

• Mineral Resources

• Offshore mineral deposits: The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) holds significant reserves of minerals like manganese nodules, polymetallic sulfides, and rare earth elements.

• Coastal sand minerals: Beaches 

• and coastal areas are rich in minerals like ilmenite, garnet, and monazite, used in various industries.   

• Traditional mineral extraction: Salt production and other coastal mineral extraction have been practiced for centuries.   

• Energy Resources

• Offshore oil and gas: India's coastal basins, such as Mumbai High and Krishna-Godavari, are major oil and gas producers.   

• Renewable energy potential: Coastal areas offer immense potential for wind, solar, tidal, and wave energy generation.   

• Ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC): The warm tropical waters can be harnessed for electricity production through OTEC technology.   

Challenges in Resource Extraction along the coastline

• Environmental Degradation: Coastal ecosystems, including mangroves and coral reefs, face severe damage due to pollution, habitat destruction, and erosion caused by extraction activities.

• Natural Disaster Vulnerability: Coastal regions are prone to cyclones and tsunamis, which can disrupt extraction operations, cause significant damage to infrastructure, and pose risks to human life.

• Complex Regulatory Framework: Obtaining necessary permits and clearances for coastal resource extraction is often a lengthy and bureaucratic process, hindering project timelines and investments.

• Infrastructure Deficiencies: Inadequate port facilities, transportation networks, and energy supply chains hinder efficient and cost-effective resource extraction and transportation.

• Water Pollution: Extraction activities can lead to water pollution through oil spills, chemical discharges, and sediment runoff, affecting marine life and human health.

• Coastal Erosion and Land Loss: Unsustainable extraction practices, such as sand mining, contribute to coastal erosion, leading to loss of land, property damage, and livelihood threats.

• Social and Community Conflicts: Resource extraction projects often lead to conflicts with local communities over issues such as land acquisition, livelihood impacts, and environmental concerns, resulting in protests and delays.

Solutions to address these challenges

• Measurement and Monitoring

• Remote Sensing Technology: Utilizing satellites and drones to monitor sand extraction sites, coastal erosion, and changes in riverbeds.

• Ground-Based Surveys: Conducting regular surveys to assess sand reserves, extraction rates, and the impact on coastal ecosystems.

• Sediment Budget Analysis: Quantifying the balance between sand supply and demand in coastal systems.

• Real-time Monitoring: Employing sensors and GPS devices to track sand extraction activities and enforce regulations.

• Government Policies and Regulations

• Sand Mining Moratorium: Imposing temporary bans in critical areas to allow ecosystems to recover.

• Sustainable Sand Mining Guidelines: Developing clear guidelines for responsible sand extraction, including licensing, environmental impact assessments, and reclamation plans.

• Alternative Construction Materials: Promoting the use of alternative materials like recycled concrete, industrial waste, and fly ash to reduce sand demand.

• International Cooperation: Collaborating with neighboring countries to address transboundary sand issues and develop regional sand management strategies.

• Public Awareness and Education

• Sand Conservation Campaigns: Creating public awareness about the importance of sand and the consequences of its unsustainable extraction.

• Educational Programs: Incorporating sand conservation into school curricula to educate future generations about responsible resource management.

• Community-Based Initiatives: Supporting community-led sand conservation projects and initiatives.

Tags:
Geography

Keywords:
LEVERAGING INDIA'S LONG COASTLINE: RESOURCE POTENTIAL renewable energy Resource potential of India’s coastline Challenges in Resource Extraction along the coastline

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 1

Topics:
Resources Distribution