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possible of the lost environmental value to the same public as well as the critical ecological
systems. This, however, may be permissible only in the rarest of the rare cases and not
allowed as a pretext for laxity in complying with statutory obligations, to provide fait
accompli for relaxation of established norms or obligations emanating from public trust.
2.7.0 Infrastructure
Development infrastructure such as electricity, water, gas, roads, bridges etc., are
designed to serve multiple uses and is usually planned and provided by Government.
Developing infrastructure systems in coastal zones can have wide arrange of environmental
impacts. The details of some of the infrastructure and its impact on the costal environment is
described below -
2.7.1 Zonation and Planning for Locating Infrastructure Facilities
Several major urban centres have come up along the coast line. The average coastal
population density is 432 persons per sq. km as against 256 persons for the entire country.
Apart from protecting the community and resources, there is a need for providing necessary
infrastrcutural facilities for the communities to maintain a better standard of living and their
economic development. While the coastal areas have a tremendous developmental potential,
there needs to be proper planning process so as to integrate developmental process with the
Regional Plans. Coastal Regional Plans are required to work out broad Regional Policy for
development under the concerned State Town and Country Planning Act. The Regional
Plans should indicate broad settlement system depending upon the potential of development
and the Coastal Zone Management Plans should be an integral part of the regional plan. This
plan should give broad framework for development code and the regulations for controlling
cons tructions and building activities. It must be ensured that the development and
management should be incorporated within this plan. For the purpose of protection from
natural hazards, the development plan also should indicate protection measures against the
natural hazards.
2.7.2 Coastal Aquaculture and Mariculture
The potential area available in the coastal regions of the country for aquaculture is
estimated between 1.2 to 1.4 million hectares. Presently, about 157 000 ha area is under shrimp
farming with an average production of about 100 000 tonnes of shrimp per year. Andhra
Pradesh is the most important State for tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) farming. In 2002 -
2003, it accounted for 47.1 percent of the total production of farmed shrimp, followed by Wes t
Bengal (26.3 percent), Orissa (11.0 percent), Kerala (5.73 percent), Tamil Nadu (5.3 percent)
and Karnataka (1.6 percent). The practices adopted by the shrimp farmers range from traditional
to improved traditional within the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and extensive shrimp farming
outside the CRZ, with an average productivity of 660 kg per hectare per year. About 91 per cent
of the shrimp growers in the country have farm holdings in between 0 to 2 ha, 6 per cent
between 2 to 5 ha and the remaining 3 per cent have an area of 5 ha and above. Farmed shrimps
contribute about 50 per cent of the total shrimp exports. The State-wise details on potential
brackishwater area, area under culture and production as on 31.3.2004 are given in Tables 1 and
Presently, about 280 shrimp hatcheries have been set-up in the coastal States with an
installed capacity of 12 475 million seed (Post larvae) per annum. Out of this, as many as 148
are set up in Andhra Pradesh, followed by 73 in Tamil Nadu. As P. monodon is the most
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