MoEF and Survey of India initiate Hazard Line Mapping New Delhi, May 12th 2010: 1. A Memorandum of Understanding has been signed today for the mapping and delineation of the hazard line along India’s coast, between the Ministry of Environment and Forests and the Survey of India (Department of Science & Technology). This initiative of the MoEF forms a critical part of its responsibilities vis-à-vis planning and management of the coastal zone and is being done for the first time in the country. The MoU has been signed in the presence of Shri Prithviraj Chavan, MOS (I/C) Science & Technology and Shri Jairam Ramesh, MOS (I/C) Environment & Forests. 2. India has a vast coastline of about 7,500kms which includes the islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep. The coastline of the mainland accounts for around 5,500kms. The entire coastal area of our country is home not only to some of the most ecologically sensitive areas but is also especially vulnerable to natural hazards like cyclones, storm surges, tidal waves etc. 3. Around 6 million people reside along the coastal area, of which a large part are the local communities including fisher folk families, agriculture families etc. These communities along with other structures of national importance are prone to natural hazards. During the last few years there has been an increase in the frequency of the natural hazards occuring along the coastal areas. Also the MS Swaminathan Committee constituted to review and strengthen the existing CRZ Notification of 1991 and to examine the coastal management approach in our country has recommended that hazard mapping exercises be adopted for the purpose of protecting the life and property of local communities. 4. The Survey of India is not only a nodal agency for the map policy of the country, but is amongst the most reputed agencies in the world in the areas of survey and mapping. Also data on major parameters such as the tidal data and elevation data are available with SoI. Hence, this project is being assigned to SoI. The methodology for demarcating the hazard line has been worked out in consultation with reputed national institutions like Survey of India (SoI), Space Application Centre (SAC), Ahmedabad, Department of Ocean Development, Chennai and Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Thiruvananthapuram. Further, to obtain international experience, Prof. John Pethick, Advisor to UK Government on coastal issues was also brought in to firm up the methodology. 5. Under this project the hazard line for the mainland coast of India will be mapped and delineated. This will include the collection and presentation of data on identifying flood lines over the last century (which includes sea level rise impacts), and a prediction of the erosions to take place over the next 100 years.

This process will involve: (i) Surveys and preparation digital terrain model for the entire mainland coast; (ii) Collection of historical tide gauge data and its analysis to determine 100 year flood levels; (iii) Analysis of maps and satellite imagery since 1967 to predict the erosion line over the next 100 years; (iv) Preparation of composite maps, showing the hazard line on the digital terrain model, and; (v) Transfer of the hazard line to topographic maps for public dissemination. Once the hazard line is delineated, ground markers will be constructed. This is important as the revenue maps used for local planning purposes are not comparable to topographic maps. 6. The total cost of the project is Rs.125crores and is expected to be completed within a period of four and a half years. Within two years from the date of signing of MoU, SoI would complete the aerial photography and thereafter would start generating maps including the hazard line. 7. In addition to the above, the draft CRZ Notification, 2010 has been published for consultation and is available on the website of the Ministry (www.moef.nic.in) in nine local languages. Comments on the same have been sought by 30th May, 2010. Thereafter, the draft CRZ Notification, 2010 would be issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. In this draft CRZ Notification, 2010, the hazard line mapping has been incorporated in the coastal zone management planning. 8. The above project is one of the components of the World Bank-assisted Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) Project to be implemented by the MoEF which was approved by the Union Cabinet on 25.3.2010. The other major components of this project are,(i) Establishment of a National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management at Chennai (Rs.166.28crs). (ii) ICZM projects in Gujarat (Rs.298.34crs), Orissa (Rs.201.62crs) and West Bengal (Rs.300.26crs). Projects in other coastal states will also be prepared immediately and taken up for implementation in a phased manner.