Bangalore: For many years, Karnataka’s estuarine regions (where rivers meet the sea) have been the lifeline of thousands of families along the coastal belt. But in recent years, these ecologically sensitive areas are being exploited by sand and shell miners.
Sensing the threat, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has come up with an “integrated management plan” for estuaries in the state. The report will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) soon.
“There has been no monitoring of ecological extractions in these regions. The Aganashini estuary, considered the largest in the state with over 6,000 hectares, generates revenues of over Rs 45 crore per year. But it is feared that rampant mining has destroyed the shell beds.
Fishermen families in Kumta are dependent on the estuary, where they also grow paddy and culture fish. These regions must be protected if the livelihoods of these fishermen have to be sustained,” said Subash Chadran from the Centre for Ecological Sciences (IISc).
“For a long time, shells deposited in the estuarine regions are collected and sold by the local fishermen. But the mining over the last few years is disturbing the estuarine bottom leading to reduction in the numbers of shells.
New shells do not grow unless there is an old shell deposit in the estuary. The mining activity has made the estuaries deep, affecting traditional fishing,” Chandran said.
Though international environmental organisations, including the United Nations, have been advocating marine conservation since 1996, no serious action has been taken in the state. For many years, estuaries were not even considered fit for protection. In 2011, however, amendments were made to the Costal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) Rules, banning all types of mining in estuaries.
Marine biologist from Karwar V.N. Nayak said that mining is rampant in Kali estuary in Karwar. “Sand mining and large-scale extraction of shells is going on in Kali estuary without check.
The Kali estuary, where revenues of over Rs 6 crore are generated annually, is threatened by illegal mining activities. Some shell mining boats are harming the mangroves. The mangroves are considered as natural barriers for high tides and tsunamis, but they are being disurbed by the mining mafia,” Nayak said.
