WATER RESOURCE

MANAGEMENT

D.HARSHA

WATER
2/3rd

of human

body
7/10th of world

HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

TOTAL AVAILABLE WATER IN THE VARIOUS

STORAGE COMPONENTS OF THE
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
Storage Component

Volume of
water
(1012 CUM)

Oceans
Ice-caps and glaciers
Groundwater and soil moisture
Fresh Water lakes
Saline Water
Rivers
Atmosphere

13,50,400
26,000
7,150
125
105
1.7
13

Total

13,84,000

Total
Water
(%)
97.6
1.9
0.5
0.009
0.008
0.0001
0.001
100.0

FRESH WATER

ALL WATER

20.00%

2.40%

0.80%

79.20%

Frozen water
Ground water
Surface & Atmospheric water

97.60%
Salt Water

Fresh water

FRESH SURFACE &

ATMOSPHERIC WATER
0.55%
5.50%

93.95%
Lakes
Atmospheric
Rivers (Storage)

WATER RESOURCE INDIAN SCENARIO

Land area 2.45% (Global scale)
Water Resource 4%
Population 16%
India is blessed with fairly high amount of rainfall.
1100 mm(average)
Rajasthan 100 mm
Megalaya 9000 mm
Average

annual rainfall equivalent 4000 billion CUM(BCM)

Out of this 75% occurring during 4 months
Balance 25% during remaining 8 months
Our rivers carry 90% of water between June and November
Only 10% of river flow available in 6 months.

1947
Population

2000

343 million

2050

1000 million

1500million

Rapid
urbanization,
Industrialization
&
growth
of
Agricultural Sector has resulted in an increase in the
demand
of
water.
1997 98
Total Water requirement
629 BCM
(187%)
Availability
1122 BCM

2050
1180 BCM
1122

Quality of water source is threatened

inadequate provision of treatment of water.

BCM

because

of

WATER QUALITY CLASSIFICATION

Parameter for water quality measured

BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND is a measure of water

pollution based upon the organic material contained in water.
The organic materials provides food for aerobic bacteria,
which requires oxygen to be able to bring about the
biodegradation of such pollutants.
The greater the volume of organic materials, and greater the
number of bacteria, the greater will be demand for oxygen.
If BOD exceeds the available dissolved oxygen in the water,
oxygen depletion occurs and aquatic organism suffers. Death
of fish occurs.
When organic effluent is added to a stream, the demand for
oxygen from bacteria and other organisms which will digest
the organic matter and form chemical oxidation process, is
met by the oxygen in the water.
As the organic material is slowly decomposed and converted
in CO2 and water, the demand for oxygen declines.
Ultimately the availability of oxygen exceeds its use and DO
level in the stream rise again.

RIVER WATER QUALITY

Class A
treatment

- Drinking water without conventional

Class B Water to be used for out door bathing

Class C Drinking Water with conventional treatment
Class D Fit for wild life & fisheries
Class E Fit for recreation and aesthetics, Irrigation or
Industrial
cooling

Criteria for designated best use

Criterion
DO(mg/l) maximum
BOD (mg/l) maximum
Total coliform count
(MPN/100 ml) maximum

Class A Class B Class C Class D ClassE

2

6
3

50

500

pH
6.5-8.5
Free ammonia(mg/l) maximum
Conductivity(micro mho/cm) maximum
Sodium absorption ration maximum
Boron (mg/l) maximum

Notes:

6.5-8.5

5
3

5,000
6.0-9.0

6.5-8.5
1.2

DO: dissolved oxygen

BOD: biochemical oxygen demand
pH:Measure of the acidity or alkalinity of water.
Lower values indicate acidity, higher values alkalinity, Neutral water is pH7
MPN: most probable number
mg/I: milligrams per litre ml: milliliter
Mho: unit of conductivity
cm: centimeter

6.5-8.5
2,250
26
2

Water quality of the Yamuna annual averages

Parameters

Upper segment

Delhi segment

Dissolved oxygen(mg/I)

7.95

1.41

BOD (mg/I)

3.7

17.2

Dissolved solids (mg/l)

270

563

Total coliform(MPN/100 ml)

13,000

Notes: BOD: biochemical oxygen demand

MPN: most probable number
mg/I: milligram per litre
ml: millilitre

9,000,000

RAINWATER HARVESTING
In order to arrest ground water decline, one of the methods for
management of water resource is rainwater harvesting.
Rainwater harvesting (RWH) leads to:
Water recharge in aquifers
Conservation of surface water run off during monsoons
Reduction in power consumption
Arresting sea water ingress.

POTENTIAL FOR RAINWATER HARVESTING

Average Rainfall in India
1170mm
(It varies from 100mm in the deserts of western India to 15,000mm in the high
rainfall hills of Northeast)
One hectare of land in Barmer, the driest place which receives 100mm of Rainfall
in a year will enable to Harvest 1 million litres of Rainwater per year.
Let say 50% percentage of this water is capturable 0.5 million litres of water is
available for drinking and cooking needs at the rate 15 litres/head/day, serving 91
persons for the complete year.

Quantum of Rainwater can be captured over an area of 1 hectare 10.0 lakh litres
[with an average Rainfall of 100mm)
Assuming 50% of this water is Harvestable and considering water requirement as
15 litres/head/day for drinking and cooking
No. Of persons will be served with this water 5,00,000 /15*365 = 91 persons

Indias total land area is over 300 million hectares

[excluding 1/3rd area as inaccessible, around 200 million hectares of land
area is available for Rainwater Harvesting]

Total quantity of water can be harvested in a year with an average

Rainfall of 1170mm
2.0*1012*1.170 = 2.34*1012 cum

Taking Indias Population as 1200 million,

Harvested water available per head per day,
2.34*1012/1200*106*365
= 5.34 Cum/person/day
5340 litres/person/day
If even only half this water captured, still around 2670 litres of water can
be made available per person per day. This is 17 times more than the
water requirement for domestic purposes, i.e., 150 litres/person/day.

These calculations shows the potential of Rainwater

Harvesting is enormous and undeniable.

We have spent enough on extravagant temples of

stone. Let us call a temporary stop to it and spent it on
JAL MANDIRS (water temples like Check Dams, etc)
- Swami Madhavpriyadas

Mahatma Gandhis House in Porbandar was provided with an under

ground reservoir, 20 feet long, 20 feet wide and 15 feet deep with a
capacity of 20 thousand gallons, underneath the verandah in front of the
room in which Mahatma was born.

The well water in porbandar, owing to its vicinity to the sea, is brackish,
hard and unfit for cooking. Rainwater thus therefore, collected and stored
in the underground reservoir for use the year round.

The terrace on the top floor, carefully washed before the first monsoon
showers, served as catchment for the water , running down a pipe straight
into the tank.

A heap of lime at mouth of the pipe served to filter and purify the water.

WATER POLLUTION

Major Type of Pollutants:

CHEMICAL
BIOLOGICAL
PHYSICAL

A. PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

Oil, Fuel, Lubricants etc. gets into water by accidental spills from
ships, tankers, pipe lines and leaky underground storage tanks.
They

are

poisonous

if

ingested

by

animals.

Spilled oil damages the feather/fur of the bird/animals often causing

death.
Restricts atmospheric air.

B. PESTICIDE and HERBICIDE

Chemicals used to kill unwanted animals and plants may be collected by

rainwater runoff and carried to streams.
Bio-degradable Chemicals

Quickly decay

Non-biodegradable Chemicals

Remain dangerous for a long time

When animal consume plants that have been treated by non-biodegradable

chemicals are absorbed into the tissues of organs of the animal.
When other animals feed on these contaminated animal, the chemical passed up
the food chain with each step up the food chain, the concentration of pollutant
increases.
In one Survey DDT level in OSPREYS
- were found 10 to 50 times more than the fish they ate
- 600 times the level in the plankton that fish ate
- 10 million times higher than in the water
Animal at the top of food chain may as a result of these chemical concentration
suffer cancer, reproductive problems and death.

C. HEAVY METALS
Such
as
Copper, lead, mercury and Selenium get into
water from many sources including industries,
automobile

exhaust, mines and natural soil.

Like chemicals/pesticide Heavy Metal become

more concentrated as animals feed on plants
and are consumed in turn by others.
When they reach high levels in the body Heavy
Metal can be immediately poisonous or can
result
in
long
term
illness.
(e.g) Cadmium in fertilizer derived from sewage sludge can be absorbed by
crops.
If crops are eaten by human beings in sufficient amount can cause diarrhea,
damage
lever
and
kidney.
Lead:
Children exposed to lead in water can suffer mental retardation.

D. EXCESS ORGANIC MATTER

Fertilizer and other nutrient used in garden may find their way to
water
At first they encourage growth of plants and algae in water
When they die and settle at bottom, micro organisms decompose
them.
In the process DO is consumed.Oxygen level drops to such
dangerously low levels that Oxygen
dependent animal in the
water die
This process of depleting oxygen to deadly levels is called
eutrophication

E. SEDIMENTS
Sediments can damage a stream or lake by introducing too much
nutrient matter. This leads to eutrophication. Sedimentation can
also cover streambed gravel in which many fish, such as salmon and
trout, lay their eggs.

F. THERMAL POLLUTION
Water is used as coolant in factories and power plants. Warm water
is
return
back
to
the
water
body.
Even small temperature changes in a body of water can drive away
the fish and other species that were originally present, and attract
other
species
in
place
of
them.
Thermal pollution can accelerate biological processes in plants and
animals or deplete oxygen levels in water. The result may be fish
and other wildlife deaths near the discharge source.
Thermal pollution can also be caused by the removal of trees and
vegetation that shade and cool streams.

G. POLLUTION FROM ATMOSPHERE

WATER POLLUTION

Nearly 70 % of Indias water is polluted and unfit for human

consumption.

14 rivers in India cater to the need of 85% population

Human and industrial waste, urban runoff, agricultural fertilizers,

sewage, heavy metals and pesticides poison our oceans and
contaminate our rivers and groundwater

Cholera, dysentery and gastroenteritis are responsible for 60% of

the total urban deaths. All these diseases are water-borne and
claim a large number of lives every year in spite of better health
facilities and increased expenditure on health.

Huge ground water extractions have caused our water levels to

drop

Paving and development prevent groundwater from recharging

when it rains

Recycling of treated sewage water for Industrial

purposes in MRL, MFL and GMR Vasavi (Chennai).

BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND

The maximum value of BOD is very high ( and increasing too) from
the allowed limit of 3mg/L.

RIVER POLLUTION
List of Polluted River Stretches:
River

Polluted stretch

Desired
class

Sabarmati Immediate upstream

of Ahmedabad upto
Sabarmati Ashram
Sabarmati Ashram to
Vautha
waste
Subamareha Hatia dam to
waste
Bharagora

Existing
class

Critical
Parameters

Possible source of pollution

DO, BOD,

Domestic and industrial

Coliform

from Ahmedabad

D/E

-do-

Domestic and industrial

from Ranchi and Jamshedpur

Godavari Downstream to
Nasik and Nanded

D/E

BOD

Wastes from sugar industries,

distilleries and food
processing Industries

Krishna

Karad to Sangli

D/E

BOD

Wastes from sugar industries

and distilleries

Sutlej
Downstream of
Ludhiana to Haike

D/E

DO, BOD
Industrial wastes from
hosieries, tanneries, electroplating and engineering
industries and domestic
waste from Ludhiana and

List of Polluted River Stretches:

River
Hindon

Polluted stretch

Desired
class

Existing
class

Saharapur to
C
D
confluence with Yamauna

Critical
Parameters

Possible source of pollution

DO, BOD, Industrial and domestic waste

Toxicity from Saharapur and

Ghaziabad
Chambal Downstream of Nagda
and Kota

D/E

BOD, DO Domestic and industrial wastes

from Nagada and Kota

Damodar

D/E

BOD

Lucknow to confluence C
with Ganges

D/E

wastes

DO, BOD Industrial wastes from

Coliform distilleries and domestic
from Lucknow

Kali

BOD

Downstream of
Dhanbad

Asansol,
Gomti

Downstream of
C
D/E
Modinagar to confluence
modinagar
with Ganges

Industrial wastes from

Toxicity Dhanbad, Durgapur,
Haldia and Burnpur

Industrial and domestic

wastes from

LAWS RELATING TO PREVENTION OF

WATER POLLUTION
1. River Board Act 1956
2. Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act 1979
3. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974 amended1979
4. Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act 1977.

NATIONAL WATER POLICY

The National Water Resource Council under the chairmanship of Prime

Minister of India adopted a National Water Policy in 1987.

Appropriate organization should be set up in each state for planned

development of river basins

All development projects should be formulated by the states and considered

within the framework of an overall plan for a basin.

Comprehensive plans should be set up in each state taking into

consideration not only the needs of irrigation by also other water uses
keeping in view the existing Agreements and Tribunal Awards.

Water should be made available to water short areas by transfer from one
river basin to another basin on national prospective after
taking into
consideration
the
requirement
of
area.

Policy also requires that awareness should be created that water is

a
scarce
resource
and
needs
to
be
conserved.

NATIONAL WATER POLICY

We continue to regard water as a perpetual resource ,

where as it is not so
and we continue to ignore the fact there is not substitute of fresh water
unlike some other renewable resources.
Water shortage and water pollution are two common observations in
India.

GANGA ACTION PLAN

Origin of Ganges
Destination
Length of Traverse
Towns in Ganga basin
On the bank
Average Population Density
BOD
Important cities

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

Gangothri,Himalayas
Ganga Sagar, Bay of Bengal
2500 KM
700Nos
27 Nos
300 Persons per Sq. Km
Never falls below 5 Mg/lit
Kanpur,Calcutta,Banaras,
Allahabad

POLLUTION AT GANGES
At Rishikesh
:
IDPL
Hardwar
:
BHEL
Kanpur
:
70 Tanneries
Varanasi
:
60 million litres of untreated sewage
West Bengal :
87 Jute Mills
12 Textile Mills
7 Tanneries
5 Paper & Pulp Factory
Barauni to Farakka :
250 km stretch
1980 Study :
14000 million litres sewage.
250 million litre Industrial sewage are dumped per day.
Unburnt bodies
(human as well as animals)
Harmful residual pesticides
(contd..)

POLLUTION AT GANGES(Contd)
Silting is another major problems.
Massive Deforestation has resulted into the rich top soil carried
away to sea.
The silt deposit raise river beds causing floods during monsoons.
It is estimated that 40% of travails of Ganga arise due to silting.

GANGA ACTION PLAN I

CPCBs report on water pollution in Ganga basin 1984

Ambient water Quality class C and D
Central Ganga Authority was established in 1985 under the
Chairmanship of the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
GAP launched in 1986
A total of 261 schemes were sanctioned in six categories
1. Interception and diversion of waste
2. Sewage Treatment plants
3. Low cost Sanitations
4. Electric Crematoria
5. River Front Facilities
6. Biological regeneration of Rivers

Approved cost 462.04 crores

Scheduled completion March 1997
Implementing authority National River Conservation Directorate

State wise and Type-wise Distribution of Schemes Sanctioned and

Completed Ganga Action Plan
Sl.No.

Type of Schemes

1.

Sewage Interception &

Diversion

Sewage Treatment Plant

Uttar Pradesh Bihar West Bengal

40
(40)

17
(17)

12
(13)

Total

30
(31)
3
(7)

87
(88)
14
(15)

29
(35)

Low Cost Sanitation

14
(14)

7
(7)

22
(22)

43
(43)

Electric Crematoria

3
(3)

8
(8)

17
(17)

28
(28)

River Front Development

8
(8)

3
(3)

24
(24)

35
(35)

Other Schemes

28
(28)

1
(3)

32

105
(106)

41
(45)

Total

108
(110)

(1)

(32)
254
(261)

GANGA ACTION PLAN PHASE II

Launched in 1995

Includes Gomti and Damodar River

Approved costs Rs.416.33 Crore.

Includes 29 towns along the Gange, some which are in Phase I

Main Task Interception and treatment of waste water

Scheduled to be completed by March 1999

STATUS OF GANGA ACTION PLAN I & II

GAP launched in 1985, with the objective of bringing water quality of

river Ganga and its tributary to bathing levels, was not able to achieve
its objectives, despite total expenditure of Rs.901.71 Crore over a period
of 15 years.
There were short falls in the allocation of resources.
Of the total domestic sewage of 5044 mld GAP addressed only 2794 mld.
Achieved only 1095.69 mld i.e. 39% of the Taqrget.
Technology adopted by NRCD
For the want of funds, NRCD abandoned the crucial activity of
monitoring the water quality since September 1999.
Diversion of funds
Delay in land acquisition
Not function of ETP by Industries.
(Contd.)

STATUS OF GANGA ACTION PLAN I & II(Contd..)

State

Number of Units
Grossly
Polluting
units

ETPs
Installed

Closed

ETPs under
Construction

ETPs not
Functioning
properly

Haryana

56

47

--

18

West Bengal

96

77

16

33

Uttar Pradesh

117

96

21

--

Delhi

428

80

--

--

--

Bihar

35

35

--

--

Total

732

335

46

62

WORLD SUMMIT FOR SUSTAINABLE

DEVELOPMENT
GOALS FOR WATER AND SANITATION JOHANNESBURG 2000

Water was one of the core issues addressed during WSSD 2000.
Partnership were formed for action. WSSD states the following.

Develop and implement efficient household sanitation systems;

Improve sanitation in public institutions, especially schools;
Promote safe hygiene practices;
Promote education and outreach focused on children, as agents of
behavioral change;
Promote affordable and socially and culturally acceptable
technologies and practices;
Develop innovative financing and partnership mechanisms;
Integrate sanitation into water resources management strategies;
Increase access to sanitation to improve human health and
prioritizing water and sanitation in national sustainable
development strategies.

INDIAS MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Coast line 7500 km. Spread over Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal
Exclusive Economic Zones
2.02 million Sq, Km.
West Coast
0.86 million Sq. Km
East Coast
0.56 million Sq. Km
Andaman Nicobar Islands
0.60 million Sq. Km
Mangroves cover 3,15,000 hectare
Confined along East coast(Orrissa and West Bengal) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
Sundarbans in West Bengal Largest mangrove forest in the world.
Mangrove flora comprises of 50 Exclusive species
Endangered Species
67%
Threatened Species
97%
Reasons Indiscriminate cutting
Reclaimable for agriculture and urbanisation
Aquaculture
Over gazing of Domestic cattle.
(Contd)

INDIAS MARINE ENVIRONMENT(Contd..)

Sand dunes which support diverse flora are categorised as

ecologically sensitive areas under coastal Regulation Zone

notification of 1991
Coral reefs are found in the Palk Bay, Gulf of Mannar, Gulf of Kutch,
Central West coast of India, Lakshadeep and Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
They are very rich in flora and fauna
Fisheries is a major Economic consideration. The annual export of
fisheries is 0.4 million tons(m.t).

Annual Production

1950-51

1992-93

1995-96

0.534 m.t.

2.576 m.t.

2.8 m.t.

Indian fishers support many ancillary units such as boat building

and processing plants.

CORE ISSUES OF MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Preserving of ecologically sensitive areas

Developing and increasing marine living resources

Ensuring effective monitoring and enforcement with

respect to fishing activities

Improving the living standards of coastal communities

Addressing issues of critical uncertainty and climate

change

INDIAS INITIATIVES FOR PROTECTION OF MARINE AND COASTAL

ENVIRONMENT-HIGHLIGHTS
Year
1897

Relevant Acts, programmes

Indian Fisheries Act

1908

Indian Ports Act

1950

Coast Guard Act

1958

Merchant Shipping Act

1972

Wildlife Protection Act

Salient features and Amendments

Officer protection to fisheries against explosives
or dynamites
Enactment relating to ports and port charges
Provides for rules for the safety of shipping and
conservation of ports
Provides levying of heavy penalties for the
pollution of port water in 1993, Coast Guard under
Ministry of Defense , made directly responsible for
combating marine pollution.
National Oil Spill Disaster Contingency Plan,
formulated in 1996, under Coast Guard Act
lays down action to be taken in the event of oil
spills
Control of Pollution from ships and off-shore
platforms
Offer protection to marine life.
Creates conditions favourable for in situ
conservation of flora and fauna.
Amended in 1991 to prohibit fishing within the
sanctuary area.
Gahirmatha, annual mass nesting place for Olive
Ridley turtle, an endangered species, accorded
the status of marine sanctuary in 1997
Amended in 2001 to include several species of
fish, corals, sea cucumbers and sea shells in

INDIAS INITIATIVES FOR PROTECTION OF

MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT-HIGHLIGHTS(Contd..)
Year

Relevant Acts, programmes

Salient features and Amendments

1974

Water(Prevention and Control

of Pollution) Act

1976

Maritime Zones Act

1978

Marine Fishing Regulation Act

1980
1982

Forest Conservation Act

Coastal Pollution Control
Series(COPOCS programme)
Environment Protection Act (EPA)

Control of pollution from land - based sources

includes tidal waters, unlike many other
countries and has jurisdiction upto 5 km in the
sea
Describes various zones such as territorial
waters, EEZ, Continental shelf, etc.
A model act, which provides guidelines to the
maritime states to enact laws for protection to
marine fisheries by regulating fishing in the
territorial water. The measures include
regulation of mesh size and gear, reservation fo
zones for various fishing sectors and also d
eclaration of closed seasons. Law framed and
amended from time to time by different maritime
states.
Coastal states ban fishing during closed
season.
Different closure period for different states.
Protection to marine biodiversity.
Started in 1982 by CPCB

1986

Under this, the Coastal Regulation zone 1991

has been notified. Standards for discharging
effluents are fixed.

INDIAS INITIATIVES FOR PROTECTION OF

MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT-HIGHLIGHTS(Contd..)
Year

Relevant Acts, programmes

Salient features and Amendments

1991

Coastal Regulation Zone

Regulation of various activities in coastal zone.

Notification (under EPA 1986)

Classifies coastal zone into four categories

specifying activities permitted and prohibited in
each category.
Offers protection to backwaters and estuaries.
Aquaculture was allowed as foreshore activity.
The Supreme Court in 1995 banned all the
aquaculture activities, except traditional and
modified traditional, in the coastal zone upto
500 m in most places.
Aquaculture Authority was formed.

1991

Deep Sea Fishing Policy

Allows foreign fishing vessels into Indian

waters beyond water beyond 12 nautical miles.
Protests from local fishermen. Charter and
leasing operations of foreign trawlers
suspended in 1997.
No granting of new licenses to join venture
companies operating in the EEZ
Deep Sea Fishing Policy, 1991 practically
scrapped in 1997.

INDIAS INITIATIVES FOR PROTECTION OF

MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT-HIGHLIGHTS(Contd..)
Year

Relevant Acts, programmes

Salient features and Amendments

1991

Coastal Ocean Monitoring and

Being implemented from 1991 onwards.

Prediction Systems(COMPAS)

Assesses the health of coastal waters and facilities

Project

management of pollution-related issues Programme

was restructured and modified in 2000-01 include
pollution monitoring; liaison, regulation and
legislation; and consultancy services.

National Environmental Act

This has been created to award compensation for d

amages to persons, property and the environment
arising from any activity involving hazardous

1995

substances.
1995

Land Ocean Interaction in the

Coastal Zone (LOICZ Project)

Aims to develop, on a scientific basis the integrated

management of coastal environments.

1996

Coastal Zone Management

Plans(CZYMPs)

Supreme Court intervention that all the Coastal states

prepare their CZMPs by 1996

1997

National Environment Appellate

Authority Act

Addreses appeals with respect to restrictions of areas in

which classes of industries etc. are carried out or
prescribed subject to certain safeguards under the EPA.
The objective is to bring in transparency and
accountability and to ensure the smooth and expeditious
implementation of developmental schemes and projects.

INDIAS INITIATIVES FOR PROTECTION OF

MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONMENT-HIGHLIGHTS(Contd..)
Year

Relevant Acts, programmes

Salient features and Amendments

1998

Turtle Exclusion Device (TED)

mandatory in Orissa

Orissa High Court passed judgement in 1998 that all fishing

trawlers be equipped with TED.

1997 1998

Ocean Observation and

Information Service(OOIS)

Generate reliable oceanographic data. Various projects of

DOD were restructured under this.

1998

Integrated Coastal and Marine

Aims at integrated management of coastal and marine areas.
Area Management(ICMAM
Model plans for Chennai, Goa and Gulf of Kutch being
prepared.

Project)
Ninth
Plan

Department of Ocean,
Development (DOD)programme
to assess living resources beyond
70m depth

Major objectives were to have reliable and realistic information

on the potential of marine living resources in the Indian EEZ
for sustainable development and management and to
70
augment sea food production and thereby the income of the
coastal fishing community and the fishing industry. Initiated
during the Ninth Five-year Plan for better understanding of the
resources of the Indian EEZ, since the regional upto 50-70 m
depth is exploited almost to the maximum sustainable levels.

2000

The Bio-diversity Bill

With an aim to protect and conserve biodiversity and

sustainable use of its components. Biodiversity Bill is being
replaced in Parliament.

ICMAN
The Department of Ocean Development (DOD) was established in 1981.
DOD formulated the first Ocean Policy Statement(OPS)
OPS emphasis on sustainable exploitation of living and non-living resources.
DOD introduced Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management(ICMAN)
Activities of ICMAN
Development of GIS-based information systems for critical habitats containing all information
necessary to prepare management plans.
Determination of waste assimilation capacity at selected estuaries.
Development of EIA guidelines for major coastal developmental activities and process
Determination of No Impact Zone for Pulicat and Coringa.
User classification of coastal zones for future developmental activities.
Infrastructure development for capacity building in ICMAM through training.

MARINE POLLUTION

Nutrients from agricultural fertilizers results in growth of plants which through

their respiration and decomposition, deplete the level of DO killing fish and other
organism

Raw sewage and sludge released into rivers and coastal habitats by many
countries, leading to growth of plants and increased BOD and lowering DO.

Toxic substances from Industries are introduced into the marine environment.
Heavy metal and toxic waste will affect human directly or indirectly thru
consumption of fish.

Oil Spill Ingestion of oil by fishes, birds and other animal leads to death

Plastic wastes Mistaken for food by fishes, these fish get strangulated.

OIL SPILLS

Tankers and offshore wells are major sources of marinal pollution

January 1969, blow out from oil well in the SANTA BARBARA channel covered miles of
ocean surface smeared beaches with 2 inches layer of crude oil. Leak continued for more
than a year.

March 1978, oil tanker ran around rocks spilled 2,30,000 Ton of oil shipment from England
to France.

In 1989, the wreck of Tanker Exxon Valdaz spilled 10 million gallons of crude oil in Alaska.

In Gulf war, million tons of oil was released by Iraq.

Oil discharged on ocean surface forms into slick and floats over ocean surface and if it get
absorbed on solid particles it sinks. The floating and suspended oil is absorbed by tiny
organisms.
Since tiny organisms are part of food chain, the other higher forms of marine life feed upon
them and successively pass the oil pollutants to higher levels in marine mammals, birds
and man.

TECHNIQUES OF CONTROLLING EFFECT OF OIL SPILLS

Burning of oil

Leaving the oil deposits in place making them innocuous by coating

them with various materials.

Emulsifying the oil and leaving its dispensed by the tides and wave

By hosing it down with water

MINAMATA DISEASE
Minamata is a town in the Islands of Japan.
The Chisso Company was producing acetaldehyde by passing
acetylene gas using mercury as catalyst, leaving methyl mercury as
a bye product. This effluent was discharged in the sea. People got
poisoned when they ate methyl mercury contaminated fish.
First human victim was reported in 1956. It affects the brain and
nervous system. Before that cats and birds were affected.
1965 another epidemic occurred when SHOWA DENKO Corporation,
KANOSE Factory discharged Methyl mercury waste in Agona River.
In 1992,
2945 individual certified as M.M.D victim
1343 died
13,746 denied certification

Like Bhopal gas leak case, even after 25 years victims seeking
compensation
protested
in
front
of
Chisso
Company.
Company
Stopped

installed

waste

manufacturing

treatment

equipment

acetaldehyde

by

in

1966
1968.

By then 400 to 600 tons of mercury dumped into the shallow

Minamata
Bay
1982 Dredging of Bay began. Since then Mercury level in fish have
dropped.
1993 study revealed it is still higher than water was permissible.