CM reviews ICZM, calls for integrated plan

BHUBANESWAR: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday asked the Environment Department to prepare an integrated programme for managing environmental issues of coastal areas of the State.The programme should be prepared keeping an eye on possible impact of cyclone, flood and tsunami in the coastal eco-system, he said. Naveen also reviewed the implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) scheme in the State.The scheme is being implemented in 235 villages of Kendrapara, Jagatsinghpur, Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts. Four lakh people will benefit from it.Official sources said that Rs 227 crore will be spent on this programme in the next five years. A provision of Rs 91.6 crore has been made for 2011-12. The fund will be utilised by the Water Resources, Tourism and Culture, Urban Development, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Industry, Environment and Forests departments, Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and Orissa State Disaster Management Authority (OSDMA).Under the project, Rs 14.79 crore will be utilised for construction of 14 cyclone centres, Rs 19 crore on coastal protection and Rs18.7 crore on conservation of bio-diversity. While Rs 25.61 crore will be spent by the Fisheries Department for providing alternative livelihood support to the fisherman, Rs 3.81 crore will be given to Industries Department for providing alternative livelihood to the people engaged in coir industries.About Rs 17.39 crore is proposed for promotion of eco-tourism and another ` 14.29 crore will be allotted to Orissa State Pollution Control Board (OSPCB) for environmental management.One of the major works under the ICZM is the laying of geo-synthetic tubes in Pentha village of Kendrapara district where the coast has been devoured by the sea. The project covers 120-km stretch from Dhamra to Paradip and Chilika to Gopalpur. It aims to check coastal erosion, promote eco-tourism, ensure security of livelihood activities of coastal fishermen and help conservation of bio-diversity, old cultural heritage and preservation of wildlife in Bhitarkanika sanctuary among others. Further, to check coastal pollution, a research centre has been proposed at Paradip.Minister for Environment and Forests Debi Prasad Mishra, Minister for Tourism and Culture Prafulla Samal, Chief Secretary Bijay Kumar Patnaik and senior officials attended the meeting.