ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT STUDY OF THE PROPOSED FISHERY HARBOUR AT KARAIKAL, PONDICHERRY

Funding Agency: Department of Fisheries, Government of Pondicherry

Karaikal, a fishing region in Pondicherry has a fishermen population of 12,074 of whom 3100 are active fishermen. The fishing fleet of Karaikal includes 510 mechanised fishing vessels and 1954 traditional craft. But, only 170 mechanised boats can operate from Karaikal and the remaining vessels use to migrated to Jagathapattinam in Pudukottai district of TamilNadu due to the non-availability of landing and berthing facilities at Karaikal. It is in this context that the Government of Pondicherry decided to construct a fishery harbour in Karaikal Region. Since construction of fishing harbour is included in the list of MoEF for those requiring Environmental Clearance, a Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment Study in the Region was to be carried out to identify the impacts of the harbour and to suggest an Environmental Management Plan. The main objectives were to analyse the project report based on the components and identify activities that can have considerable effect on the local environment – be it positive or negative, to foresee and quantify the magnitude and intensity of the impacts of the various project components on the local environment, to carry out an appraisal of the present environmental settings in the area with regard to parameters like land, water quality, biodiversity of the region, socio-economic conditions of the people, infrastructural capabilities of the area etc., to suggest mitigative / control measures for the major impacts of the harbour on the area and also to prepare an Environmental Management Plan for the harbour area