INITIAL ENVIRONMENT EXAMINATION FOR PROCUREMENT OF CUTTER-SUCTION DREDGER AND DREDGING IN BEYPORE PORT, DREDGING IN NEENDAKARA PORT AND NEENDAKARA FISHERY HARBOUR AND MOPLABAY FISHERY HARBOUR

Funding Agency: Asian Development Bank through Harbour Engineering Department, Government of Kerala

The State of Kerala has 590 km coastline lying over nine coastal districts. On 26th December 2004, this coastline experienced the most devastating tsunami in recorded history. Nearly 200 deaths were reported from Kerala mainly from four districts viz. Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Kannur. One major direct impact of Tsunami is the changes in coastal geomorphology. Extensive deposit of sediments in most of the port and harbour basins of the State is an impact which has a long lasting effect, if not rectified. A mixture of sand, shells and clay deposits which entered into the port and harbour basins at the time of Tsunami settled in the basin, which hampered the safe navigation. The ports of Kerala are of prime importance in determining the socio economic condition of the State. Any handicap at the port will reflect in the cargo handling, consequently leading to lesser export and revenue, unemployment and social problems associated with. The restoration of facilities in the ports and harbours of Kerala has thus become a major priority in the Tsunami rehabilitation activities of Government of Kerala.

The present study deals with the environmental issues related to the procurement of a cutter suction dredger and subsequent dredging in Beypore port, and dredging in Neendakara port and harbour and Moplabay harbour. In order to assess the likely impact of the proposed dredging an integrated multidisciplinary survey was conducted within the short time available. The study mainly depends on secondary data on physiological, ecological and social condition of the area. Field verifications were undertaken by the study team for updating some of the secondary data and data regarding the public viewpoint of the subproject were collected using participatory tools like brainstorming, semi-structured interview, small group discussion etc. A local field enquiry was also conducted for finding possible reuse of the dredged spoil. The data collected were analyzed for the prediction of the possible impact, based on which an Environmental Monitoring Plan (EMP) was prepared.

The IEE will give a chance to highlight the need for a comprehensive coastal zone management strategy which would reflect the dynamic nature of the coastal and marine environment and support multiple-use objectives, without compromising the sustainable supply of environmental goods and services.