4 months ago
2
The Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has asked the Tamil Nadu authorities to substantially revise the plan of the projected International Dugong Conservation Centre at Manora in Thanjavur district, citing concerns implicit extended factual operation successful ecologically delicate coastal areas.
₹40.94-crore project
The task includes a installation for dugong conservation, research, rescue, rehabilitation, and nationalist awareness. The centre, estimated to outgo ₹40.94 crore, is being planned crossed astir 28,000 quadrate metres at Manora, an country that falls mostly wrong the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-III No Development Zone and besides overlaps the CRZ-I areas comprising mangroves and seagrass meadows.
At its caller meeting, the EAC acknowledged the value of the project, noting that dugongs are critically endangered marine mammals and a keystone taxon for seagrass ecosystems. However, it expressed reservations astir the quality and standard of the operation proposed.
According to the minutes of the meeting, astir 22,000 quadrate metres of the Dugong Conservation Centre constituent falls wrong the CRZ-III No Development Zone. Yet, the plan relies heavy connected accepted cement and factual structures.
“The full task country is located successful a pristine CRZ involving mangroves, mudflats, and seagrasses. Structures meant for biology consciousness and acquisition should follow a Low Impact Engineering attack that minimises biology harm and blends with the earthy surroundings,” the EAC said.
‘Explore alternatives’
The committee noted that nary wide eco-friendly oregon low-impact operation attack had been adopted, contempt the sensitivity of the site. It advised the task proponent to research alternatives specified arsenic timber-based construction, prefabricated oregon composite materials, and different nature-sensitive plan solutions. The EAC also suggested shifting arsenic galore structures arsenic imaginable retired of the No Development Zone and asked the State to survey the champion practices followed elsewhere successful the state for akin facilities.
The connection is expected to beryllium reconsidered aft the State submits a revised program addressing the committee’s concerns connected low-impact, eco-friendly operation and alignment with conservation planning.
