Jairam Ramesh on Gulf of Kutch Ecology

Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh announced a special monitoring committee for Gulf of Kutch and Jamnagar area, Jairam Ramesh believes that Gulf of Kutch is a very sensitive ecological area. Jairam Ramesh also inaugurated a National Centre for Marine Bio-Diversity Centre (NCMB) here in Jamnagar.

Kutch and Jamnagar coastal residents feel that along with industrialisation, nature preservation should also be agenda in plans of government, the coastal population in Gujarat mainly depends fishing, salt pans, agriculture and animal husbandry.

This news regarding Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh commencing Gulf of Kutch as sensitive area is interesting as recently environment secretary for Gujarat, requested that only “ecologically sensitive” areas in both the gulfs off Gujarat (Kutch and Khambat) should be declared as Critically Vulnerable Coastal Area (CVCA) and not the entire gulfs.

Kutch Gulf coast has experienced most rapid industrialization comparing any other areas, two ultra-mega power plants (with a capacity of 4,000 MW or above) and two major ports (Mundra and Kandla) are along the coastal lines.

In a question regarding power giant Adani, Jairam Ramesh has asked the Adani group to provide satellite images of the Mundra coast that show the status of the area before and after the SEZ / port implementation there, Adani group spokesman did confirmed this news.