Ecological Profile for Coastal Talukas of Gulf of Kachchh OVERVIEW

143 Pages·2014·4.98 MB·English

Final Report

Ecological Profile for Coastal Talukas of Gulf of Kachchh
OVERVIEW

Sponsored by

Gandhinagar

by

Gujarat Ecology Society

in association with

Foundation for Ecological Security

MIR Projects and Consultants

September 2014
GES FES MIR
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A DYNAMIC ECOSYSTEM

It is a matter of concern and, at the same time challenge, to deal with
increasing pressures on a varied and fragile ecosystem spanning almost one-
third of Gujarat’s coastline. The Gulf of Kachchh has been attracting
navigators over the centuries. However, the decisive economic push that
Gujarat is witnessing since its formation and more so, during the last one and
a half decades, has been bringing great pressure on natural resources on all
sides of the Gulf. Gujarat has shown foresight in understanding the pressures
on land, flora and fauna, water and other resources to reduce the adverse
impact of economic development on ecology. This extensive study of the
talukas around the Gulf rim and beyond is a case in point.
The detailed taluka-wise study of ecology of a 550 km coastline and its
hinterland planned by Gujarat Ecology Commission will make enormous data
available to planners to achieve the twin objectives of economic development
and conservation of natural resources to a large extent. In this process we at
Gujarat Ecology Society (GES) feel privileged to present this comprehensive
document covering a whole range of data that goes beyond simple profiling.
An effort has been made to indicate a management plan for each of the
threatened segments of ecology. Over a period of nearly two decades GES has
acquired capability to undertake such a task. Much earlier GES undertook a
survey of entire Gujarat coast –covering 10 kms onshore and 10kms offshore –
bringing it out in four volumes. The study being presented here is more
detailed in its scope and content and has authenticity of a higher degree
having been reviewed and vetted by experts.
We express our appreciation of GEC’s foresight and our thanks for
giving us an opportunity to be a part of their on- going enlightened approach.

Vadodara, Sept. 27, 2014 Hasmukh Shah
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STUDY TEAM
GES
Dr. Deepa Gavali Team Leader
Dr. Jayendra J Lakhampurkar Environment Scientist
Dr. Sonal Deshkar Research Associate (Zoologist)
Dr. Jagruti Rathod Research Associate (Zoologist)
Ms. Amita Sankhwal Research Associate (Botanist)
Mr. Narayan Jadia Accountant
Mr. Sandeep Umratkar Field Assistant

FES
Mr. Arpit Deomrari GIS Expert
Ms. Atri Shaw GIS Expert
MIR
Mr. Jay S Damodaran Statistical Expert
Consultants
Dr. Jitendra Gavali Research Associate (Botanist)
Dr. Jessica Karia Environmental Planner

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CONTENT PAGE NO.
BACKGROUND 1
1 APPROACH & METHODOLOGY 3
1.1 Secondary Data Collection 3
1.2 Primary Data Collection 6
1.3 Analysis and Integration of the data 10
2 ABOUT THE STUDY AREA 12
2.1 Geo-environment 12
2.2 Geomorphology and Coastal Process 16
2.3 Climate 21
2.4 Demography 25
2.5 Biological environment 28
2.6 Grazing Pressures 39
2.7 Water Resource Status 42
2.8 Soil Salinity 45
2.9 Industries 48
2.10 Vehicles 53
2.11 Archaeological Sites 56
3 PROJECTIONS 62
3.1 Ground Water scenario 62
3.2 Solid Waste Generation 66
3.3 Industrial Effluents 68
3.4 Fuel Consumption Pattern 71
3.5 Urban Water Demand 76
4 CONSERVATION PLAN 78
4.1 Ecological Rich Areas 85
4.2 Biologically Hot Spots 90
REFERENCE 99
ANNEX I-IV 104-135

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LIST OF FIGURES

1: The Transects taken in Lakhpat and Abdasa-Naliya Taluka 7
2: The Transects taken in Anjar, Gandhidham, Mandvi and Mundra taluka 7
3: The Transects taken in Bhachau taluka 8
4: The Transects taken in Jamnagar, Lalpur and Jodiya taluka 8
5: The Transects taken in Dwarka and Khambhalia taluka 9
6: The Transects taken in Kalyanpur taluka 9
7: Geology of Kachchh 13
8: Geology of Jamnagar 14
9: Bathymetry of the Gulf of Kachchh 16
10: Current pattern during the ebb tides 19
11: Particle movement in the Gulf 20
12: Grazing land per livestock, 1997 40
13: Grazing land per livestock, 2007 40
14: Area under irrigation per scheme in coastal talukas 43
15: Rural water supply schemes in the study area 44
16: Areas with high fluoride, lead and nickel 45
17: Soil salinity as per NBSS & LUP 1998 47
18: Soil salinity as per Buvan 2005 47
19: Mining leases and areas in talukas of Kachchh district 52
20: Mining leases and areas in talukas of Jamnagar district 52
21: Trends in the transport and non transport vehicle from 2007-08 to 2012-13 in Jamnagar
district 53
22: Trends in the transport and non transport vehicle from 2009-10 to 2012-13 in Kachchh
district 55
23: Development category of ground water in 1991 63
24: Development category of ground water in 2002 63
25: Development category of ground water in 2010 64
26: Development category of ground water in 2025 65
27: Projected area for chemical industries 71
28: Rural energy consumption pattern in coastal taluka, Jamnagar 72
29: Urban energy consumption pattern in coastal taluka, Jamnagar 72
30: Rural energy consumption pattern in coastal taluka, Kachchh 73
31: Urban energy consumption pattern in coastal taluka, Kachchh 74
32: Rural energy consumption pattern in Maliya Taluka, Rajkot 75
33: Biological Hotspots around the Gulf 91

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LIST OF TABLES

1: A list of major earthquake events in Kachchh and Jamnagar since the 1819 15
2. The tidal elevations (in meter) along the Gulf of Kachchh 18
3: Cyclone hitting Gujarat coast 22
4: Devastation by major cyclones 23
5: Population residing along Jamnagar and Kachchh coastline 25
6: Density (persons/sq km) in coastal talukas of Kachchh district 26
7: Density (persons/sq km) in coastal talukas of Jamangar and Rajkot district 26
8: Workers force in the coastal talukas (figures in percentages) 27
9: Fishing families, total fishermen population and active fishermen 28
10: Forest areas in different talukas of Jamnagar District 30
11: The various categories of forest area of talukas of Kachchh district 30
12 Mangrove cover in the Gulf of Kachchh and the West Mangroves (in sq. km) 32
13 Area of the protected areas with the key species 33
14 Rare and threatened fauna in the coastal talukas in the study area 34
15: Species diversity of herbaceous layer in the coastal area of Jamnagar and Kachchh
districts 35
16: The status of upper tier of vegetation in Coastal Talukas of Kachchh District 36
17: The status of upper tier of vegetation in Coastal Talukas of Jamnagar District 36
18: Diversity indices of birds in Kachhch and Jamangar 37
19: Jaccard’s similarity index among different talukas, Kachhch 38
20: Jaccard’s similarity index among different talukas, Jamangar 38
21: Source-wise irrigation in costal talukas 43
22: Saline soils (sq km) in the talukas 46
23: Distribution of industries major and medium in the coastal talukas 48
24: The industries and number of employees in MSME sector 49
25: SIR planned around the Gulf of Kachchh 49
26: SEZs approved around the Gulf of Kachchh 50
27: Traffic and cargo handled by medium ports 51
28: Number of vehicle registered in Jamnagar district 54
29: Number of vehicle registered in Kachchh district 55
30: Stages of excavation at Dholavira 58
31: Historically important sites in Jamnagar 61
32: Projection of Solid waste generation in Major urban centres. 67
33: Results of coastal water monitoring by GPCB 69
34: Projected Urban Water Demand 77
35: Issues identified talukawise with conservation plans 79

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ACKOWLEDGEMENTS

The ecological profile of each coastal taluka of Gulf of Kachchh was carried
out in a time period of one year. Working on the project and coordinating
with other team members was a different experience. I thank the partners for
their support and help that enabled us to bring out the present publication.
Due acknowledgment goes to all the experts and Institutes for sharing the
information and without their cooperation and support it was very difficult to
complete the task in the given time.
We extend our gratitude to the Head of the following Institutions, who took
personnel care in sharing the information as and when demanded:
1. Gujarat Ecology Commission, Gandhinagar.
2. Industrial Extension Bureau (iNDEXTb), Gandhinagar.
3. Gujarat Fisheries Statistics, Commissioner of Fisheries, Gandhinagar.
4. Gujarat Water Resources Development Corporation (GWRDC),
Gandhinagar.
5. Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (GWSSB), Gandhinagar.
6. Gujarat Livestock Development Board, Gandhinagar.
7. Wild life Division of Gujarat, Gandhinagar.
8. Division of Management plans, Forest department, Gandhinagar.
9. Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation,
Gandhinagar.
10. Gujarat Water Resources Development Corporation (GWRDC), Rajkot.
11. India Meteorological Department.
12. Director of Census Operations, Gujarat.
13. Rajokot Zilla Panchayat, Statistical Department, Rajkot.
14. Rajokot Zilla Panchayat, Agriculture Department, Rajkot.
15. Rajokot Zilla Panchayat, Irrigation Department, Rajkot.
16. Rajkot Archeology Department, Rajkot.
17. Pachim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), Corporate Office, Rajkot.
18. Pachim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) Bhuj Circle, Bhuj.
19. Jamnagar Zilla Panchayat Kacheri, Agricultural Department, Jamnagar.
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20. Jamnagar Zilla Panchayat Kacheri, Statistical Department, Jamnagar.
21. Jamnagar Zilla Panchayat Kacheri, Irrigation Department, Jamnagar.
22. Jamnagar Mahanagar Seva Sadan, Solid waste division, Jamnagar.
23. Jamnagar Jilla Seva Sadan-4, Und Irrigation division, Jamnagar.
24. Pachim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), Jamnagar revenue
department, Jamnagar.
25. Pachim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), Jamnagar division 1, 2
and 3 Jamnagar.
26. Gandhidham Municipal Corporation, solid waste division, Gandhidham.
27. Pachim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), Gandhidham division
office, Gandhidham.
28. Pachim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL), Khambhalia division
office, Khambhalia.
29. Gujarat Agricultural University, Anand.
30. Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara.
31. Lalpur Gram panchayat, Lalpur.
32. Dwarka Nagarpalika, Dwarka .

The efforts of field team is worth mentioning and without their constant
travelling and survey work the report in present form could not be achieved.
Last but not the least, we are thankful to the GEC staff for their continuous
support and co-operation during the entire project.

Dr. Deepa Gavali
Director (Acting)

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BACKGROUND

Gujarat has the longest coastline of 1600 km in the country, comprising of major
geomorphic segments namely; Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Kachchh, Saurashtra coast
and Coast of South Gujarat. Gujarat Ecology Commission prepared ecological
profiling of coastal talukas of Gulf of Khambhat in 2011 and such an exercise help
policy makers to develop the best management practices by providing an overview
of status of ecological process at the ground level. In continuation to that exercise
and relevance of Gulf of Kachchh, which is identified as critical habitat by the Union
Ministry of Environment and Forests, the present study was undertaken. The
objectives of the study under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
programme are:
1. To prepare management decision support document that will help plan for
development activities with an overview of the ecological conditions of the
area.
2. To create an ecological and environment data bank at taluka level to utilise it
as a component of management support system.
3. To identify the environment issues of the coastal talukas of Gulf of Kachchh.
The study area consisted of 14 coastal talukas surrounding the Gulf of Kachchh (22°
15’ N to 22° 50’ N and 68° 20’ E to 70° 40’ E) as indicated below;

District Taluka
Devhoomi Kalyanpur, Khambhalia, Okhamandal (Dwarka)
Jamnagar Jamnagar, Lalpur, Jodiya
Morbi Maliya
Kachchh Abdasa-Naliya, Anjar, Bhachau, Gandhidham,
Lakhpat, Mandvi, Mundra
These regions with their fragile ecosystems have experienced rapid industrialization
and urbanization in the last two decades. The present study aimed to create an
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ecological database and identify various environmental issues that would assist the
management support system for ICZM. The section divided into general details and
major issues of the study area with management plan.
Location map of the Study Area
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