The Bio-Shield project will be first implemented between Dahej and Hazira stretch in the Gulf of Khambhat. The project was conceived 3 years back by Gujarat government and the Bio-Shield project objective is conservation of ecology along the coastline of Gujarat.
The project will include plantation of various species of vegetation, such as mangroves, seaweeds, sea grass, casuarina to control the soil erosion, stabilize the areas and for protection in case of tsunami. This will be done in partnership with local fishermen community and the industries located along the coastline.
Gujarat’s mangrove cover spread over 1,103 sq km is the second largest in the country after West Bengal.
“Locations have been identified in Gulf of Khambhat. This includes one village each in Hansot, Dahej, and Choryasi talukas and two villages in Olpad block,” said Nishchal Joshi, senior manager, projects, Gujarat Ecology Commission.
“Plantation of mangroves, herbs and shrubs will be done in over 25 km stretch (500 hectares) between Dahej and Hazira,” he said, adding that the action plan was ready for approval of the government. Based on the result of the three-year long project similar activity will be implemented in other coastal areas of the state.
Bio-shield projects have already been implemented in parts of Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu and Orissa.
Mangrove cultivation and other vegetation along coast help fishing communities. The fallen leaves release nutrients into the water supporting many species of fish.
The state has number of vital installations along the sea coast which include Reliance and Essar oil refineries in Jamnagar, ONGC, NTPC, Kribhco and L&T along the Hazira belt in South Gujarat, Somnath Temple in Junagadh and Dahej SEZ.
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