ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS DEPARTMENT - Declaration of Dugong Conservation Reserve in Palk Bay of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972

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© GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL NADU 2022

[Regd. No. TN/CCN/467/2012-14.

[R. Dis. No. 197/2009.

[Price: Rs. 2.40 Paise.

No. 456] CHENNAI, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 Purattasi 4, Subakiruthu, Thiruvalluvar Aandu-2053

Part II—Section 2

Notifications or Orders of interest to a Section of the public

issued by Secretariat Departments.

NOTIFICATIONS BY GOVERNMENT

ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND FORESTS DEPARTMENT

DECLARATION OF DUGONG CONSERVATION RESERVE IN PALK BAY OF THE WILD LIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972

[G.O. Ms. No.165, Environment, Climate Change and Forests (FR.5), 21st September 2022, புரட்டாசி 4, சுபகிருது, திருவள்ளுவர் ஆண்டு-2053.]

No. II(2)/ECCF/768(a)/2022.

WHEREAS, the Government of Tamil Nadu considers that the area described in the Schedule below is of adequate ecological and biological signifi cance for the purpose of protecting, propagating, developing wildlife and its environment.

AND WHEREAS, Palk Bay is a shallow bay located on the southeast coast of India. Its environment is unique in the sense that it is almost an enclosed bay with input from several small rivers along its coast. The marshlands of this backwater system support lush growth of mangrove forests which harbour a wide variety of birds both native and migratory. The backwaters act as breeding and feeding grounds for a wide variety of fi n-fi sh and shell-fi sh. The enclosed nature of the bay provides the ideal habitat for dugongs, dolphins, porpoises and turtles to frequent the region.

AND WHEREAS, the region is rich in biodiversity having all the important groups of fl ora and fauna in its environment. The total number of species and their endemic form given in parentheses are Foraminifera 51 (2), Tintinnids 12, Flora 143 (1), Sponges 275 (31), Coelenterates other than corals 123 (49), Stony corals 128 (43), Polyzoa 100 (15), Polychaeta 75 (22), Insecta 1 (1), Crustacea 651 (159), Mollusca 733 (26), Echinodermata 274 (2), Prochordata 66 (41), Fishes 580, Turtles 5, Birds 61, and Mammals 11.

AND WHEREAS, the endangered species Dugong (Dugong dugon) lives within 10 metre depth not far from the shore, usually in groups limited to 5 to 7 individuals among the sea grass beds. The sea grass, Cymodocea, is their primary diet. Their presence has been continuously recorded in the Palk Bay. Dugongs can grow to a size of over 300 kilograms measuring 3.0 to 3.5 metre in length. Due to uncontrolled fi shing carried out in the past and also due to reduction in their grazing area viz., the sea grass Cymodocea, their numbers have come down drastically.

AND WHEREAS, it was scientifi cally proved that the coastal areas of Thanjavur and Pudukottai districts in Palk Bay is covered by around 12,250 hectares of seagrass beds, and protecting seagrass beds and dugongs in this area, will also help for the breeding of commercially valuable fi nfi shes, crabs and shrimps, thereby benefi tting thousands of small scale and marginal fi shermen, who depend on fi shery productivity for their daily livelihood in the nearshore areas.

II-2 Ex. (456)

[ 1 ]2 TAMIL NADU GOVERNMENT GAZETTE EXTRAORDINARY AND WHEREAS, it is necessary to conserve and sustain this area in Palk Bay as a conservation reserve from an ecological as well as environmental point of view.

NOW, THEREFORE, in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of Section 36A of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972(Central Act 53 of 1972), the Governor of Tamil Nadu, after having consultations with the local communities hereby declares the areas of Palk Bay, as specifi ed in the Schedule below, as "Dugong Conservation Reserve" on and from the date of 21st September 2022.

T(cid:3472)(cid:3469) S(cid:3467)(cid:3472)(cid:3469)(cid:3468)(cid:3485)(cid:3476)(cid:3469)

The area comprises of a polygon formed by the coastal boundaries of Thanjavur and Pudukkottai Districts, starting from Adirampattinam in Thanjavur District to Ammapattinam in Pudukkottai District, also bounded by the contour at a distance of 10 kilometres or 5.3996 nautical miles from the coastal boundary, towards the sea.

1. Name of the Districts : The Coastal waters of Thanjavur and Pudukkottai Districts.

2. Location : Along Palk Bay from Adirampattinam to Ammapattinam 3. Boundary Description :

Northern Boundary - Starting from Adirampattinam (A) Coastal Village in Thanjavur

District runs towards southwest along the coast of Palk Bay to a

distance of 33.68 kilometres vide points A1 to A19 and reaches

Kattumavadi (B) Village in Pudukkottai District.

Western Boundary - Starting from Kattumavadi (B) Village in Pudukkottai District runs

towards south east along the coast of Palk Bay to a distance of

11.9 kilometres vide points B to B8 and turns gradually towards

south west direction along the coast of Palk Bay and joins

Ammapattinam (C) Village in Pudukkottai District vide point B8

and B9 at a distance of 6.5 kilometres.

Southern Boundary - Starting from Ammapattinam (C) Coastal Village in Pudukkottai

District reaches point D towards eastern side of the conservation

reserve area at a distance of 10 kilometres in sea water.

Eastern Boundary - Starting from point D in coastal waters of Palk Bay runs towards

northern direction along the sea waters from D to E vide points

D1 to D5 at a distance of 22.10 kilometres and from E to F

vide points E1 to E3 at a distance of 17.20 kilometres and joins

Adirampattinam (A) Coastal Village in Thanjavur District which is

in the northern side of the conservation reserve area. The distance

from point F to A is 10 kilometres.

4. Details of Geo co-ordinates of the boundaries:

Note : All Geo coordinates are expressed in decimal degrees and in WGS 84 Datum

5. Distance:

6. Distance between adjacent boundary points:

7. Total Perimeter of the Reserve : 111.38 Kilometres

8. Total Extent : 448.34 Sq. Kilometres (or)

44,834.00 Hectares

SUPRIYA SAHU,

Additional Chief Secretary to Government.

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