Why are the mangroves of Kutch so important?
After the Sunderbans, this is India's second largest mangrove cover and one of the few arid mangroves in the world. So, the need for its preservation.
Are these mangroves endangered?
It's disturbing that only one of the original eight species exists. There is also the problem of salt pans, ports and industries coming up in the area. For instance, the government has given 27 leases to cement manufacturers. To construct their jetties these salt men will dredge silt and soil which will choke the mangroves to death. Thousands of mangrove trees have already been cut down to make room for projects of the Adanis in the Mundra mangrove region.
Why is the destruction of the mangroves bad for the economy?
There must be proper regeneration if mangroves are cut. Almost 1.4 lakh people are dependent on the mangroves for their livelihood. The saline conditions facilitate the breeding of a variety of fish. The forests offer a more equitable distribution of wealth. Mangroves are useful for three reasons here: cyclone prevention, land accretion and fisheries. Without the mangroves the next cyclone might prove disastrous for the Gujarat coast.
What can be done to salvage the situation?
If permission to set up salt pans is not withdrawn, the economy of the region will be severely affected. We must go by Environmental Impact Assessments. The private companies here ignore all norms and the authorities sit on reports because they want to avoid treading on the industries' toes. But I am going to resist this. Development will have to be in consonance with the environment. But if you shut your eyes you will have little ecology in the region left.
