For better management and planning of coastal areas and their resources, Gujarat government is implementing Geo-Spatial Information System (GIS) development project.

"The development of GIS for coastal areas is a key component of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZMP) conceived by the union government with a view to convert the approach to coastal zone management from purely regulatory to a sustainable and participatory one," member secretary Gujarat Ecology Commission (GEC), A K Verma, who heads ICZMP in Ahmedabad, told PTI.

"Coastal belt of Gujarat is very dynamic....looking at the extent of developmental activities along the coastal belt, there is a need for GIS."

"Creating basic information on coastal areas using latest technologies like Remote sensing and GIS is envisaged for better management and planning of coastal environment and its resources. This would also facilitate development of local communities."

Through GIS, not only scientific data, maps and pictures would collected, but even a database for infrastructure (ports, jetties, coastal highways, break-water structures, etc) will also be developed, he said.

Special Economic Zones (SEZ), ports, salt and cement industries, oil and natural gas exploration are developing fast along the coast. Moreover, the 1,600 km-long state coastline is home to around 20 million people, a majority of them economically backward, dependant on fishing.

Under the project, Verma said, Digital Terrain Model (DTM) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for the coastal areas too would be prepared.

Large-scale accurate geographic database and maps showing HTL (High Tide Line) and LTL (Low Tide Line) using CARTOSAT or IRS (Indian Remote Sensing satellite) would be prepared. Also, wetland categories between HTL and LTL, and the land-use above HTL would be mapped.

"The GIS would help in better hazard-risk assessment and management for the coast," Verma said.

It would also help in planning various infrastructure activities, including development of hinterland, fisheries, local drainage, sanitation, pollution ameliorative measures, transport and disaster risk reduction.

GIS would be useful in identification of suitable fishing sites, aquaculture infrastructure development, identification of locations for tourist spots, harbours, routing of roads, railways, etc.

ICZMP is being implemented in three states: West Bengal, Orissa and Gujarat. In Gujarat, GEC has been appointed as the State Project Management Unit.