APPLICATION OF REMOTE SENSING FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF COASTAL ZONE REGULATIONS: A CASE STUDY OF INDIA

Coastal zone is an area of interaction between land and sea and thus both terrestrial and marine environments influence this zone. The interaction between various natural processes and human activities is an important factor. Coastal zone in India assumes its importance because of high productivity of its ecosystems, development of industries, concentration of population, exploration of living and non-living resources, discharge of industrial waste effluents and municipal sewage, and spurt in recreational activities. Thus, there is a need to protect coastal environment while ensuring continuing production and development. In view of this, the Govt. of India has declared coastal stretches of bays, estuaries, backwaters, seas, creeks, etc. which are influenced by tidal action up to 500 m from High Tide Line (HTL) and land between Low Tide Line (LTL) and HTL as coastal regulation zone (CRZ) during 1991. Restrictions were imposed on setting up and expansion of industries, operations and processes in CRZ to manage development in coastal areas. In order to regulate these activities in coastal areas, it is necessary to have knowledge about present land use conditions and precise delineation of HTL and LTL. Remote sensing data, especially Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) data