Puducherry: A look at the pictures of the Puducherry beach over a span of 20 years show how the beach has eroded. Three years after the first picture was taken, a harbour was constructed on the beach in 1989 altering the sea currents and impacting beach formation.
"When ever you make something into the sea, it affects the way beaches are formed. The ministry should ask for a moratorium on new ports and expansion of new ports," said Sunita Narain, Director, CSE.
India has 5,700 kilometres of coastline and among the most sought after beaches, but all of them face a real danger.
According to one estimate there are 187 ports that are awaiting clearance by the Centre. But there could be double that number waiting to be built.
"All minor ports are cleared by states and no data is kept for those. Then there are private ports also which are cleared by the state," said Sunita Narain.
Environmentalists claim that most of the port projects are not required and are only an excuse to build along the coast.
Under existing laws no construction can take place within 500 meters of the coast. More construction would cause more pollution and also threaten the livelihood of 12 million fishermen who rely on the sea.
On their part, the ministry has ordered a comprehensive study of the effects of ports on the coastline and marine ecological systems. This report is expected in the next three months.