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MADRAS - 600 002
JUNE 1996

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PREPARED BY

DIRECTORATE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING

GOVERNMEN T OF TAMILNADU
MADRAS - 600 002
JUNK 1996

CONTENTS
Executive

Page No,

Summary

Recommendations

il
CHAPTER 1

Physical

Setting

1-43

of Tamil

Nadu

Coast

Geo]ogy
Geomorphology
Climate
Resources

Wave CIimate

and Coasta]

Socio Economic Conditions

Response

of Tamil

Nadu

Coast

Popul a t i o n
Occupation
Other

Major

facilities

Devel opment Scenerio of Tamil

Coastal
Ports

Nadu

Coast

erosion

and

Harbours

Pol 1 u t i o n
Aquaculture

CHAPTER

44 - 48

Base Maps f o r the p r e p a r a t i o n of Coastal

Management

PI an of Tamil

Zone

Nadu
x.

Coastal

Water

Categorisation

Bodies
of CRZ

CHAPTER
Coastal

Regulatlon

49-91

Zone

ANNEXURES
Coastal Zone Management PI an Maps of
Tamil Nadu (31Maps-Reduced)
Coastal

R e g u l a t i o n Zone

Plan for MMDA

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Government of

India by their Gazette

dated 2 0 . 2 . 1 9 9 1 declared the Coastal

bays, e s t u a r i e s ,

creeks,

are influenced by Tidal

Notification

stretches of

seas,

rivers and backwaters which

Action

(in the landward

side,

upto 500 metres from the High Tide Line and the

1 anc

between the Low Tide Line

Coastal Regulation

and the High Tide Line as

Zone and imposed certain

conditions.

The respective State Governments and Union Territories

were directed

to prepare Coastal

with High T i d e Line

boundaries

This

500 metres regulation line other

and d i f f e r e n t

for the approval

Zone Management PI an

categories of coastal

of Ministry of Environment

report presents the Coastal

Plan (CZM) of Tamil

Nadu.

areas

ana Forest.

Zone Management

A description of the regu-

lation zone ana i t s categories are given in this

report

A reduced version of

plates

30 original

are included in the report.

out of this exercise

1:25,000

scale

The recommendation emerging

are given

overleaf.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.

For
as

regulating
per

the

ministry

Notificationj

2.

prepared

^ay

be

used.

The

500

metre

has

in

for

and

the e n t i r e

as per

the

of Remote S e n s i n g ,

has

established

j and

with

Plans

Nadu Coast

from High

Tide

maps produced
Anna

by

University,and

reference

to physical

marks.

For d e t a i l e d
Zone

and Forest

Tamil

lines

Institute
t o be

Areas

Zone Management

200 metre

been used

t h e Co.astal

of E n v i r o n m e n t

t h e Coastal

fCZMP)

nine

3.

activities

and

p l a n n i n g of

adjoining

use

cadastral

the

regulation

(1:25,000

the

areas,

scale

Coastal

it

may be necessary

(1:4000)

1ines

given

Regulation

maps.

in

the

In such

to

cases,

present maps

s c a l e ) m a y be c o n s i d e r e d

as a general

guideline.

4.

The

associated

backwaters,
have

been

Remote

features

tidal

taken

Sensing

preparing

the

with
and
5.

As

prior

rivers,

as f u r n i s h e d

maps

if

sea,

like

swamps

of

while

as per H y d r o g r a p h i c

permission

etc.,

by t h e I n s t i t u t e

found d i f f e r e n t

by Chief

creeks,

Hydrographer.

maps to be
say be

altered

of M i n i s t r y

of

Environment

the N o t i f i c a t i o n ,

an

appropriate

Forest.
mentioned

Authority
oi

the

action on

and

rcade a v a i l a b l e

of

in

may be e n t r u s t e d

implementing

Coastal

Area

the

with

regulation

Planning

and

the

responsibility.

and for

Development.

undertaking

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER

A.

Physical

Setting

of Tamil

1_

Nadu Coast

Geo! op,y

Tamil
interesting

Nadu Coast

1 andforms

Pulicat. Lake i n

is punctuated

by a number of

s t a r t i n g from tbe b r a c k i s h

the North to the rocky coast of Kanya-

kumari

i n the S o u t h .

Many other f e a t u r e s ,

flats,

sandy

mangroves,

beaches,

palaco beach
The coast

ridges

line

etc.,

of Tamil

to Kanyakumari

water

marsh,

are present

delta,

along

Nadu from P u l i c a t

in the South

is over

such as mud
creeks,

the

coast.

i n the

a thousand

North

kilometers

1 ong.
Geologically,
gradually

falling

are extremely
the landward
the seaward

side

shore t r e n c h e s
continental

landscape

flat

side

the east coast

in

Except

a barefly
referred

for

is

of gradual

waters

submerged

sport

Nadu Coast on
true

appropriately

on

a ? s y s t e of

slope.

It

off-

the

is

very

of Mannar a r e a ,

a t h r i v i n g coral

land bridge

a '

slopes

Porto Novo and Karaikkal ,

shallow i n t h e Pal k - s t r a i t - G u l f
the s h e l t e r e d

The

same i s g e n e r a l l y

as w e l 1 .

shelf

the edge of

with w a t e r .

the e n t i r e Tamil

and the

off

is

where

reef

and

along the c h a i n of

as Adam's b r i d g e between

islets

Indian

Coast, and S r i ] ankan C o a s t .

The seaward and

landward

sides also e x h i b i t

rock out c r o p s .

Indeed

very

few

only n o t i c e a b l e ones

are at Manal 1 apuram,

Madras.

of P e n i n s u l a r

The geology

Archean g n e i s s e s .

Sedimentary

India

just
is

rivers,

delta.

d e p o s i t e d by the other

The a l l u v i u m

Gadilam,

Vaigai

particularly

and Tambaraparani

the

south of

basically

load I n t h i s coast

mainly by P e n i n s u l a r

is

the

is

Cauvery

rivers,Pal a r ,

are not very heavy

in

comparison.
The coastal
coarse

and f i n e

or no o r g a n i c

sand.

matter

save odd thorny

zone i s
It

almost e n t i r e l y

is

mostly

and supporting

bushes

except

sterile
little

in mangrove

aranatious
with

little

vegetation,
swamps.

The

sand zone is a fl at broad pi a i n for a width varying from

2 0 0 ra. tc 300 m. in most s t r e t c h e s , while going upto 500 ra,
at others.

However it b u i l d s up into dunes near

Cuddalore

and dune formation is extensive'" in the southern half /of

the coast from Raiaanathapurara coast upto Kanniyakunari
Coast.

In fact this reaches very significant levels

Tirunelveli

in

Coast around Tisaiyanvil ai and Uvary.

Geomorphology:
In the north, near Pul icat range, three
lines,

with intervening broad tidal

coastal

plains.

estuaries,

dunes,

represent the marine 1 andforras.

tract c o n s i s t s

erosional ) , Flood plain

plain

(Fluvio-Marine)

part of

falts occur in the

Lagoons, Mangrove swamps, salt

creeks, b a r r i e r ,

o f the coastal

strand

marshes,

spits and beach terraces

Major Georaorphic

of an upland

plain(Fluvio

(Fluvio-depositional ) ,

and coastal

features

deltaic

plain ( M a r i n e ) .

A large

the d e l t a i c area of the coast is occupied by

interdistributory
reddish

flood b a s i n s ,

comprising brown and

grey sil ty clay and f i n e sands.

The coast near

Mandapam is a huge cuspate foreland and continuation to

t h i s i s Rameswaram Island which is built over a platform
of quatenary

sand stone end coral

reefs.

The Geonorphic

f e a t u r e s figurijjgon the southern extremity of the coast

along Tuticorin
lowlands,

and Kanniyakumari are beach,

coastal

plains,

coastal

wave cut platforms, cl i f f ed

coast and cape.

Cl imate:
The meteorological
interesting.

The normal

aspect of the coastal

wind speeds are not

b u t are s u f f i c i e n t l y b r e e z y .
i s ' m a i n l y due to the returning

The rainfall

coast however i s

is

excessive,

on this coast

monsoon from north-west

during October-Decesber s e a s o n s . The southern tip

Kanniyakumari

zone

of

the en!y portion of the

Inxiiar

larici-mass

preci.p'-tat. i o n s
vcir-'e:i-. from

to

receive

upto

both the

2 5 0 cms.

a moderate

The r a i n f a l l

ICG cms.

at the

Macirai^-Pondicherry

coast

coast: .

rapidly declines,

of

Further

3r 5 1 a n k a n

T i rune.i vel i

it

1 andmass

coast

to about

150

to leave che

mostly

monsoons

and has

elsewhere

northern end of
cms.

at Thanjavur

b e i n g in the

shadow

Ramanathapuram-

dry.

Resources:
Ground

Water

Resources:

Ground

water

is

a j s r i . c j tural
40

oi

the

total

The
est-i rmced
wa~e-T
uses

is

ana

T&isror.vur

and

In

f j^'nea
t.c
ar-v

table,

r:

of

the
the

the

Si

- ^ater

Nadu.

the coast

is
Ground

blocks for

different

industrial

ana

of

Cftengai-MGR. South Arcot,

in other s o u t h e r n
stretch of Tamil

peine,

shallow

coastal
people

Nadu

districts.

generally

identified,viz.,

and deep acqutfer

sand d u n e s

along

coastal

been

largely

system

caters

the coast for both domestic

q u a l i t y of ground

coastal
fresh

intrusion

water along

to place d e p e n d i n g on

ana a f f e c t

h y d r o g e o l ogi cal

i-oring.

domestic,

to

purposes.

topography
the

the coastal

districts

from p l a c e

scceri s t i c of

o^

ir.;*

on

ana caters

recharge etc.

a q u i f e r . systems have

Chemical

varies

In
c -

the

of

for

The ground w a t e r extraction has

Coastaj

agricultural

-.fill,

along

filter

mainly

The

rainfall,

moderate

the

rile n e e d s

cc-

w a t e r potential

drinking,

in

different

waiter

area i n Tamil

purposes .

extensive

fousr

irrigated

on the

for

a g r i cui tural
beer1

development

extracted

:iuch as

resource

industrial

ground

based

a most v a l u a b l e

tract,

of

sea-iter

the

1 : choi ogy.

intrusion.

vide v a r i a t i o n occurs in tne

water and s a l i n e
situation.

i n t o coast-ai

The

aquifers

danger of

aquifers

needs

depending
oossible
continuous

Mineral

Resources

In the area

around Pul i c a t

occurrence of lime s h e l l s ,
very much n o t i c e d .
Zircon Grnet

salt

Coastal

and s i l i c a n

sands

the

are

areas rich in M o n o z i t e ,

IImnite

etc.

Tamil

Nadu Coastal

sands

source of many minerals of

group.

and Gummidipoondi

These occur

southern extremes

in

the

are also a

significant

Titanium-Zircon-Thorium

significant

quantities

around M a n a v a l a k k u r i c h i

in

in

the

Kanniyakumari

coast.
Oil

and Natural

The Tamil

as the

Oil.and Natural Gta

i t s operations
f i n d s of Oil
Cauvery

Resources

Nadu c o a s t

has been i d e n t i f i e d
of

Gas

in t h i s

from Pondicherry

potential

both on l a n d

During

and Coastal

the monsoons

i n wind s p e e d ,

i s very a c t i v e

the c o a s t .

The c u r r e n t
sector

vulnerable
bringing

develop a sand-bar

locked

a s e r i e s of f r e s h

island

Lake

rivers

100,OOC years have l e f t

fairly

strong i n

seals

of

in this

northern

of

This

sector

the

the
has

to

l a g o o n to t h e i r n o r t h e r n

bank

and b r a c k i s h water swamps or

at

the northern border

is the b i g g e s t

with the southward d r i f t

a metre.

i n the

the low flow s e a s o n .

al 1 the

The Pulicac

drift

is

metres.

t i d e of

and v i r t u a l l y

e s t u a r i e s during

Sriharikota

a normal

1 itteral

resul ted i n almost

lagoons.

the

Response

regular frequency

with

a strong

Pondicherry-Madras

creating

shore areas of

upto 200 kmph and t i e d s upto 1 0

There is

riverine

substantial

the coast i s very

to cyclones which occur w i t h

part of

conducting

There has been

and o f f

exploration

Basin.

VJave Climate

The surf

area for

Commission has been

area.

to Rameswaram

Palar

a series

of t h e s e .

This

river over the

of

around
coupled
last

i arge sub-soil

acquifie

Table I

COASTAL T O W N S / C I T I E S in TAMIL NADU AND THEIR

POPULATION ACCORDING TO 1 9 9 1

District

Name of the
Coastal
Town

CENSUS

Urban
Class
(1991)

Area

1 7 4 .. 0

Popu]ation
according
to 1991
census

3841396

1 . Madras

Madras

2 . Chengai-MGR

Thiruvottiyur(M)

2 1 ,. 4 2

168642

Pulicat

11,. 8 6

4402

5 .48

144561

III

11 . 8 1

23550

3.

4.

(MC)

(P)

South Arcot Cuddal o r e ( M )

Vail ar

Portonovo(P)

Nagai

Nagapattinam(M)

II

19 . 5 0

99745

Quide

Adhiramapattinam I I I
i
IV
Tranquebar(P)

12 . 8 0

26645

Muthupet

IV

11 . 2 7

18826

Akkaraipettai(P)

4 .00

8756

Thirumul1aivasal

IV

17 . 2 6

11551

Vedaranyam(P)

III

33 . 9 7

27832

III

27 , 2 0

29928

III

52 . 3 6

32721

IV

21 . 1 6

19935

Tondi(P)

12 . 3 8

19 240

Tuticorin(M)

13 . 3 8

192949

III

13 . 4 7

27420

III

16 . 4 0

24428

III

10 . 8 0

23453

Mil 1 eth

5 . Thanjavur

(P)

6 . S'amanathap- K i l a k a r a i
uram
Rameswaram
Mandapam(P)

7. Tirunelveli

KattabommanTiruchendur(P)
8.

V . O . Chidam - K a y a l p a t t i n a m ( P )
baranar
Arumuganeri. ( P )

Kanniyakumari

VI

2 .16

5912

Palayakkayal(P)

VI

23 . 7 9

4925

5 .76

7829

5 .18

24305

4 .91

17225

Kol achal ( , )
Kanniyakumari(TS)

III
IV

Total

Source

18881

Tuticorin(P)

Kulasekarapattinam
9.

19 . 2 2

: Censur of

India

-Tamil Nadu 1991

58.42

4827057

many of which are also on the c o a s t .

in this belt
the c o a s t ,

to take f r e s n

while

farther

brackish water w e l l s

water a c q u i f i e r

i s l a n d the usual

are

is

fairly

common
close

to

sea-intrusion

of

tapped for shrimp p r o d u c t i o n .

however i s not true f a r t h e r

to the

Indeed i t

south and salt

This

pans occur

close

sea.

B . Socio Economic C o n d i t i o n s of Tamil

Nadu Coast

Popul at.ion
The c o a s t l i n e

of Tamil

in length i s d o t t e d w i t h
centres,

and about

Nadu,

nearly

260 v i l l a g e s

to the economy of

the S t a t e .

maritime d i s t r i c t

comprising

anu one c l a s s

II

al so jten overall

t . .

town and

i s on the i n c r e a s e .

towns are centres

Kilakarai,

and forms

of

of four Class

cover

cities/towns,

towns.

There

exist

classes.
urban

areas

expansion of p o p u l a t i o n
since

the

and ranufacturing

in

coastal

activities.

Vedaranyam,

Adhivarampattinam,

Muthupet,

Kayalpattinam,

Kulasekarapattinam

are some of

are oriented

is predominant

mainly towards

The d e n s i t y

whose

density

in the S t a t e .

roughly

10%

of

the

5860 s q . k m .

The

census

activities

trade and commerce.

of p o p u l a t i o n i n the coastal

has higher c o n c e n t r a t i o n .

as per 1981

contributor

rapia

trade

urban

a major

p o p u l a t i o n in the coastal
The

1 0 0 0 KM

These urban centres

ten Class I I I

the towns where p o p u l a t i o n

of

25 big and small

urban areas i s u n d e r s t a n d a b l e

Nagapattinam,

over

townsbel onging to three lower

The growth of

coastal

extending

urban

area

The city of Madras has the maximun

T h e coastal
total

urban

population
was 3 9 . 7 3

to be in the order of n e a r l y

urban
areas
of

areas
of

constitute
the

coastal

lakhs and i t was

State

areas
estimated

50 lakhs in the year

2001.

District:
Taluk:

Village

169

Chengalpattu

M.G.R.

Ponneri

No,

Name o f v j . l l a g e

Area

Number o f
U<~'HS8

Householris

Density

Palaverkadu
Pulicat

252

Population

823

838

3660

797

797

5064

1102

1102

a/c

4184

b/c
c/c

1185.74

3.53

38 9 4 . 7 6

Karimanal
1674

71556

404

404

2.34

Kalanji

161

457.01

44

44

0.35

92

Kattupalli

768

996.3 2

203

203

0.77

45

Pu zhu t h i v * k k am

301

1037.75

81

81

0.29

96

Thangalperumbalam

93

Distrlct:

Chengalpattu M.G.P..

Taluk:

Chengalpattu

Village
No.

Name of

Village

Population

Area

No. o f
Houses

Household

Density

Navalur

1546

2 0 9 .. 0 9

329

331

7,. 3 9

Egattur

683

3 0 7 . .84

100

100

2.. 2 2

Kazhipattur

1454

4 6 3 .,03

302

303

3,. 3 4

Padur

2534

7 0 3 .. 9 1

536

539

3., 6 0

Kelamba'klcam

2625

1 7 6 . ,26

530

581

14. . 8 9

M ama11apur am

8371

9 0 3 .. 0 0

1557

1772

9., 2 7

181

Sadurangapattjnam

5798

2 5 9 ..41

1283

1395

22. .35

200

Pudupattinam

18196

6 5 4 . ,34

4200

4332

2 7 . .81

201

Voyalur

4436

620.72

940

1016

7. ,35

Dlstrict:

Chengalpattu

Taluk:

Chevyur

V I 1 3 age
No.

Name o f

M.G.R.

Village

Population

Area

No.of
Houses

Household

Density

305

Mudaliyarkuppam

3598

1013.58

803

803

3.55

304

Panaiyur

5710

1261.38

1103

1106

4.53

293

Alambarai

2808

161.88

599

602

17.35

292

Kottaikadu

a/b

5410

974.99

1122

1183

5.55

Kottaikadu

b/b

2808

627

628

395

Kadalur

5223

1436.11

1137

1137

3 .64

106

Kilarkolloi

1578

211.84

319

322

7.45

352

Kanathur

2186

611.74

473

473

3.57

Guduvappa1lavadi
Kudikadu.
Pa nch ay amku ppam
Thiyagavalli
Thiruchopwram
Kayalpakkarn
A n d a r Mul lioallarn
Singaraku^i

District:

South

Taluk:

Cuddalore

Village
No.

177

34

Arcot

' Name o f

Vallalar

village

Madallipattu

Subarippalavadi

Population

Area

No. o f
Houses

Households

5165

640.67

1069

1069

8.06

405

129.05

92

92

3.14

Density

- 1 1 -

Dlstrict:

Chengalpattu

Taluk:

Tindivanam

Village
No.

Name of

M.G.R.

Village

Population

Area

No. o f
Houses

Households

Density

16374

3490.69

3306

3399

4.69

651

317.55

132

132

2.05

Panichamedu

1025

1 8 7 . .13

203

203

5.48

215

Kunnirodu

7771

1885.3 7

1610

1611

4.12

214

Chettikuppam

1841

562.42

383

383

3.27

202

Marakkanam

205

Atchikadu

210

Pettai
Arum and ai
Pudunattu

District:

Chengalpattu

Taluk*

Vanur

Village
No.

Name o f

M.G.R.

Village

303

Kottakuppam

258

Bommayampa1ayam
Vadapattinam
Thenpattinam
Mugaiyur
Paramankeni
Vembanur

Population

Area

No. of
Houses

Households

Density

20950

965.J 3

3767

3859

21.71

7017

1247.42

135.1

1364

5.63

Dlstrlcti

South Arcot

Taluk

Chidambaram

Village
No.

75

Name of

Vallalar

Village

Population

Klllal

9461

Households

2068

2068

6.61

753.45

1032

1056

6.63

865.06

681

682

3.77

770.55

642

642

4.16

890.74

546

546

2.95

680

690

245

245

1431.51

Pltchavaram

R.F.

1025.67

Pitchavaram

Extension

92.27

R.F.

62
Silambimangalam

4 995

63
Villiyanallur

3264

66
Kothattal

3202

69

76

Density

NO. o f
Houses

Area

Arlyagoshtl

aA>

2631

Ariyagoshtl

b/b

3472

Thandavaraya
Cholanganpettal.

1151

331.79

3.47

District:

Nagapattinam

Taluk:

Sirkali

Village

No.

Name o f

Quaid-e-Milleth

Village

Perunthottam
ravadai
P u d u p a 1 1 i nam

District

Population

Area

No. of
Houses

Households

Density

4270

607.57

984

989

7.03

A/B

6175

1530.28

1427

1461

4.04

B/B

1269

295

295

Panda-

fMk

Thandavakulam

4130

1022.20

1059

1059

4.04

Vedankudi

4646

1563.00

1022

1022

2.97

11551

669.24

Thennampattinam

4138

784,33

898

914

5.28

Kilalyur

6643

B 9676

1453

1477

7,41

Vanagiri

5348

801.08

1164

1164

6.68

Thirumullalvasal
(Urban Panchayat)

17.26

Distrlct*

Nagai Quaid-e-Milleth

Taluk*

Tharagambadl

Village
NO.

Name of

District

own

Population

Area

No. of
Houses

Households

Density

Poraiyar
Ka1amanattur

2805

811.26

656

658

3.46

Marudarnpallam

28 02

502.16

617

617

5.58

2593

839.25

626

626

3.09

4243

624.00

910

928

6.80

18881

982.36

Pillaiperumal
Manikkapangu

Nallur

Sattangudi
Taragambadl

19.22

Nagapattinam

Quaid-e-Milleth

Nagapattinam
Village
No.

Name o f

Nag o r e

Population

own

Area

N o . of
Houses

Households

A/B

83

18

18

B/B

887

193

193

Density

Vadakkupoyar
Pappakovil

2752

580.75

633

633

4.7 4

Prathiba

5779

1553.96

1315

1315

3.72

Karuvelangadai

1051

308.00

261

261

3.41

Hiiruppundi

4490

936.05

1136

1136

4.80

428.24

1501

1301

14.57

1168.82

1193

1193

3.98

601

602

Ramapuram

Kilchetti

Therkkupoyur
Vilandamadevi
Vellankanni
Vettaikaran

N g a p a t t inarm

6155
Iruppu
A/B

4648

B/B

2240
86489

5843.85

14.80

Dlstrlct*

Nagal-Quald-e-Milieth

Taluk*

Vedaranyam

Village
No.

Name of Town

Population
M

Area
M

No.of
houses
n

Households
<

i.

t~

Density

Ag a s th i arnpa 1 1 1
Kodiyakadu(Kodikarai)

176 2

694.71

384

384

2.54

Kovilpattu

2747

567<> 0 0

682

682

4.84

Vellapallarn

5311

937.37

1241

1243

5.67

Naluvedampattl

4938

959.69

1217

1219

5.15

Pushpavanam

5700

1370.31

1405

1407

4.16

Periyaguttagal

2233

614.90

513

513

3.63

29832

877.67

Thoppathurai
Vedaranyam

U/A

33.99

- 1 8 -

District:
Taluk:

Village
No.

Nagai-Quaid-e-Milleth
T h l ru t h u r a i poorjdi

Name of Town

Muthup-t

Population

Area

No.of
houses

Households

(1)Rural

18826

1670.45

(2)Urban

421

73.12

111

111

3 4 6 o 44

665

686

Thuraikkadu

A/b
B/b

2 751

Density

11.27
5.76

7.96

-19District:

Nagai

Taluk:

Nannllam

Village
No.

Quaid-e-Miliath

Name ofTown

Panangudl

Population

Area

1225

311.48

No.of
Houses

265

Households

266

Density

3.93

~20-

District:

Thanjavur

Taluk:

Pattukottal

Village
No.

N a me o f Town

Population

Area

No. of
houses

Households

Thamblkku N a l l a v a n k o t t a i
Maravakkadu
A/B
B/B

1715
860

2531.2

435
188

435
188

0.68

Thamblkku
Vadakku

3522

1293.02

896

896

2.72

5252
5025

2309.60

1202
1231

1211
1231

2.27

Palanjur

2 092

1476.20

494

494

1.42

Adirampattinam

1591

98 7 . 4 0

241

241

1.61

Eripurakkarai

2504

829.40

530

530

3.02

579

175.60

126

126

3.30

Sarabendrarayanpattinam

4563

207.34

780

850

22.01

Rajamadam

2094

625.20

513

513

3.35

Kollukkadu

1795

505.00

368

368

3.48

Pudupattinam

1300

242.20

251

258

5.37

Andikkadu

1409

366.80

324

324

3.84

65

115.60

15

15

0.56

1113
551

221.88

255
129

255
129

5.02

Nallavankottai

Thamarankottai

A/B
B/B

Vellivayal

Kollivoyal
Karisavayal

,
A/B
B/B

Density-

Distrlct:

Thanjavur

Taluk:

Peravoorani

Village
No.

Name o f Town

Area

No.of
houses

793

1 2 9 . ,48

128

131

95

3 9 1 . ,21

27

27

611

3 3 5 . ,15

144

144

Sendalalvayal

1167

1 8 6 . .14

212

212

Nadiyarn

2093

7 0 7 .. 8 2

454

470

Sedubavachattram

1225

9 4 ., 1 0

237

243

Marakkavalasai

1443

4 0 4 .. 3 1

286

292

24

1 1 5 .. 0 9

1922

7 2 5 . .16

410

417

A/b

1496

5 3 6 . >70

327

334

B/b

479

?.. 3

89

Rowthanvayal
VIllunnlyoyal
Adikadevan

Ariyakuttlthevan
Thlruvathevan
Kuppathevan

Population

Households

9li

Density-

District:

Pudukottai

Taluk

Avudalyar

Village
No.

Kovll

ame o f Town

Area

No.of
houses

Households

246

386.96

56

56

0.64

8659
4968

1135.24
-

1863
842

1864
846

7.63
y

10737

1028.64

2178

2304

10.44

K i zh aman j a k k u a i

2081

594.50

413

413

3.50

Nattanipurasakudi

7719

916.21

1418

1436

842

Alaganvayal

2627

238,45

498

498

llo02

298

331.53

63

63

0.90

3092

239.96

504

528

12,89

Ravu th a n v a y a 1

169

36.87

40

40

4.58

Pi l l a i y a r t i d a l

295

168.37

69

69

1.75

1616

873.69

312

312

1.85

Avadaiyarpattinam

390

18.11

65

65

21.54

Thandalai

943
551

598.54

230
94

230
94

1.58

2071
924

778.30

440
212

440
212

2.66

1203

761.35

239

239

1.58

Melastanam

(3

Manamelkudi

Population

part)
A/b
B/b

Kodikulam

Enadi.
S u b r ahrnany apu r am

Munpalai

Density

Manamelkudi

A/b
B/b

Periamadaipayachal
S^yyandiam
Mimisal
Palangulam

A/b
B/b

D s t r i c t :

Ramanathapuram

Taluk:

Thiruvadanal

Village
No.

Name o f

Marungur

Uppur

Village

A/c

Area

No. o f
houses

Households

3870

637

637

C/c

1351

287

287

A/b

2989

590

590

B/b

585

123

123

A/e

Density

564.78

B/c

T1rupoalaikudi
Vattanam

Population

670.85

4.46

7078

286.63

1273

1273

24.69

151

464.37

38

38

0.33

B/e
C/e

490

101

101

D/e

1139

241

241

E/e
Muthuramalingapattinami

254

155.46

49

49

1.63

Valangudl

218

81.78

41

41

2.67

A/c

1278

115.38

233

235

11.08

B/c

1640

316

345

C/c

723

125

125

472

472

Pudupattinam

Chitturuvadi

2145

589.88

3.64

Taluk:

Vlllage
No.

Thlruvadanal

contd. .

Name o f

Tovm

Valamavur

Thondi

Population

A/b

73

B/b

311

(U/A)(TP)

Nantbuthalai
Kaliyanaguri
K an ath ankundu

Area

273.66

No. of
houses

House
holds

16

16

63

63

Density

0.27

19240

1554.12

12.38

6908

816.55

8.46

-25District:

Ramanathapuram

Taluk:

Raman a th a p u r am

Village
No.
1.

Name o f

'4

Town

Populatlon

2.

Area

3.

Households
6.

Density
7.

623

681.60

139

139

0.91

b/c

1136

2263.92

247

247

0.50

c/c

4573

898

898

Pattennendal
M&ndapam

4.

No. of
houses
5.

Pudumadam

783.19

1461.7;.

1^61

8.86

1520.79

1486

1510

5.02

148

148

a/b

7635

Devlpattinam

b/b

715

Attiyuthu

6940

Devipattinam
Chittrakkottai

6667

2106.82

1331

1337

3.16

. 2407

1162.58

445

445

2.07

1054.97

499

499

2.82

400

400

1319

1320

1317

1317

Terbuogi

a/b

2972

ferbuogi

b/b

2190

2294.47

Alagankulam

a/b

6390

Alagpmkulam

b/b

6974

>

2.78
-

Attangarai

2854

814.76

601

616

3.50

Kilnagachchi

2328

954.12

502

502

2.44

Enmanamkondan

5159

481.17

1141

1154

a/b

2572

1070.61

625

625

b/b

1419
2108

293

1.58
0.57

Pirappanvalasai
Sattakkonvalasai
Nochiyurani

a/b

750

b/b

1581

1332.92

405

293
406

1305.20

152

152

398

398

10.72 r
2.40
mm

rnnl' fW

Taluks

amanathapuram

contd....

2.

3.

Karan

2130

a/b
b/b

Rettaiyuranl

1034

ft.

514.
1231.40

441

6.

7.

441

252

252

1382.33

203

203

1.73

0.65

a/b

903

b/c

2972

717

717

c/c

1571

380

380

Perlyapattlnam a / b

6177

1122

1122

b/b

1585

337

337

a/c

2484

1190.04

5 75

575

b/c

1922

417

417

c/c

1070

262

262

a/d

1849

2929.02

287

287

b/d

811

154

152

c/d

2025

380

380

d/d

1914

434

434

Kanjlrangudl

a/b

5431

1586.48

1049

1049

3.42

Keelakaral

a/b

2906

1098.84

598

598

2.64

29928

1100.29

3107

1374.12

601

601

Kallmankundu

Tlruppullanl

Koolakaral
Mayakulam

T.P. (u/a)

931.75

6.63
--

2.09

0.63

27.20
2.26

Ramanathapuram
Rameswaram

Village
No.

Name o f

a m e swaram

Town

(TS) u/a

Population

32721

Area

N o . of
houses

House**
holds

Density

52.36

624.92

Pamban

a/b

11602

2304

2312

Pamban

b/b

12199

2352

2376

V.O.Chidambaranar
Vilathlkulam

viiiage
No.

Name o f

Vembar

Vaippar

Population

Town

a/b

1417

b/b

3705

Part

a/b

18 75

Part

II

b/b

2551

Reviasamipuram
Kallaranal

Area

1323.25

3700.95

N o . o
houses

Households

254

265

664

675

427

429

473

485

Density

1.07

0.51

District:

V.O.Chidambaranar

Taluk:

Ottapidaram

Village
No.

Nam o f v i l l a g e

-29-

Pooulation

Area

houses

hSds"

Density
aos

Kila Arasaid

Pattanamarudur
Taruvaikkulam

1368

1315.43

303

306

1.04

838

1074-.88

165

.165

0.78

4587

1728.30

876

876

2.65

Districtt

V.O.Chidambaranar

Taluk:

Tuticorin

Village
No.

Name of

Area

Town

Sankarapperi
Mullakkadu
(Tuticorin u/a

a/b

1157

House' holds

1180

Density

53 76

1317.94

4.03

2271

120.86

13.79

5912

2737.04

2.16

199854

14836.97

13.47

10679

298.88

35.73

13327

15 3 0 * 0 8

8.71

village)

Tuticorin (Rural)
(Tuticorin u/a village)
Tuticorin

No. o f
houses

(Town)

Milavittan
(Tuticorin u/a

village)

Mappilaiurani
(Tuticorin u/a

village)

t31Distrlct:

v.O.Chidambaranar

Taluk:

Srivaikuntam

Village

No,

Name o f T o w n

Palayakayal
( T u t i c o r i n u/ci
village)

Mukkani

Population

4925

Area

207.02

No,of
houses

Households

Density

23.79

V.O.Chidambaranar
Tiruchendur

VI11age
No.

Name of Town

Population

Punnakayal

Area

1003

13.57

852.81

666

707

4.02

292

292

1/10.26

308

308

8.12

1139

996.15

509

516

2.20

2190

453.57

916

919

11.64

5280
24428

1489.51

16.40

27420

2611.43

10.50

a/b

3431

b/b

2354

Kulasekharanpatnam

Manapadu
Kayalpattinam
(Thiruchendur u / a
village)
K i l Tiruchendur

u&amoidi Karaichattu

Density

939

"Veerapandianpattinam

Madhavanku r i c b i

Households

406.83

5521

a/b

No. of
houses

District*

v.o.Chldambaranar

Taluk?

Sattankulam

t>

iM

Village
No.

W*

N&me of Town

Padukk apattu

Thirupanlputham

**

**

Population

"*

" "

'''

" "

Area

No.of
houses

Households

a/c

2267

1523.09

501

504

b/c

1723

413

3513

c/c

3R27

636

692

tharrival

Density

1.49

District

Tirunelveli

Taluk*

Radhapuram

Village
No.

Name of

Kattabomman

illage

Area

No.of
houses

Households

Density

4414

2554.06

890

892

1.73

a/b

2967

811.53

6 98

700

3,,66

Karaichchuthuvari
u
Karaichchuthupdur

b/b

4671

485.13

900

935

9.63

a/b

3465

2297.07

811

812

1.51

Karaichchuthupudur

b/b

3394

728

728

Tiruvambalapuram

a/b

3148

1825.07

717

718

1.72

T i ruvamba1apuram

b/b

3281

812.76

660

662

4.04

27

Kuttam

84

K a m i c h c h ufchuva r i

29

39

Population

38

Vijayapathi

9307

2595.15

1883

1893

3.59

82

Koodankulam

9023

2696.92

2009

2024

3.35

40

Erukkandurai

3328

4075.33

792

797

0.82

41

Chettikulam

8635

728.46

1823

1834

11.85

83

Levinjipuram

10544

1900.47

2316

2376

5.55

District:

Kanniayakumari

Taluk:

Agastheeswaram

Village

Naine oit Town

Peculation

Area

No.

12

13

14

Neendakara

B'

Dharmapuram

No.o

House*

houses

holds

3036

3036

a/c

14796

b/c

12365

2546

2546

c/c

2932

634

634

a/e

13119

26 28

2630

b/e

1415

257

257

c/e

893

204

204

d/e

570

130

130

e/e

3576

756

757

81

81

M adhu s oodh an apur am

2029.28

1176.97

1512.50

a/h

435

b/h

2537

561

561

c/h

-586

123

123

d/h

1407

319

319

e/h

847

183

184

f/h

1789

361

361

g/h

4795

918

920

2628

2628

Density

7.29

11.15

0.29

h/b
15

Thengamputhoor

1317.93

a/e

12350

b/e

10479

2297

2297

3680

638

638

c/e
d/e
e/e

9.37

-36Taluk:

X.
17

19

30

Agastheeswaram

contd

2.
Thamarakulam

Agasteeswaram

Axhagappaputam

KannlyaVcumarl

3.
e/f

4.

5.

6.'

297

297

1856

1864

795

795

1757

1758

1942

1947

430

430

7.

f/f

15 71

a/c

8301

b/c

4079

948.12

1738.42

a/b

7651

b/b

8472

a/d

188 0

b/d

1181

287

288

c/d

4301

951

951

656.97

8.76

4.40

2.86

>

Kanniyakumari
Kalkulam

Village
No.
28

24

22

Name of

Village

K a d i a p a t t inarm

No. o f
houses

Households

Density

1919

2002

11354

2378

2404

12166

2018

2062

a/b

10267

1210.35

1967

2001

b/b

11019

2263

2264

a/b
b/b

15607

1344.22

3081

3081

11.61

1671

1671

199

199

9457

b/c
c/c

Lakshmipuram

Area

1925.94

a/c

Manavalakurichi

Colachel

Population

7363

11291.60

4.91
-

848

0.83

a/e

1070

b/e

4060

825

825

c/e

14444

2851

2851

d/e

11389

1917

1920

17225

3508.15

C o l a c h s l Town (Urban)

4.91

District:

Kanniyakumari

Taluk:

Vilavancode

Village
No.

16

17

Name of

Village

Kollencode

Ezhudesam

Population

Ar*>a

No. of
houses

Households

Density

a/b

30075

128 2 . 7 6

5831

6073

23.45

b/b

5909

1202

1242

a/b

18B19

3600

3618

b/b

16786

2848

3037

a/b

2 2822

4167

4227

b/b

1771

333

341

1185.66

15.87
Painkulam

948.30

24.07
24

Keezhniidalam
Keezhkulanr

23

Midalarn

16631

951.95

3200

3217

17.47

a/b

16239

1048.72

2971

3034

15.48

b/b

10740

1760

1807

a/c

15334

2936

2972

b/c

5451

1055

1055

c/c

7973

1511

1511

1605.96

9.55

Occupation:
The population on the northern range.of Tamil .Nadu
coast are mainly engaged in harbour works,oil
fishing and industries etc.

The industrial

refineries,

activity

includes fertilizer, engineering, thermal power station,

chemicals and pesticides and pharmaceutical

manufacturing.

Sipcot- Industrial Complex in Cuddalore Taluk of South Arcot

District,- Thermal Power Station at Cuddalore, Indian
Steel Rolling Mills at Nagapattinam, Bromine extraction
plant and salt manufacturing by Mettur Chemical and
Industrial Corporation Limited at Vedaranyam provide
employment opportunities to the habitants of the coastal
area as well as of the hinterlands.

Further south, the

activities of the people are oriented towards

fishing,

aquaculture and salt pans, shell fishing, fertiliser

and chemical units. Thermal Power Station etc.

Other Major Facilities

At the northern extremity of the Tamil Nadu
Coast, the Pul icat Lake is situated which is a mini
fishing harbour.

In Madras city coast, lies the Habour.

Coovum river estuary and south of this is the Marina

Beach which i.s considered as the second best beach of
the world.

On the south of Adyar river, are the

Theosophical Society and the famous Elliots Beach. At

Muttukkaau, a tourist lagoon is located where a number
of turtle hatcheries and a crocodile farm exist.
Mamal1apuram, the famous beach resort which attracts
foreigners and tourists from all over the country and
depicts the skill and workmanship, architectural style
of the artisans of the ancient, lies on che coast. These
scultors compl rising of Sea Shore Temple, Five Rathas
and other monuments were built during Pal lava period.
Atomic Power Project at Kalpakkam is an important
land mark and south of this is the Old Dutch settlement

at Sadras.

On Che south of Pondicherry is Cuddalore Town

where there is port with an off shore anchorage and a

fishing harbour.

Further south is the Pichavaram

backwaters.
The ancient, port of Poompuhar and the old Dutch
settlement of Tranquabar are located along the coast.
Famous religious centres like Nagore, Velankanni are
also located along the coast where there was a major
port at Nagapattinam several decades ago.

Muthupet.

sanctuary and Vedaranyam, the famous town during the

pre-independence era lie on the coast.

Panban Town

has a marine Biological Research Station.

Along the

coast are the pilgrim towns, Rameswaram, Tiruchendur

and Kanniyakumari.

Several

near Keelakarai point.

islets and "Theevus" exist

Tuticorin Town where the Thermal

Plant and large number of industries thronged has a

major port.

The southern tip or Indian Peninsular, Cape

Comerin is the place where Bay of Bengal , Indian Ocean
and Arabian sea converge.

Offshore is the Vivekananda

Rock Memorial .
C. Developaent Scenerio of Tamil Nadu

Coast

Coastal Erosion
This part of the coast has been perhaps the most
active in India.

Ancient Tamil literature repeatedly

refers to two civilisations which were washed out by

the sea before the third Madurai Sangay was established
at the present 'location.

Since snatches of works

specifically composed in the earlier Sang air. era are

extinct, Caere sust be some historical truth in this
sea intrusion though no archaeological

evidence has

surfaced so tar.

Sea coast was a distinct and.well

populated habitat

in the

earlier

periud and

Is

specifically

referred t.o in laaiil literature from pre-

Christian era as

'Neithal 1 .

Archaeological1y the main significant points

al on^ the coast are Mama! 3 apuram 40 Km. south of Madras
and Poompuhar, the legendary port in Thanjavur coast
near

Cauvery outfall .
Serious erosion problems occur at a number of

pi act=-- along the coast, accentuated by a man made

structures.

A significant area is north of Madras

harbour at. Kasimade-Ennore

stretch.

Ports and Harbours

Major Ports and Harbour
The sea ports play a major role in promoting
national

and international

trade by generating commercial

and -Industrial activities, which

directly contribute to

the economic progress of the country.

The two major

port::- jocated along the coast of Tamil Nadu are (i ^Madras

and

i) Tut.icorin.

A satellite port in Ennore, north

of Muiras, for handling coal

nort.it, Madras Thermal

traffic intended for the

Power Station. The State has two

intermediate ports viz. ,Cuddal ore and Nagapattinam and

severs .ai nor ports viz., Rameswaram, Pamban, Thondi,
Kil a k:-.rai , Val1inokam, Kannyakumari

and Col achel . All

the intermediate and minor ports mostly serve the needs

of rur-J

areas close to the coast and provide employment

pote.r .ial through their developmental

activities.

Pol 1ution
The location of the settlements along the coast
have

' \ei r major impact, on the environment due to tneir

pressure on the sea-coast and pollution due to sewage,

sul 1

fc and industrial

effluents.

The impact is being

monitored by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

stream

The

of the coast north of Madras is a\ *o most severe!

affected by Industrial

activity.

Besides chemical and

thermal pollution of water, air borne particulate load

is also high in this segment.

As such this stretch

gets close attention from the Tamil Nadu Pollution

Control Board.

The human settlements are also imposing

a load of built environment and ecological pressure on

the coast.

This is ought to be controlled through land use

planning and regulatory legislations.

The pressure of Tourism also threatens haphazard

and uncontrolled exploitation of the litterate.

The

main pressures are being felt on the Madras, Mama!1apuram,

Pondicherry-Cuddal ore, Tuticorin, Rameswaram and CapeComerin Coasts.
The main source of pollution along the Tamil Nadu
Coast are:
i) Marine fall out of sewage and industrial waste;
ii) Riverine discharges from contaminated rivers;
iii) Thermal discharges from power station, cooling
waters;
iv) Oil spillages from tankers, tanker washings and
off shore platforms;
v;)i Deposition of air borne pollutents.
Aquacul ture:
The development of coastal aquacul ture consists
of establishing aquacul ture farms with high periphery
bunds which protect both the farm and the land behind
the farm.

The Tamil Nadu State has good potential for

coastal aquaculture especially for diversified brackish

wateraquacul ture along the coast-belt.
Besides the prawns of cop.merci.al importance, a
number of finfish of cultural values are available,
notably the isilk fish, the seeds of which are available
in adequate quantity near gulf of Mannar and Palk-Bay

areas-

The coastal belt. is also high in its resources

of pe.ar. y oysters arid sea cucumber besides others of

comneiral

value.

The coral

reef fishes can be good

source for fishery or ornamental

export!

value oriented towards

arket.
Sea-turties,Crabs, Eels, Mussels and sea weeds

are s-o = of the species which show promise for culture

and a . a v a i l a b l e
area or. Tamil
rich

along Tamil Nadu Coast. The coastal

Nadu from PuJicat. to Mandapam support, a

_'D fossil deposit of shells which are mine

regul ev ; y for making lime.

The areas comprising in Pamban-Kilakarai stretch
in C h e ul f of Mannar have the richest sea-weed resources
in thie country and it. is estimated that, a total of
2432 it or.nes of sea-weeds have been harvested between
1966-tc.

In addition sea-grass have occurred in these

areas-...

The leading institution like the Central

fisheries Research Institute ana the Central

Marine

Institute

of Brackish water aquaculture are doing pioneering work

in developing aquaculture besides the State Fisheries
Department, undertaking a number of research activities
in varicus aspects of fisheries.
The coastal

areas of Tamil Nadu are the scenes

of in.te-.se agricultural
in dust, ri al devel opmer.t..

and fishing activities and

(if

iteiip
til1 W
vW ^
!
nl:

'

' '

A' Sls^ff
iili

uaxdviia

.;'

CHAPTER

A. Base Maps for the Preparation of CZM PI an of Tamil Nadu

The existing reliable maps of the coastal areas

are basically of two types; the Survey of India topographic maps in 1:50000 scale and the cadastral or
village maps of 1:3960, 1:782 or 1:1500 scale. The
village maps do not contain the terrain, resource or
assets information.

The village maps, with due reference

to the topo sheets, have been used earlier to classify

the CRZ I, II and III Zone of the Coast.

However,

Government of India have instructed to use 1:25,000 scale

maps with Low Tide Line, High Tide Line marked therein.
The maps are not ready with Chief Hyarographer,Dehradun.
The Institute of Remote Sensing, Anna University
has prepared Coastal Zone Maps in the scale of 1:25,000,
for the Space Application Centre, Ahsedabad. The above
maps have been obtained from the Institute of Remote
Sensing for preparing the Coastal Zone Management Plans.

L.

Coastal Water bodies:

The institute of Remote Sensing, has marked all

the water bodies including salt pans and sal t'marshes

and have marked the 500 m. line along these water bodies
also.
For the purpose of regulation, the notification
says "the distance from the High Tide Line shall apply
to both sides in the case of rivers, creeks and backwaters

and say be modified on a case by case basis for

reasons to be recorded while preparing the Coastal

Management Plans.

However, this distance shall noc

be less than 100 metres or the width of the creek, river

or backwater which ever is less.

The distance upto

which development. along rivers, creeks and backwaters

is to be regulated shall be governed by the distance
upto which the tidal effect of sea is experienced in

rivers, creeks, or back waters, as the case may be arid

shoulccs be clearly identified in the Coastal

Zone Management

PI ans
The Institute of R, ;iOt.e Sensing, have indicated
in tivelr maps the water bodies and the 500 m. line and
it is

not known, whether tidal

in deciding the distance.

side,

effect, has been considered

It appears to be on the higher

as in some places, it. extends even 10 to 15 KM

inside:. This however has been adopted as such, pending

availability of Hvdrcgraphic maps from Chief Hydrographer
to the Government of India.

According to the Notification,

the Regulation Zone can extend upto 500 M. from the

High Tide Line even in the case of water bodies.

This

will

The

cause difficulty in case of built, up areas.

backwvcit.er is only an -associated feture and is not prone

to erosion.

Hence a " esser regulation zone of 100 M.

is proposed for the water bodies.

This has been explained

in describing sheetwise details.

B^ Categorisation of the CRZ

According to the Notification, the CRZ has been

categorised into four classes.

Since Category IV deals

with Andaman and Nicobar, Lakshdeep and small

it ii> not considered for Tamil

islands,

Nadu.

Category I (CRZ 1)

Entire area between low tide line and high

tide i ine stretching all along the Tamil Nadu coast,
comes

.mder this category.

In addition, there are

ecol o i ' eal 1 y sensitive and other important notified areas

co mi n.- under this category.

The following areas co~e

undier this category:

i ) Mangroves
it"i Marine parks
iii J Areas of outstanding natural

beauty

iv* > Historical/heritage areas

v 'i Areas rich in genetic diversity
vi ? Areas likely to be inundated due to rise in sea
level

consequent upon global

warning.

vii i Any other areas as may be declared by the State/

Central Government from time to time.
Mangroves
The -.ost important, mangrove forests are located
at

Pi chavarar in South Arcot District, and Muthupet. in

Thavtjavur District.

Smaller pockets also occur in

Ranrunathapur = - District also.

All these mangrove

f o r e s t s have been classified as CRZ I.

Marine Park
The group of 20 islands along the Gulf of Mannar
have: been constituted as a National

marine Park.

All

t h e ^ e islands have been classified as CRZ I.

The Muthupet Reserved Forest, the Vedaranyaa
Swa'iJ, all in Thanjavur District, known tor its internationally fa-.ous water fowl
as

sanctuary, has been classified

CRZ I.

Areas of outstanding natural beauty

The Fulicar lake under this category has been
cl a

f ied as CRZ I.

Historical /Heritage Areas

The Government, of Tami] Nadu has notified the
following towns as heritage towns.

Detailed heritage

towns are being prepared for these areas.

i) Mamal 1apuram
ii) Poompuhar
iii) Tharangambadi
iv) Nagore
v) Velankanni
vi) Rameswaram
vii) Tiruchendur
viii) Kanyakumari.
Out of these Tharangambadi and Velankanni, which
are sparsely built have been classified as CRZ I. The
other towns are tourist centres and are built close to
the shore and are urban centres as per Census. Mamal1apura
and Poompuhar have been classified as CRZ III while
in respect of other towns, the built up area alone has
been classified as CRZ II.
The areas close to the lagoons, salt marshes etc.
which ao not have any settlements has also been marked
as CRZ I.

Category II (CRZ II)

According to the notification all the developed
area within the Municipalities/Corporations or other
legally designated urban areas which have been substantial
built up and which have been provided with drainage and
approach roads and other infrastructural

facilities such

as water supply and sewerage comes under this category.

Apart, from Madras Metropolitan Area, there are

four Municipal Towns, namely Cuddalore, Nagapattinam,

Tuticorin and Col ache! and three important, tourist/
pilgrim centres viz. Rameswaran, Tiruchendur and
Kanyakumari (all Town Panchayats and Urban Towns as per
Census classification) and two important urban settlements
viz. Thondai and Mandapam.

In these towns, the areas

where there is intense development and where infrastructural

facilities are available.
classified as CRZ II.

The built areas have been

The reltively undeveloped area

"has been classified as CRZ III.

Category III (CRZ III)

Areas that are relatively undisturbed and those
whicn do not belong to either category I or II is
classified as CRZ III.
The entire coastal stretch contains 30 sheets
(excluding Madras Metropolitan Area) and large size
maps in the scale of 1:25,000 has been prepared. However
reduced size maps are attached to this report.

uaidVHA

Chapter

STRETCH

PULICAT LAKE TO HMDA BOUNDARY

Tbi!s stretch extends from Andhra State on North to

MMDA boundary

to the South covering a distance of 22 KM.

The entire stretch ]ies in Chengai MGR District. Except

Pu] icat , t here is no other urban settlement in this stretch.
Pbiy siography
St: retch I consists of sandy beaches with beach sands
and it extends over a

width of 500 mts. from the coast ]ine

and the tsandy beach rises up above the mean sea ] eve] upto
7

mts.
G e o ] ogy
Tbie main geological

area are

formations occuring in the

or Upper Gondwanas

quarternairy

'Sandstones and shales) and

(sand, silt and clay) in age, underlain by

Archean crystalline rocks

(Charnokite)

Ge'-oniorpho] ogy

Thus area is a vast coastal plain over a width of

5 Km. f r o m Pul icat. lake (an enclosed ancient, bay) in
the north) to Pudupattinam in r.'ne south.

Three

stranG

lines, wi > n intervening broad tidal flats occur in the

coastal

plains.

Estuaries
terraces

Lagoons, Mangrove swamps, Salt marshes,

Creeks, Barrier dunes, Spits and Beach

represent the marine 1 andf orms.

The coast, line

is mainly

;'.ccret

at. places

especially near Ennore, Development of off snore

bars and

i onary with noticeable erotional

effect

=ho)as is observed near Ennore and Pulicat villages.

Important Land Marks

Pul icat. Lake
Ecologically the Tamil Nadu part of the Pul icat. lake
is important since it has the only opening of the lake
into the sea thus functioning as a migratory route of the
spawning and estuarine animals like prawn, fish and
mudcrab 600 ha. semi-saline areas available in Pazhaveradu
An darmadam and Thangal perunkulam.

The mudflats of Pulicat

lake harbour a number of winter migratory birds.

Ennore Creek
Being a migratory route for many marine animals,
this functions as a seed production centre for aquaculture.
A heavy growth of green mussel and oyest.ers are seen
in this area. Raft culture of green mussel and oyest.ers
can be encouraged here.

Cooum and Buckingham Canal

Presently both these rivers are filled with sludge

and there is no circulation of water in both.

This stretch contains 2 sheets and these are

explained hereunder.

Sheet No.1
The area abuts Pulicat 1ake and extends over a
stretch of about 16 km. towards west from the sea. The
Koratlayor river joins the area at the stretch and number
of lagoons interperse this area. The entire stretch has
been classified as CRZ I except the Pulicat settlement.
This settlement has a population of about 10.000 and is

conneacted by Bus service.

This settlement by virtue

of it s locotion in the midst of backwaters has come

in

coastal

from

regulation zone.

As fixing of 500M

backwaters would result in the entire settlement

ueinji affected, this has been restricted to 100M

from

;:he water line and it has been classified as CRZ III.

Sheet- No. 2
Tkvr! entire coast line consists of salt mash and
henct? has been classified as CRZ I.

STRETCH 2

MMDA BOUNDARY TO PALAR RIVER BOUNDARY

Location

The Stretch 2 of Tamil Nadu Coast begins from the

Madras Metropolitan Area boundary and ends with the
Palar river boundary and is 55 KM long. Mamallapuram
Shore Temple and Kalpakkam Thermal Station are located
in this Stretch.

The entire stretch lies within Chengai

UGR District
Physiography

This stretch has the same geomorphic features as

that of Stretch 1, that, is, the sandy beach with beach
sands; but. it rises slightly higher in this stretch than
in the Stretch 1.

Geology

The Geological formations are Beach sands of

Quarternary and

recent periods, Cuddalore sandstone of

iiio-pl iocene age, shales and sandstones of Upper Gondwanas

and

Charnokits of Archaean era (in the western part of

this coastal stretch).

Geomorphology

The area is a vast coastal plain characterised by

several strand lines (varying in elevation froa 5m to the
ean sea level), lagoon, salt marshes.,; estuaries,creeks
carrier dunes, spits, beach terraces (ranging in elevation fro* 4-12n:) etc.

The Palar river debouches into the Bay of Bengal

without a fluvio-oarine delta and the reason being giacio
tectonoeustatic changes in the sea level during pieiscene
anu holocene periods.

Important 1and Marks

Mama! 1 apuram
This is a place of architectural
important

tourist centre.

interest and an

The shore temple, monolithic

Chariot - known as 'Five Rathas', 'Arjunas', 'Penance',

'The Krishna liandapam', 'Mahisasura Mandapam', 'The
Elephant'

etc., are all magnificient pieces of sculpture.

The place is also known as Seven Pagodas and along with

Uie s e s shore and its temple provide a beautiful
spot

abounding in natural

picnic

beauty. A training centre for

s c u l p t u r e has been set up by the Government here and

s t u d e n t s are recruited for training.

Number of Holiday

R e s o r t s both by Government and Private has come along thi

st ret ch-

The stretch contains three sheet.sand sheetwise

details

Sheet

ire given hereunder.

L\'o.3

This sheet comes within MMDA.

Sheet

^u.4

The villages coming on the East of Buckingham canal

is included in the Madras Metropolitan area.
west

oil Buckingham canal

Loca3

Planning Area.

The area

is included in the Mamal 1 apuram

This has been marked as Coastal

R e g u l a t i o n Zone, because of the Pal 1ikaranai Swamp. As

old >:&r.:al 1 apuram Road passes through this stretch, which
is witnessing rapid development due to restriction on
the x:,n..T* Coast road, fixing of 500M as regulatory zone
frok

t oe water line may hinder development.

tcr>

The regul a-

stance is restricted to LOOM and the area has been

cl dt>sii i:vrfd as CRZ III.

-54SheeU

so.5

The Mamal 1 apuram Township area comes in this sheet

and y.- irt in sneet. No.4.
does

Thougn the Buckingham Canal

iot join the sea, there has been salt marsh on the

west <c; Buckingham Canal .

Numbe

As it is a tourist place,

of Hoi iuay Resorts have come up both by private

and p u b l i c tourism agencies.

land

: b e e n

The distance from the Marsh

restricted to 1G0M as little area would

be av/:>-3able for development, of 500M is to the left of

the s-iit marsh.

The entire belt has been classified as

CRZ 1 'j. except for the southern portion covered by

Pal a r -

Estuary which has been classified as CRZ I.

STRETCH

PALAR RIVER BOUNDARY TO PITCHAVARAM

Location

Stretch 3 begins from Palar estuary and ends with

Pitchavaram Mangrove extending to about 90 KM.
Cuddal ore^ Port and the Mangrove Forest at Pitchavaram are the important places located in this stretch.
This stretch includes part of Chengal pattu-MGR District
and South Arcot District.
Physiography

This stretch has sandy beaches with beach sands in

its northern part, but in the southern part, not only
the beach sands are absent, but also the relief is more
upto lOOmts.

There are spot heights upto 54 mts. north

of Pondicherry.

The Pitchavaram swamps with mangrove

forests is a typical geomorphic feature in this stretch.

The geological formations of the coastal region of

Tamil Nadu include the Upper Gondwanas and Cretaceous
formations overlying unconformably the Archaear/crystal 1 ir.e
rocks.

The Cretaceous are in turn overlain by the Mio-

pliocene formations (Cuddalore sandstones.

The alluvium

and 1aterite or Pleistocene and recent ages overlie

these formations.

Geomorphology

Major geomorphic features of the coastal tract of

Tamil Nadu consists of an Upland plain i Fluvio-erosional 1
Floor Plain (F! uvio-depositional ), deltaic plain
(F1uvio-Marine) and coastal plan (Marine).

The area

forms parr of Palar, Vellar, Cauvery, drainage basins.

Important LandMarks

Cuddalore Town

Cuddalore is the headquarters of Cuddalore Taluk

and South Arcot District.

The town can be divided into

four parts viz. Cuddalore Old Town, Cuddalore New Town

or Tiruppapul iyur on the South Bank of Gadilam river,
Manjakuppam,.the official centre where public offices
are situated and Fort St. David on the north of river
Gadilam.

Cuddalore Old Town is an important river port

and a Commercial centre. In Tiruppapul iyur, there is an

old Siva Temple dedicated to Lord Patal eeswarar which is
referred to in the Thevarams .

The Brahmotsavam festival

in this temple is largest attended by people from

adj-oining towns.

Porto-Novo

This pi ace is otherwise known as Parangipettai

situated on the north bank of Mouth of .Veilar

The

Portuguese were the earlier European sett!ers of the

pi ace from whom it passed into the possession of the Dutch
The Dutch finally handed it over to the English in 1824.
This town has a large musl im popul ationengaged mostly in
sea trade.

Tombs of several muslim saints were situated

in this place, most important among them being the dongas

of Saint Malemiyar, Araikasu Nachiar, Haziz Mirsahib and
Saiyed Sahab.

There are six sheets in the stretch and detai] s are

expl af-Tied hereunder.

Sheet

No.6

The entire stretch is covered by lagoons and salt

marshes.

There are two existing settlements viz.

M u g a i y u r and Perunthuruvu. These two settlements are

classified as CRZ III and rest of the area is classified
as C R Z

1.

Sheet IMo.7

This is continuation of the earlier stretch and the

physical

features are identical. The existing settlement

Vil ] ivakkam is classified as CRZ III while rest of the

area i s classified as CRZ I.

Sheet

No.8

This is a coastal plain along the .coast, and consist

of rural

habitation.

CRZ III.

This stretch has been classified as

There is a lagoon on the west and the 500M

d i s t a n c e has been marked for the lagoon.

This has been

classified as CRZ I.

Sheet

No.9

The Northern portion of the area is covered by

1 agoorii: and hence classified as CRZ I.
occupied by Pondicherry

Sheet

Major portion is

state.

No.10

The Northern portion of the area is s coastal

plain

consisting of rural habitation and hence hai been

classified as CRZ III.
havi ?

The old port town of Cuddalore

a population of about. 2 lakhs is located on the

-58sout-h.

The town is built close to the sea and the area

is the oldest part.of the town. It is thickly built up

area.

The distance trom the rivers has been restricted

to 1Q0M.

The entire builtup area has been classified

as CRZ II.

Sheet No.11

Northern portion is a coastal plain having rural

settlements and the same has been marked as CRZ III, the
area south of Vellar is a mangrove forest (Pitchavaram)
and hence has been classified as CRZ I.

The Port Nova

an oldest Town having a predoreinent muslira population

having the 1 ivelyhood on fishing and other coastal
activities is located, just on the north of the Vellar
river.

This has been classified as CRZ III and the

distance from water!ine is restricted to 100M.

STRETCH

PITCHAVARAM TO PERAVURANI

The stretch starts from Sirka] i and ends with

Peravurani.

The stretchcvoers Thanjavur District,

Pudukkotiai District and Nagapattinam Quaid-E-Mi] ] eth

District.

Taluks of Sirka] i, Myi] aduthurai, the eastern

portions of Nannilam, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi,

Pattukkortai and Peravurani come under coastal

influence.

The length of this stretch is estimated to be around 280KM

which includes Pudukkottai district also. Thanjavur district
uas been traditionally having agrarian economy and a large
number of people depend largely on agriculture.

Salt

production and fisheries are two important acivities

in the coastal

area of the district.

Of late, oil explora-

tion has been taken up as a major activity in this stretch

with Oil
as well

and Natural Gas

as On-shore.

being extracted both off-shore

Along the coast there is also dense

forest area helping to maintain ecological system.

The

Veaaranyam Swamp area has been traditionally a bird sanctuary

with large number of Siberian birds migrating to this
swamp during certain seasons.

Salt industry particularly

in the Vedaranyam swamp area has been developed and 3 large

s c a j e units, 2 in the private sector and 1 in the public
sector have been manufacturing salt from sea water through
solar

evaporation.

Physiography

This stretch consists of a narrow region (100 mts.

or less- of sandy beach along the coast in the delta regions
of Cauvery river.
and Tha --jr.gambadi.
Vedaran
boundar>

There are salt pans near Thirumul 1 aivasal

In the South, there is

the proni.nent

?, Swampy region with mangrove forest.

The southern

of this stretch is marked by the change in the

coast 1 " ne from tlie North South to East West direction froa
point C^i i mere to Rajamadam.

Geo!ogy

The coastal sands of recent age over!ie the

Tertiary rocks.

No other rock excepting the recent

ones is exposed in this stretch.

Geomorphol ogy

The Geomorphic features observed in this stretch

are sub aeri-al delta (F1 uvio-marine), strand plains,
crevasses, chenniers and cuspate bars, estuaries and
swamps.

A large part of the delta is occupied by

inter

distributory flood basins comprising brown and reddish

grey silty clay and fine sands.

The strand plain is comparatively a high relief plain

with

elevation varying from 6-10 m above mean sea level.

The width of this plain increases from 3m in the North to

8km. in the South.

The relief of this plain is broken

by estuaries, lagoons and creeks at some places North and

South of Nagapattinam.

The coastline of Nagapattinam, Quaid-E-Mil 1 eth

District is straightened by South bound long shore currents
from the Kol1idara river mouth to point Calimere,

From

Point Calimere to further South, the coastline forms a bay.

Important Land marks

This stretch is famous for a few Muslim shrines which

are thronged by thousands of deovtees viz., Saint
Sheikh Allauddin Sahib entombed and located at Adiramapattinam
dargas at Sambavanodai and Nagoor.

The stretch is also famous for Christian Pilgrim

c e n t r e s in Vail ankanni located six miles South of
Nagap.attinam which also maintains a museum of rare col lections

of

'Our Lady of Health'. The Church is also

an im.uort.ant tourist place.

The important Hindu Temple is Sri Vedaranyasamy

Tempi
and a

Point Calimere is an important tourist place

heaven for bird watchers and the sanctuary is

notecii for its black bucks, spotted deer, wild pig, wild
porie'.s .

A bath in the sea at Kodikkarai, a sacred place

n e a r b y , is considered holy.

Mandia port is located in

the v i l l a g e of Sethubaba Chattiram on the eastern

coast

16 kms of Peravurani.

Benga.
built

The fort facing the Bay of

is an eight storied Victory Tower of 30M. high

up by the Maharaja Sarfoji has steps in a circular

way Vv'hlch look enchanting. Kaveripoompattinam was one

of th.e chief cities and sea port of the Choi a Kingdom.
The Original

city port was submerged and now it has a

bathing place being the confluence of river

sacred

Cauve-ry with the sea.

This stretch contains 7 sheets and detail s are

explained hereunder.

Sheet

]:<o. 12

The Mangrove forest of Pitchavaram extends to some

extern! on this portion also. Col eron river drains in
this <vea.

The northern portion comprising the mangroves

is classified
devoid*.

as CRZ I.

The other coastal belt is

of any sensitive area and hence has been

classified

as CRZ III.

Sheet No.13

This area is a continuation to the above and cauvery

and manjavattal rivers drains this area.

These rivers

which irrigates large track of lands in Thanjavur District

discharges little into the sea, except perhaps during the
floods.

The area has been classified as CRZ III.

Tharar.gaa-

^ badi one of the old dutch settlements declared as a

Heritage town by the State Government, has been classified
as CRZ I.

'

Sheet No.14
Mul 1iyar River drains the area.

Nagapattinam

Municipality an old town and district head quarters of

Nagapattinam Quide-E-Mil1eth District is located in
this belt.

The town is closely built and the buil tup

area has been classified as CRZ II.

The rural settle-

ments dotted along the beach has been classified as

CRZ III.

Velankanni, the seat of Our Lady Health a

tourist centre, attracts large number of foreign and

local tourists.
State.

It is declared as a heritage centre by

The same is classified as CRZ I.

Sheet No.15 & 16

The area around the lagoons of Vellar river has

ueen classified as CRZ I while the rural belt along
the coast has been classified as CRZ III.
is a settlement ana is a tourist centre.

The Kodikarai
The same has

ueen classified as CRZ III.

Sheet No.17 & 18

The entire area is the Vedaranyam Swamp and is a

bird sanctuary.
CRZ I.

The entire area has been classified as

STRETCH 5

PERAVURANI TOWN TO RAMESWARAM ISLAND

Introduction

This stretch extends from Point Cal imere to

Rameswaram

Island.

The entire stretch comes within

Ramnad District and Pudukkottai District.

Physiography

This stretch does not consists of sandy beaches with

beach

sands.

There are salt pans near Tondi.

In the

southern part of this stretch between Devipattinam and

Keelaksrai there are raised beaches with sand pars having
treads parallel to the. present coastline.
raised

Due to the

oeach, there is no beach sands of economical value

as available in the other

stretches.

Geo!ogy

Geology of the area comprises mainly of coastal

of Quart.ernary and Recent ages.

sands

Sub recent marine

formations consisting of hard calcareous sandstone and

grey calcareous clays, etc., are seen on Rameswaram
island

and other islets.

Small

area of Rameswaram Island

al so exposes some recent marine 1imestone bed.

Geomorphology

Coastal

plains, older deltaic plains, cuspate

foreland, teri sand mounds, teri tidal complex are some of

the geonorphic features observed in this stretch.
The Coastline in ttii s stretch is fringed by a sandy strand
plain over a width of about 1. 5KM to 3 KM beyond which runs
a wide track of f 1 uvio-marine sediments manifested in
tidal

flats, salt *srshes and pal eo tidal flats.

coast

?ine between Ramanathapuram

The

and Mandapar is a huge

cuspat? foreland bar bui 1 tup with sand deposits representin

repeat eci lowering of sea level. The

Rameswaram island

Biological Wealth of the Gulf of Manner (Rameswaram

Zone.

The uniqueness of the Ecosystems:

The Gulf of Mannar around whic^its islands provides
variegated, most interesting heterogenous and unique
habitats for its denizens.

The organisms, plants and animal

seem to enjo-y the closest intimacy with sea water and

have accomplished this relationship to a remarkable
degree of perfection.

The depths range from 3.5 to 15 metres.

amplitude varies from 5 to 80 cms.
tide,

The tidal

During the lowest

the beautiful coral-reefs get well exposed. The

coral reefs harbour a wide variety of marine vegetation

ana animals;

The currents in this area are.swift, the

sea is rough, between April-August.

It is cal is during

September. The Salinity varied from about 337 during

normal

season to 247 at the time of heavy rainfall and fresh

water runoff.

The temperature varied between 25 to 32C

based on climatic conditions.

The dissolved oxygen

ranged usually between 3.7 & 5.6.

The Mangrove Vegetation

The\GuJf of Mannar islands, near Rameswaram possess unique

wangrove vegetation.

It is interesting to note that such

vegetation consists of species belonging to Rhizoohora,

Avicennia,

Bruouiera, Derioos, Lumnitzera etc.

The

Hangrovces are found on a good majority of the islands, the

vegetation is striking for its luxuriance and diversity.
They are not very tall trees, perhaps the height is
curtailed due to strong winds lashing here perennially ana
with greater velocity during monsoons, periodical
etc.

The plants are healthy.

cyclones,

The whole island is carpeted

as it were with pneumatophores wherever the mangrove forest

are formed.

The mangroves were seen with flowers on the

island during December-January.

-65The Cora] Reef Formation

Around Rameswaram, fringing and patch cora] reefs

occur.

The reef framework is complex.

It forms the

basis of a very elaborate and functional

coral

ecosystem.

The

reefs exert influence on the course of water

current.

They al so provide she! ter to a great diversity of

al gae , sponges, and fishes, just to mention three groups.

With the help of calcareous algae in the shallow sea,
the hermatypic corals build primary reef formation with
secondary detrital

reefs in deeper water.

Apart from

the sedentary and fixed algae we encounter drifting and

imprisonea paytopi ankton.

On the Gulf of Mannar islands, the eastern side of the

islands would appear to have a greater expanse of living
coral

reefs.

The human exploitation of the coral lime stone

is concentrated on the northern and the western

sides.

Hence the eastern sides remain relatively free of human

influence and interference and so exploitation is less
(Issac Rajendran and Kanagaraj David 1971;.

Recently,

the Government of Tamil Nadu have prohibited quarrying

of corals after considerable loss of reefs to the point
of extinction.

The Sacred Chank Beds

The sacred chank, Xancus phrurn also occurs in the

seas around Rameswaram both in the Gulf of Mannar and
Pal k Bay.

The sacred chank is found on fine or soft

sandy substrates.

They feed copiously on Polychaete worms.

The chank, Xancus pyru:. could hold its own against

its predators.

The chank bea* are very productive.

pyruT> is considered

suo mot.o to be 'Perfect*.

acquired strength

to

'stand

on

its

Xancus

It has

own feet agaiast it

predators in the struggle for existence.

uses of chanks are many.

The industrial

The Val ar.puri chanks (sinistra)

form) fetch more than Rs.10000/- for a perfect chank of

65 mm or greater diameter.

This sinistral form is normally

employed in Hindu Temples for worship.

The Pearl: Banks
The Gulf of Mannar is famous for its chank fisheries
and pearl fisheries.

They are the State's monopoly.

There are about ten pearl

banks.

The pearl banks are

concentrated in the region extending from 7813' to 7915'E

amd 838' to 915'N.

The depth of the pearl banks

varies from about 10 to 20 metres.

The maximum concentration of pearl banks is found

,in the region of Tuticorin and to some extent in between
Nal 1 a Thanni Tivu and Val inokkam Point..

We have pearl

banks also in the former island Pandyna Tivu environs,

where

depth does, not. exceed 7.5 metres; at Van Tivu

and Kariya Shuli Tivu, at depths from 11 to 15 metres.

Important Land Marks

In this stretch, Rameswaram which has been known
from early times and mentioned in Ramayana is located.
Rameswaram is an island, but very close to the main land and
the Pamban Canal separates it from the main land.
Rameswaram is a sacred place for Hindus and is as famous
as Varanasi in the northern India. The town is built, on an
island in the Park Straits at the extreme south eastern tip
of the Indian Peninsula. It contains one of India's most
venerated temples; a fine example of South Indian
Architecture. The presiding deity of the temple is
Ramanathaswamy. said to have been installed in

LINKA'

form by Sri Rama or the Ramayana epic on his return from

Sri Lanka defeating Kavana. The Ramalingara at Rameswaram
is one of the twelve Jyothi Lingams in India. The most
impressive feature is the many pillared corridors covering
a length of 1220 mts. Gandhamadhava Parvathar. is a hi 1 i ock
to the north of the temple ana is the highest point, around

from wfrurtre one gets an excellent views of the island.

There

is a tw/v) storeyed Mandapam and Rama's foot placed on a

Chakra

or worship attract

another

holy place is situated at a distance of 8 km from

Raraeswicani
remains:

Dhanuskodi is the

and has a temple for Kothandaswamy. The temple

intact
Away

washed

pilgrims.

on the i s l a n d ,

by the c y c l o n e

even though Dhanuskodi was

1964.

'The stretch has 5 sheets and they are explained

be! ow.

Sheet

ho. 19

""Uiis segment consists of raised beaches with sand

bars.

As this segment abuts Gulf of Mannar, the entire

segment

has been classified as CRZ I except for.the.rural

settlements which have'been classified as CRZ III (six

sett 1 ev ,onts ) .

Sheet

Jo. 20

This is the continuation of the above segment and

is c] ai!- ;if ied as CRZ I except for the settlements.
(thre.v settlements) .

Sheet,

-.o. 21

ThU' Gulf- of Mannar, being the sensitive stretch, the

entire

segment has been cl assified as CRZ I except, for

two si-elements which have been classified as CRZ III.

Sheet No.22

This setnent is also classified as CRZ I.

The

settlements viz. Attankearai, Pudumadam, Muthupettai,

Penapattinam, have been classified as CRZ III.

The

Mandampam where number of central Government offices

are located and which is a transit camp has been
classified as CRZ II.
Sheet No.23

The segment consists of Rameswaram Town and its

vicinity area.

The famous Ramaswamy Temple is located

here and the area around the temple has been thickly
built.
CRZ II.

The built up area has been classified as

The undeveloped area has been classified as CRZ I.

STRETCH 6

RAMESWARAM ISLAND TO KERALA STATE BOUNDARY

The stretch is located in Ramanathapuram V.O.C.

District and Kanniyakumari

District.

Physiography

There are three different physiographic units

features in this stretch. That is, in the coastal belt,
North

of Tiruchendur, there are raised beaches with

sand iters parallel

to the present coast line.

However,

the trend of the sand bars on the northern and

southern sides of Thamiraparani river is slightly
angul ar to the coast line.

In the coastal area south

of Thi ruchendur, there are sand dunes and there soils

along

snd away from the coast.

In the southern part

of this stretch, there are sandy beaches with beach sands

containing heavy minerals on the eastern and western
sides

of Kanniyakumari.

Geo! ogy
This stretch comprises mainly of Archeans
Quart, ernary and recent geological

formations.

Quarternary and Recent sediments are the

geological

units occuring in the area.

Warkali beds of

Tert i ary age are exposed as thin cappings south west

of Kuznit.hurai near the coast..

Near Kanniyakumari

calcareous shell limestone of sub-recent, origin is seen.

South of the Kanniyakumari Trivandram National Highway
bet w e e " Nagercoil

and Kuzhi thurai the area is mainly

covered by thick laterite soil dotted with few rocky

outc : V

Geomorphol ogy

Beach, coastal ridges, cliffed coast, sand dunes,

beach terraces, spits, cuspates, salt marshes and
teri sands are some of the geomorphic features observed
in this stretch.

The coastline of VOC District is developed by sediment

accretion except for the Tiruchendur-Manapadu area which
nave a cl iffed coast resulting from erosions of mounds of
Quarternary sandstones.

Between Vaipur and Tuticorin the

coastline is broken by spits developing into prominent

cuspate as seen at Tarvaikul am, A! arikarattittue and
Tuticorin.

South of Tuticorin, near the mouth of

Koramapal 1 am odai, huge sand bar has developed into a

northward trending oeach cusp, 4 km from the main shore.
The area between tne beach cusp and the coast is used for
the development of theH'aruour as it is free from high
energy waves.

From Tuticorin to Tiruchendur, the coast is influenced

by the Tamaraparani delta.

The coastline south of

Tiruchendur is marked by a narrow beach, beyond which

extends the coastal ridge from Manapad to Kudangulam over
which sand dunes and beach terraces have developed.

The

Quaternary sandstones or sand rocks are exposed as wave

cut platform all along NE-SW coast from Periyatal ai. to
Puvari.

Beach, coastal lowlands, coastal plains, wavecut

platforms cliffed coast and cape are some of the
geomorphic features observed in this stretch.

Statve of the Ecosystem

From the results of the study on Pitchavaram

m a n g r o v e ecosystem, it is evident that,

a) tills is a very good nursery ground for some

c.ijmmercial 1 y important prawns, crabs, and fin fish,
i nee it provides abundant food and shelter for the
y o u n g ones;

b) i

is an ideal place to undertake coastal

aquacul tural

practices, employing only the pen culture method,

w'Hi ch alone will not cause any alteration in the ecos.-iylitem;on the other hand, it will make very good
of the natural

food available, thus minimising the

production cost;
c) t.'.ie water quality is very good and its productivity is
a*; -> o very high; as such, this environment., at present,
c u m be used as a standard against polluted
esvwironments;

d) t-.iiis ecosystem serves the purpose of nutrient recycling

auvj provides a regul ar f 1 ow of organic matter into the
aidjoining coastal waters in addition to replenishing the
c.uastal

fishery resources (the young ones of fin and

s.uel 1 fish return to coastal

areas for breeding

avier attaining maximum growth here).

e) t m> Pitchavaram mangrove is unique because it is a
v'iivy good mul ti species formation,whereas in other
n - n g r o v e forests of India, one or two species alone
n sily dominate.

From this

view point, it is very

i -..sort ant that this mangrove must be protected and

p

tiserved;

The marine land forms along the Kanniyakumari coast

is restricted to the width of less than 1KM due to hiih
relief of the inland areas which represent the slopes of
tne western gnats when compared to the eastern coast. At
Veerabagupatti , sand rocks similar to those occuring along
VOC District coast are noticed below the sand dunes 200M
inland.

Important 1 and marks

Kanniyakumari'.Kanniyakumari is the lands end of the
Indian Peninsula, where waters of the Arabian Sea, Indian
Ocean and the Bay of Bengal Meet.

It is one of the

important pilgrim centres of India.

A fine beach landscape

with sands of myraid colour is another interesting aspect

of Kanniyakumari.

From the beautiful beach one can

simultaneously see the glorious sight of the moon risin6

up on the east and the sun setting on the west, on a fu. 1
moon day.

There is a sacred ancient temple dedicated

to Kanniyakumari the Virgin Goddess from which the disrrict.

derives itsname.
tity.

The temple is a symbol of unity and sanc-

The beautiful

Gandhi Mantap is situated as a

memorial to the Father of the Nation.

An urn containing

Mahatma Gandhi's ashes was kept here for public to pay

homage before immersion.

A Roman Catholic Church dedicated

to Virgin Mary which is said to have been constructed by

the Jesuit Missionary of St. Francis Xavier in the 16th
Century is also located here.

Vivekananda Memorial: There are two rocks projecting

out of the ocean, south-east

of Kanniyakumari temple.

These rocks provide an ideal vantage point for visitors

desining to view the lands end of India.On this rock stands
the 'Vivekananda Rock Memorial' built in 1970 with a blend
of all the architectural

styles of India.

Suchindram: The Suchindram ae^ns the place where Indira

the King of Devas, was purified. A Sc-cred temple dedicated
to Trimurties are worshiped here. The other important
tourist place in this stretch are the Padmanabhapuran
temple, Tiruvattar Temple, Udayagi ri Fort, Circular Fort
and

Kolachel

Port and

the

famous

Tiruchendur

Sho*e temple.

The Stretch include 8 sheets and details are

explained hereunder.
Sheet No.24 & 25

This segment mainly consists of the reserved

f o r e s t s arid hence has been classified as CRZ I.
Shie-et. No.26

This belt is endowed with number of salt pans

anto has been classified as CRZ I, except for small
settlements which have been marked as CRZ III. The
Tu:t icorin Town having a port and number of industries is
loic.ited on this segment.

It is a Class I town with a

pojpul ation of more than 1 lakh.

There is retaining wall

al OTig the seashore and a road runs parallel to the

coast.
is

The Municipal

area and continuous builtup area

marked as CRZ II.

Sh^-c-.t No.27

As this belt comprises of lagoons the major

p o r t i o n has been marked as CRZ I.

The rural belts have

be;en marked as CRZ III.

cK K 1

Tiruchengode a temple town is located in this

se^went..

The temple is close to the sea and developments

ha-'-'t1 come around the temple.

be'i"! classified as CRZ II.

The built up area has

Sheet

No.28

The e n t i r e belt i s
Meritedotted all
CRZ

over.

a coastal

This

p l a i n with rural

area has been c l a s s i f i e d

settle
as

III.

Sheet

No.29

This

s t r e t c h i s a coastal

over w i t h rural

habitation.

sensitive

except

River.

areas

The e n t i r e

except

for t h e

as CRZ

I.

Sheet

for

and is dotted

There are no
the r i v e r

mouth of

Nambiyar
as CRZ

river raouth which has been cl a s s i f i e d

No.30

The b u i l t up

Town f a l l s

in this

area has been c l a s s i f i e d

the other

areas

as CRZ I I I .

Manakkudi

Kayal

is c l a s s i f i e d

segment.

as CRZ I I

The area c l o s e
as CRZ

and

to

I.

No.31

The Col achel

The same has

town i s

located

been c l a s s i f i e d

areas have b e e n c l a s s i f i e d

i n the

as CRZ I I .

as CRZ

III.

all

ecologically

stretch has been c l a s s i f i e d

The Kanniyakumari

Sheet

plain

segment.

The

other

III

|j

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nt-rrn

/ v j r a

d o
m y s

5
K r ."T
*" J
T=t
Vt V H Y 9 W VCIHOS^J)

It* ^ a v A Y H O icT
la/l/US.'Q

n -i rxxa

l iVi3 XI)'0~*# I

Aatfiio.v^s

"-> J"

ns o

0
i
S

->

321J-N33

sa^ie

wi-yrnici

SOO(5n32J

ic<j5

J.HOS3
Aiw J

oiroid

H3V73

UiOS3*:

AVaitOH

("|e?6003 ) S 3 V X K 3 3
n a v N

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i i w v i

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i
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i a mo-H
w V i M i a - l v d i-^i-LO^
isvm Ix

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NrOV11i

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H S ! d
1 I W V 1

AREA OF REGULATION ZONE UNDER DIFFERENT CATEGORIES

CHENGALPAT1U M.G.R.

Sheet

Place

No,

DISTRICT

Length of the
coast

200M Zono
500M zone
{Square Kilo Metresjj

2 2 . 5 KM

OR?, I
V i l l a g e s abutting Pulicat

Western s i d e of Bay of Bengal

( Flast to west)
CRZ
CRZ

II
III

6.09
23.95

Nil
Nil
1 6 . 0 KM

CRZ I

3.10

Sattarikuppain to MMA boundary

Back voters of Kortaliar

4.65
7.15

Back watei-s of Buckingham Canal

11.00

river
Nil
Nil

CRS I I
err.
m
3

6 5 . 0 0 KM

MMA boundary

Stretch

2 5 . 0 0 KM

4
CRZ T
CRZ T I
CRZ 111
MM hmrdetv

Remarks

Stretoh I

4. 06

lake

100M zone

Nil
Nil
to Davaneri

Buckingham Canal back water

0,54

0.81

T
24.5 KM

5
GR2 1
Vonpurusliom to Kokkilimedu

1.25

Pudupattinam Allikuppam

8.00

CRZ l'l

Nil

CRZ I I I
Devaneri "to Venpurusham
Buckingham canal back waters

0. 66

0.99

Kokkilimedu to Pudupattinam

1.70

2.55

'

2 4 . 5 KM
CRZ 1"

Stretch

Allikuppam to Alambarai

14.08

Back waters of Buckingham canal

13.75

CRZ I I
CRZ I I I

Nil
Nil

Huokwatoru of Hur.kingham Canal

4.00

CRZ I
CRZ IT
CRZ

fit

Nil
2.5

II


SOU-m ARGOT VALLALAR DISTRICT
Sheet No.

Place

"

"(2)~

('1) "

"

I.ength of the Coast

"

"(3)

20OM Zone
" "

(4) " ~

500M zone

100M zone

(5)

(6)

Remarks
(7)~ "

(Square Kilo Metres)

2 7 , 0 0 KM
g&

Chengalpattu District boundary to

Kariapalayarn

6.2

Backwaters

21.25

CRZ I I
CRZ I I I

Nil

Kariapalnjyam to Anichemkuppaxri

3.8

5.7
Monrii c h e r r y

6 . 4 0 KM
CRZ T
oir. 11
CRZ

1 3 . /KM

Nil
Nil

III

kniohankupjjarn to Pondicherry

Northern boundary

p i l l a i c h a v a d i to Kottakuppam
10

0.30

0.45

1.18

1.77

1 3 . 4 0 KM

Stretch TTT
(Pondicherry 1 5 . 6 K1

Mil

CRZ I
CRZ I I
Devaruimpattinam to Cuddalore o l d town

0.98

1.47

CRZ 3.11
Pudukuppam to

Pannitittu

Cuddal<?re LPA North boundary

0.50

0.75

0. 80

1.20

2.28

Backwaters of Ponnaiyur and Gadilam r i v e r

Sembadaikuppam to

Chittiraipettai

1.52

2. 28

-80-

(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

"(5)

(7)

(6)

19.8 KM

11

(Pondicheriy

ore r
C h i t t i r a i p e t t a i to portonovo
Portonova to Pitchav&ram
V e l l a r r i v e r back water

2.90

4.35

2.20

3.30
0 o 70

7.5 KK)

r .

- 8 1 -

NAGAPPATTINAM QUAID-&-MILLET DISTRICT

Sheet

No.

Length of the coast

(3)

Place

(1)

(2)

200 M zone

(4)

500M zone
(5)

100M zone

(6)

Remarks

(7)

(Squaro Kilo Metres)

12

Stretch IV

2 5 . 0 KM
CRZ I

7.75

Chinnavaikkal to Kalaiyur
Backwaters of'colaroon

14.80

river
Nil

CRZ I I
CRZ 311

1.60

Kalaiyur to Chavadikupparn

2.40
1*65

Backwaters of Uppanar r i v e r
Chnvadiknppam to Sinnurpct

2 5 . 5 KM
2.0

Pondicheri.y boundary

C RZ t
Kaveripattinam to

Backwaters of Manjavaykal
CRZ

5.50

Tharangambadi

3.25

river
Nil

II

CRZ I I I
Chavadikupparn to Kaveripattinam
Tharanganiba-di
to Slnnurpet
Baokwatorn of oauveiy,
Kadaliyar river

vadiyiiF 181

1.80

2.70

0.50

0.75

:'i)

14

(2)""

(3)""

Pondicherry coast

(4)

(5)

(6)

Stretch IV

1 . 4 0 KM

Pondicherry southern boundary to Vedararyam

(7)

2 9 . 6 KM

CRZ I
Back waters o f Vettar r i v e r Vedararyam Canal

24.50

CRZ I I
Pattancherry to Vanavan Mahadevi

0.67

1.01

CRZ ITT
Nagapattinam to Vanavan Mahadevi.

4.00

6.00

Pattancherry to Vanavan Mahadevi

0.67

1.01

15

Stretch IV

2 1 . 8 KM
CRZ I
B a c k w a t e r of Harichandra Nadhi r i v e r ,
and Vedai-ary am canal
CRZ I I
CRZ

Hellar r i v e r

$
{

24.25
Nil

III

Vanavan Mahadevi to

3.10

Thopputhurai

4.65

Back waters of Vedaranyam'canal

1.25

16

3 7 . 7 KM
CRZ ]
Vede.raryam point
park s t r a i t '

calimere and along

Backwaters of Vedaranyam,
CRZ I I
CRZ I I I

Serttalaikadu

16. 25
lagoon

16.25
Nil
Nil

-83-

TIIAN.TAVUR DISTRICT
Sheet

17

No.

Place

Along park s t r a i t
CRZ

Length of the coast

200M zone

500M zone

23.6

Along Palk S t r a i t
Back watei-s o f Harakka Koraiyar, Kandakur ichar
r i v e r , Koriar r i v e r , Kattar r i v e r , Nesuvunni r i w r

18

Remarks

St ret oh IV

42.2

CRZ 11
CEZ I I I

100K zone

17.90
Nil
Nil
3 3 . 0 0 KM

c w,

Stretch V

Rajamadam to Jambu Mahadevipattinam

(Pudukottai D i s t r i c t boundary)

16.5

AHEA OF REGULATION ZONE UNDER HEITERHJT CATEGORIES:

PU DDUKKOTTA?
Sheet No,

19.

Ti

Place

Length of
the coast

F'attinaP

to Sirukadvai

kottai

II

CRZ

18.20
-

CRZ - I I I

20.

500 M zone
(Sq#Km)

100 ra zone
(Sq.Km)

strech

CRZ -I
Jainbumahadevi

CRZ -

200M z o n e
(sq.Km)

NIL
1*02

1.53

-I

Sirukadavaikottai
N o r t h e r n boundary
Ra)an a t hapu ram

to
of
2.40

.V

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ro

l\5

co t

sr

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D TJ f
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c^d nj
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A R E A 01

REGULATION

ZOKE UMDER m J T F I E & A 7 T

V . O . C H I D ^ i B A i i N AR
Sheet

.(

JN6

P I ac e

CATEGORIES

DISTRICT

200 M

lenth of
the c o a B t

zone
( Sq.km)
(4)

1*2

500 M
zone
( e q.Em)
- 152

100 M
zone
( b qJEw)

18.0KW

25.

Stretch

C RZ-I

V.O.C.Eietiict
to

boundary

aippikulePi

Back v a t era of
V a i p p a r rJlver
URz

8,25
Van b a r

&

II

8.00
_

NIL

V H Z - I I ].
Vein b a r

0.50

2 6 . CRZ -I

0.45

59.5km

S i p p i k u l a P to
harbou r a r e a

TUticorLn

Back

Veppalodai

water

of

8.25
6.25

CfiZ-II

Tuticorin old
harbour

harbour

&
7.0

CRZ-III
Pattanamaiudur

Muliakkadu

1.90

2..C5

2.45

VI

te
%
t
K
*

&a
s

ef

&

0
B

c. O
tr

ef

M
a M
* M
p
hj

8* ft
B 0>
3 n

o 5
ef

o 1

H-

ef

ef

pr H-r
< o2 H
p

f*
3

ef
ef

cr

s
B

3
w

J?

5f

ef

ef

PL

o fif
H>H

n a

is

M
d H
P>

f
O M
3* W
8
P
&

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ef

d
u

tc B o

5
P ?

o
H>
P

H3 C
H- w

w w
fit C
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si

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o
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03

JS.

vji

vj

VJI

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c\
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w
o
ooo
OVJ1

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Jr*ft?SO
N N N
a, B

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ft
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(to t--.
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p.

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p

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no
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cf

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3

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cf
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cf r
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cf

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3 m
p.
p ~

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cf
H>
3
%

9'

hJ

0
3 w m ftro r* w
N
Ht P* H p , 3 1
Hw
<
p ffi H
H
P
H H
P
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<< 4
ffi
ro
B
p
cfw
fc

cf
cf
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cf

P.

d
e

cf

W
ffi

cf

ET

cf

P.

cf

sr
4

8
3

ft
* %
p CO
H* cf
HC9
<
P

O
cf

ff
$

cf
cf

cf
ffi

Hi W
ffi p

cf

n
o

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cf

VJl

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CD

f\3
CT\

05
-J

VJl

4
S

ro
VJl

VJl

ro

-f*

fO
vjl

vO

VJl

CD

-91

Stretch

sheet No. It
Sheets

2 * &

Stretch

II

sheets

to

Stretch

ill

sheets

to

11

Stretch

IV

sheets \2

to

17

sheets

18

to

24

VI

sheets

25

to

31

Stretch
Stretch

NOTE:
Tafai 1 Nadu coast apcounts for 17$ of the coast line of India
The coast consists of
Bay o f
Palk

Bengal

s rrait

Gulf oil Mannar

Arabian s e a
total

385
290

325
55
1055 Kk