Coastal Heritage Management for Alleppey, Kerala Management Seminar

Coastal Heritage Management for Alleppey,Kerala.

Summary

In a state like Kerala of history rich and varied , the geographic setting plays an important role in
determining the character and identity of a locality, in boosting the sense of pride and
appreciation of the inhabitants in their collective historic and cultural background, and in
providing the basis for sustainable development . This management seminar is prepared as a part
of the Thesis “Conservation of Coastal Heritage of Alappuzha” to establish tools and strategies
for the proper management of the heritage resources - both natural and cultural- of the Coastal
area of Alleppey. This Management Plan is an effort to resolve issues relating to Alleppey
Coastal zones on the basis of partnerships between diverse stakeholders and existing
management framework. The integrated approach to the Coastal Heritage Management includes
a comprehensive policy for the conservation and management of the heritage resources in the
Coastal Zones. This will provide a framework for management decisions and activities in the
coastal zone. The aim of developing and implementing the Guidelines is to Coastal areas and
coastal wetlands of Alappuzha region to a condition which is as close as possible
to natural, allowing for appropriate access and use.The coast line of Alappuzha is densely
populated with fisherman community and is one of the most populated stretches in the country
(Census 2001).

Chapter 1
Introduction
The Kerala Coast is as much a part of the unique dynamics of Kerala's social history as its
natural history. Out of a total area of 38,863 sq. km. of Kerala, 3,355 sq. km. falls in the coastal
area supporting a population of 72.72 lakhs. The physiographic setting of Kerala presents a
variety of gradients along the narrow strip of land 32 to 133 km wide, between the Western Ghats

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and the nearly 600 km of shoreline. About 320 km of the coast is subject to a dynamic process of
land erosion and accretion.

The coastal waters are not only rich in biodiversity but also support the livelihood of a large
number of people dependent on the coastal ecosystem, particularly the fishing communities. The
several ports on the coast facilitated commercial and cultural links of a population confined
between the Western Ghats ranges and the Arabian Sea. The coastal plain of Kerala also
constitutes a special ecological region which influences the setting of communities on modes of
resource with their cultural aspects.

Now, several activities such as unregulated tourism, polluting industries, infrastructure,

aquaculture, sand mining, construction of sea walls & rapid urbanisation pose serious threats to
the health of these ecosystems and to lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. The natural
systems as well as the heritage resources along the coasts are vulnerable to natural and human
induced pressures. Therefore the Kerala Coasts requires special planning and management by
adopting a planned approach to the way the coast to address the emerging issues such as
changing trends in our climate, maintaining access for people to the beaches and ensuring coastal
development occurs in an appropriate and sustainable manner.

Alleppey’s coastal zone contains a rich and diverse legacy of historic evidence which is vital for
an understanding of the long-term relationship with the sea and of those maritime influences
which have contributed to the identity as a major trading town. Though the CRZ has tended to
reduce the coastal ecosystem to a narrow strip of the shore, it is necessary to discard such a
administratively delimited view of the coast and define a scientifically more meaningful idea of
the coast.
Rationale
Alleppey Coastal Stretch is recognized internationally [1] for their natural, economic, social and
cultural values. This important resource is increasingly threatened by pressure for development
along the coast, and by the natural processes of coastal evolution; future climate change also
presents a major cause for concern. The Government has identified a need for an integrated
approach to coastal zone management and planning which seeks to reconcile conflicting interests
where they arise. To contribute to these I have taken up my thesis as Conservation of Coastal
heritage of Alleppey of which the heritage resources will be looked at and associated
management issues, the results of which would form the basis of a strategic approach to its

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management. Effective coastal planning and management regimes are needed to ensure these
values are protected.
Aim
The aim is to formulate Coastal Heritage Management Plan for the Alleppey Coast within the
existing management framework.
Objectives
 To evaluate the existing frameworks and its implications in the project scope.
 To collect data related to the nature and type of the coastal heritage resources within the
area defined in the project scope
 To apply methodologies, tools and practices of coastal management and integrate with
Coastal Heritage Management
 To identify local requirements in terms of needed human resources and agencies for
implementing potential management plans for the resources identified.
 To identify and elaborate strategies, solutions, tools and actions for sustainable
development, conservation of coastal heritage resources of the state coastline, in
particular to the coast of Alleppey.
 To use the experience and results achieved by the project in Japan which is having the
similar diverse natural enivironment as Kerala.

[1] Vembanad Backwaters passes through Alleppey is in the list of Ramsar Convention for the
conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands ,which is of international importance

Methodology
The methodology used in preparing Coastal Heritage Management Plan for Alleppey consist
mainly of the following stages
Stage 1 - Background research into the available documentation relevant to the coastal area’s
heritage resources
Stage 2 - Review of previous survey works, reports and consolidate recorded information from
coastal areas and to seek to characterize the nature of the heritage resource
Stage 3 - Field survey findings within the coastal stretch of Alleppey to assess the nature and
severity of threats to coastal heritage.
Stage 4 - Examine the management frameworks for the coast and the management initiatives
established by other agencies
Stage 5 - Make recommendations on ways to integrate heritage interests effectively into coastal
zone management plans
Stage 6 – Analysing with a Case study ( Japan ) which have similar features of Kerala coast.
Scope and Limitations
The Coastal Heritage Resources of Kerala is limited in scope to the analysis of the coastal
heritage resources of the area Alleppey. Two levels of inquiry are involved:

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 First, a detailed survey and analysis of the coastal heritage resources present within the
limits of Coastal Management Zone in terms of both tangible and intangible heritage
 Second, a place-type survey within the coastal line of Alleppey targeting only historic
structures that are very close to the sea.
Within these criteria, two main constraints were present:
 The lack of significant and up-to-date documentation pertaining to the location and nature
of the coastal heritage resources in the Alleppey area. This makes any survey for
inventorying the heritage of the coast a huge task , outside the scope of the Thesis which
have to be done in the time frame of six months.
 The lack of previous fieldwork involving the mapping of heritage resources on the coast.
In spite of these two major constraints, a substantial field survey was done within the
coastal zone in order to build a comprehensive picture of the existing resources, their
types, and conditions and in order to identify management requisites and propose
operational procedures that could be integrated within the coastal zone management plan.
Chapter 2 – Coastal Heritage of Alleppey
Background Research
Background research into the Alleppey’s Coastal heritage concentrated on identifying the nature
of the resources present and their significance , mainly concerned with understanding the natural
and cultural heritage of Alleppey in general and of historic core in particular in order to
reconstruct the context of the resources identified in the Thesis. In this respect, books dealing
with the history of the area ,published reports on management frameworks and the architectural
heritage were reviewed and provided knowledge of the significance and value of the heritage of
Alleppey . Specific to CRZ information on potential areas of ecological significance were
surveyed and identified issues.
Coastal Heritage
The types of Coastal heritage resources present in Alleppey , namely those that were identified in
the scope of this project fall under the Natural and Cultural (tangible and intangible) categories
of heritage which can be grouped under there respective types in the diagram below:
Coastal Heritage

Natural Heritage Cultural Heritage

Sea
River Intangible Heritage Tangible Heritage
Backwater
Land Folklore
Topography Oral Tradition
Minerals Craftsmenship Immovable Heritage Movable Heritage
Flora Customs and Belief Built Heritage Boats Page 64
Department of Architectural Conservation
Fauna Events and Festivals Sea Shell Crafts
Coastal Ecosystem Coir products
ResidentialHeritage
Industrial
Religious Buildings
Coastal Heritage Management for Alleppey, Kerala Management Seminar

The Coastal Heritage of Alleppey are linked to the development of the locality and the events
that shaped its historical background. Accordingly, they are grouped under the following types:
Natural Heritage – The major part of Alleppey falls in low lands with the Arabian sea on the
west and Punnamada backwater on the east connected by manmade canals.The variation in water
has resulted a wide range of plant communities and aquatic invertebrates. Different categories of
trees ,shrubs and leafy plants are grown along the backwater edges and different species of birds
and animals can be found along water sources and estuaries.
Residential Buildings - along the canal banks, on the street edge creating a long street facade.
The predominant feature of the structures in the mixed use concept where trade and commercial
activity is conducted on ground floor and residential activity on the upperfloor.The typical
houses have a central space flanked by offices and stores leading to a huge courtyard. The roofs
are dominant elements which have steep slopes with large protective eves. Houses have become
a building type for functional use related to occupation.
Industrial Heritage – Port area and the canal edges.
Trading terminus of the state and equipped with all the accessories required for a port - like light
house , sea pier , signal station , port office , ware houses , port workshops , railways extended
canal systems etc but lying dormant due to the total absence of port activities.The port is well
equipped with the sea pier into the sea with its railways and cranes which used to take away the
heavy cargo to load it into ships in the sea.
Religious structures – The religious buildings within the canal precinct in Alleppey falls into
three main categories of Churches , Mosques and Temples . These buildings have definite
architectural styles depending on the people and the period of construction.
Churches - Mainly built by CMS missionaries who came from England and Syrian churches of
definite style of their own.
Mosques – The mosques are either situated on the canal edge , canal being used for washing the
feet or have large pond with a flight of steps leading down as the Hindu Temples of Kerala. The
Mosques and their minarets are characterized by sloping roofs of 45 degree clearly shows the
traditional architectural skills.
Temples – Apart from the Jain temple within the Gujarati settlement , all the temples along the
canal edges are built in traditional Kerala style , with the temple sited in the middle of a large
open space with circulatory space surround it.
Chapter 4 – SWOT Analysis

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Based on the assessment of the significance of Alleppey’s Coastal heritage resources and the
condition and extent of its heritage, the SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and threats) is done for both the area’s internal capabilities and external influences so as to be
able to better draft the management policy and plan.
Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats
- Accessibility of - Lack of an overall Integration of the - Potential threat of
Organisations and the strategy for Coastal heritage and large coastal area
Development.
Willingness of the protecting and development in the
- Proximity to the capital
municipality and managing the Coastal - Potential for form of a sea-side
interest groups and Heritage environmental and alternatives
individuals in cultural tourism based on
- Lack of an - Continued loss of
promoting their the resources available
administrative cultural and natural
- Potential for new
heritage resources in the
mechanism at the
employment and income
Organisations for absence of a clean
- Increased generating schemes
protecting the conservation and
consciousness among linked to the
heritage resources of protection policy
the inhabitants about development
Alleppey . of the cultural and eco-
the value of the - The limitation of
tourism industry
environment and the - The lack of available skills for
- Opportunities for new
research,
need to preserve it and initiative with respect
uses and adaptations
conservation,
manage it in a to listing some of the that bring benefits to the
interpretation and
sustainable manner. most significant community
management
- Growing importance of
coastal heritage
- The formation of
diversification in the - Stagnant
resources of Alleppey
INTACH Chapter who
cultural tourist. economic situation
is willing to organize - Limited resources in
-Opportunity for the in the
activities for cultural the Municipality, no
revival of Port thereby Organisations.
and heritage funds to be allocated
the trade activities.
improvements to conserving and - Opportunities for better
upgrading the interpretation and
- The vision of the
presentation of the
heritage resources
Town and Country
heritage to the public
Planning regional - Lack of trained staff - Potential for tourist
office to conserve the at the Organisations development based on

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historic town core with sufficient the preservation of the
incorporating listing of knowledge regarding historic buildings within
Coastal Heritage. the management. the historic core
- Potential for vernacular
architecture which once
restored for adaptive re-
use.

Chapter 5 – Existing Management Framework

Evaluation of Coastal Regulation Zone.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 1991 divided coasts into four zones and drew
regulations to determine permissive and prohibitive activities, both for industry and community
use, within each zone."Coastal zone" is a term to include coastal waters, wetland and shore land
that is strongly influenced by marine water. This is the area of interaction between land and sea.
The coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters, which are influenced
by the tidal action (in the land ward side) up to 500 meters from the High Tide Line (HTL) and

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the land between the Low Tide Line and the HTL, had been declared Coastal Regulation Zone .
The CRZ covers the coastal stretches of India’s mainland and the many islands including
Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep.

The consent of CRZ lies in protecting the natural habitat, ensuring species proliferation, and thus
supporting sustainable livelihoods of traditional coastal communities. Restrictions on the setting
up or extension of industries, operations or processes in the coastal regulation zone are
prescribed. However, the construction/reconstruction of dwelling units between 20 and 500
metres of the High Tide Line is permitted so long as it is within the ambit of traditional rights
and customary uses such as existing fishing villages . In effect, the CRZ and the interests of
fishermen perfectly unite since they are of mutual benefit.

To the fisher folk, these regulations have brought a set of exclusive settlement rights in the CRZ
III zone. The CRZ III zone stands for areas that are relatively undisturbed and include coastal
zone in the rural areas (developed and undeveloped). The strict parameters for zoning, even after
deliberate manipulations to limit the land area under CRZ III an average of around 60% of the
coasts come under this zone. In Kerala, the total area under CRZ is 498.579 square kilometres.
Of this, CRZ III is 341.825 square kilometers.

[2] CRZ Notification 1991

[3] Centre for Earth Science Studies ( CESS ) , Trivandrum

Present Managerial Set up

Alappuzha with various components of heritage , have several bodies involved in the planning
and development process. All these bodies have come up with proposals within their concerned
zones of activities. Analysis of proposals in relation with heritage components of Alappuzha has
been done.

Institutions Responsibilities Proposal

The Directorate of Development of the Reviving the port to cater to the

Ports , Kerala Alappuzha port tourist requirements along with
commercial aspects.
The Town Planning Planning of the town , Development Plan 2011for
Department of identify issues of which Alappuzha town which is still in draft
Alappuzha shortage of social and form

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physical infrastructure ,
tourism facilities , conjestion
due to traffic.
State Irrigation Incharge of maintenance of
Department the canals within the town of
Alappuzha
Management Seminar
Devise methods to pump from one
part of canal to the other. This is a big
budget project and will not prove
economically feasible as it does not
generate any income through the
process.

The District Tourism Improvement of tourism Beautification of the canal stretches

Promotion Council facilities within backwaters. in bits and piece
Kerala Water Incharge of Inland waterways Revive and develop three of the
Transportation State’s important inland waterways
Corporation passing through the districts of
Alappuzha and Kottayam
Public Works Laying of new roads Proposal for the by-pass for the town
Department of Alappuzha to reduce the heavy
traffic across the canals.
Municipal Administration
Corporation of
Alappuzha

The existing management framework in Alappuzha is disjoint at present. Agents and actions are
to be clearly identified. Involving local communities is important. Considering the large number
of people, the high concentration of industries, the existence of small and large ports, and the
enormous fishing potential, the question of limiting development or putting in place a regime of
regulatory measures for human activities on the coast is bound to be a highly contentious. The
complexity of these problems is spelt out in the coastal zone management plan prepared by
Centre for Earth Science Studies, Trivandrum.

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Two prerequisites for the integration of tourism with the environment are partnerships amongst
stakeholders, and awareness among all concerned of the benefits of sustainability. Raising
awareness among the local population, the stakeholders, the tourists and the public authorities
requires on-going training, targeted information and dialogue. Representatives of the tourism
servicing sector, the public authorities and environmental specialists and advocates need to meet
regularly in an inter-sectoral framework to manage, plan and make decisions.
In order to ensure that cultural tourism can continue in the foreseeable future without damaging
the quality of the environment, its cumulative impacts, as well as the impacts of other
anthropogenic activities have to be monitored on a continuous basis.

Case Study – Japan

National Land Agency of Japan had made "the Guideline for the Integrated Coastal Management
Plan" which covers all coastal area in Japan. There are three major points
o the historical and fundamental issues - e g who is an owner of coastal lands who
has responsibility of maintain coastal lands how the agency maintain coastal
lands?
o the Acts and legal doctrines before 1999 and environmental problems in coastal
area
o the new system- The Coast act Amendment adopts "public coast" system So all
coastal area is regulated and maintained by four acts National Land Agency
makes "the Guideline for the Integrated Coastal Management Plan" which covers
all coastal area in Japan
Issues in Coastal Area of Japan
Japan is an island country located in East Asia in the northwest Pacific Ocean. Japan has diverse
natural environments due to the variety of climates found there Four fifths of the land area is
mountainous with mountain ranges running from the north to the south There are also a few

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spacious plains On the whole Japan’s rivers are short and rapidly flowing streams. Therefore the
nation is often troubled with water shortage in spite of an abundance of precipitation and with
flood Many peninsulas and capes complicate the coastlines and form diverse scenery.
There are many problem of coastal management in Japan
The first is protection of coastal area from disaster Much of coastal area has been eroded by
wave and wind They have much strong wave from typhoon and rainstorm in winter And the
construction of dams in many rivers makes lack of sand supply coastal erosion happens many
areas The Coast Act provides the Coastal Protection Zone where Minister of Construction made
and maintained breakwater and have also flooded near the mouth of rivers So coastal area near
the mouth of rivers are often designated to the Coastal Protection Zone About half of Coastal line
is designated for the Coastal Protection

The second is environmental problems Water pollution and destroy of wetland and happened
many coastal areas. They have special acts for water pollution the Water Pollution Control Act
the Law concerning Special Measures for Conservation of the Environment of the Seto Inland
Sea and the Lake Environment Conservation Act

The third is the reclamation In years we had many big development projects and destroyed much
coastal wetland area. Especially after 1960s many big industrial development projects have been
operated at coastal area
In Japanese legal system mean high tide line divide "the land" and "the sea" .Private ownership
does not settle in the sea The land from the mean high tide line to the mean low tide line (dry
sand area) is generally owned by national government . The upland area can be owned private
person.
Coastal Management by special Acts
Their legal system is simple but not integrated Coastal area regulated by special acts the Coast
act the River Act the Harbor Act and the Fishery Port Act But there is wide no regulated area .

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The River Act (before 1997)

To flood control and irrigation .Many rivers in Japan have fast flowing stream So riverside field
especially the mouth of river area is often flooded Director of River area is the Minister of
Construction or Governor of Prefecture
The Coast Act (before 1999)
The purpose of the Coast act is the protection of coastal Area from disaster The Act applies all
coastal area but only regulates the Coastal Protection Zone Director of coastal area is the
Minister of Construction or Governor of Prefecture

The Harbor Act (before 2000) and the Fishery Port Act.
The purposes of the Harbor Act are making the Plan of Harbor System and Construction and
maintenance of Harbors and establishment and maintenance of Steamship Routes Director of the
Harbor is the Port Authority or Local Government

The purposes of the Fishery Port Act are the making the Plan of Fishery Port System and
Construction and maintenance of Fishery Ports Director of the Fishery Port Act is Local
Government

Environmental Laws
Environmental laws in Japan Japan’s environmental administration had been based on two laws
the Basic Pollution Prevention Law enacted in 1967 and
the Law for the Preservation of the Natural Environment enacted in 1972 Up until 1993
the administration has played a fixed role in preventing pollution and preserving the
natural environment .

The Basic Environmental Law of is designed to provide the major foundation for developing a
comprehensive new set of environmental countermeasures more suited to the age of global
environmental concerns .

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The Basic Environmental Law first establishes three basic principles for environmental
preservation enjoyment and inheritance of the bounties of the environment creation of a society
capable of sustainable use that reduces the burden on the environment and making active efforts
to preserve the global environment through international cooperation .It also identifies the duties
of the national government local public organizations companies and citizens as regards
environmental preservation.

Secondly with regard to environmental preservation policy the law identifies guidelines for the
establishment and implementation of measures and specifies that a Basic Environmental Plan
should be prepared and brought before the general public as the major policy framework It also
specifies such basic measures as environmental standards and pollution control plans
consideration for the environment in national and other measures evaluations of environmental
impact disposition of restrictions to eliminate obstacles to environmental preservation and
economic assistance or subsidies for the elimination of obstacles to environmental preservation
the construction of facilities relating to environmental preservation and the promotion of similar
projects encouraging the use of products etc that help ease the burden on the environment
promotion of environmental education and autonomous activities on the part of the general
public support for science and technology and international cooperation subsidies and financial
measures with respect to global environmental preservation efforts

Thirdly the law prescribes the establishment of Environmental Councils within the Environment
Agency and at the prefectural level.

New Coastal Management System

Japanese Coastal System has been changed by these Amendments and the Guideline demanding
the coastal management system of integration. Coastal areas are in sensitive natural balance
where land water and air interface while varied coastal land and water uses often compete and
conflict such as industries traffics amenity cultural activities and other uses for human needs
With a recent rise in the public awareness of the importance of the global environment it has
become one of the today’s critical issues to preserve or enhance the function of natural
reproduction cycles and the diversity of nature in coastal areas Not only from the perspective of
the development of safe variously functioned coastal areas but also from the viewpoint of
restoration and creation of esthetic sound coastal environments Integrated Coastal Zone
Management (ICZM) has become vital in order to solve balance conflicting demands from

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various concerned agencies groups and individuals .The Diet enacted the River Act Amendment
of 1997 the Coast act Amendment of 1999 and the Harbor Act Amendment of 2000 and will
enact the Fishery Port Act Amendment.
Basic concepts on ICZM are the following Create or restore aesthetic safe sound coastal areas for
this and succeeding generations.
Balance competing demands of environments safety and various land and water uses in coastal
areas. Foster partnerships among various concerned local governments agencies groups and
individuals.
The boundaries of the coastal zone subject to an ICZM plan will be identified to treat an entire
encompassed area as a natural system unit strongly influenced by each other in light of
geographical shapes water and soil movements The zone encompasses a certain part
of coastal areas extending in two directions [A] a coastline direction and [B] an inland seaward
direction Local authorities will make clear these two directions boundaries a coastline direction
boundary is expected to be based on the portions of the whole country coastline which the
guidelines show an inland seaward direction boundary extends in accordance with the
characteristics of local areas and planning elements
To encourage participation and cooperation of various concerned groups such as the national
government local administrations private sectors Non Profit Organization (NPO) fishermen local
communities
To provide wide overviewed implementation giving full consideration to the whole of bays
inland seas and river
To provide long term viewed implementation setting a future vision of coastal areas under an
analysis of natural cycles
To provide a continuing implementation based on the results of continuous monitor and analysis
of the execution of an ICZM plans
Defining problems of coastal areas by making a detailed study of the features of coastal areas
including the characteristics of the nature disasters social economic interests culture and history
in coastal areas

ICZM plan included the following elements

 The boundaries of a coastal zone (to be indicated clearly on map)
 Period of reauthorization of the plan (approximately every years)
 Basic policy (basic policies for projects and activities in the coastal zone in light of the
future visions)
 Definitions of issues and basic directions of comprehensive management programs for
solving managing the issues

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 Organizations for the implementation of an ICZM plan and measures to evaluate the
execution of the ongoing plan

Organisations for decision making and implementation

Integrated Coastal Zone Management Commission shall be created consisting of representatives
of each of the prefecture governments and cities in the coastal zone as its main members and
representatives of each of concerned groups or individuals such as the national government
agencies NPO the residents the enterprises and any other groups in the coastal zone The
Commission is responsible for building or developing an ICZM plan reviewing the execution of
the ongoing plan and providing the information of the plan to the public. Even the case the
national government or agency are not included as a member of the Commission it may be
appointed with an approval of the Commission especially when a coastal zone extends two or
more than two prefectures‘ jurisdictions or when the Commission requests the participation of
the national government or agencies (including branch offices)

The features of coastal zones are planned as the followings

Having bays where diverse land and water uses are or are likely to compete and conflict
Having superior landscapes or historical cultural resources
Having a scheduled project supposed to make considerable impacts on local economy or natural
environment

Prefecture local governments are encouraged to enhance the public awareness of the basic idea
and the need of ICZM and to disseminate information about the contents of ICZM plans to the
public.

The National Land Agency is scheduled to enhance understanding of ICZM and the guidelines of
ICZM and to assist local authorities to develop a model of ICZM plans by modeling coastal
zones where coordination and corporation among multi prefecture governments are needed.

Integrated Coastal Heritage Management Plan for Alappuzha

The concept of "integrated coastal heritage management" has been used in the meaning:
Sustainable use of the coastal zone with reference to both economic exploitation of the resources
and protection of the nature and the cultural heritage and the ecological balance. In this
connection, the coastal zone comprises the near-shore land and sea areas.
Integration aspects
The Management Plan focus on the following integration aspects:
1. Integration between land and sea.

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2. Integration of heritage resources comprising utilization and protection, natural and cultural
heritage.
3. Integration between authorities at country, state and municipal levels and public participation

In the assessment of the integration between land and sea in the Alappuzha coastal zone
management practice, the following criteria can be applied:
The management system registers the opportunities and problems which originate in the between
land and sea, and reacts on them.
The management system reacts appropriately in relation to exploitation of opportunities/finding
solutions to problems.
If solutions are integrating in relation to other problems in the coastal zone and balanced in
relation to overall social concerns.

The criteria for the assessment of the heritage resources integration are:
The authorities should handle the integration of heritage resources approved in the legislation
The extent and the character of cooperation between authorities regarding integration of heritage
in the coastal zone.
Heritage resources are balanced if integration takes place and if holistic solutions are achieved.

The assessment of the authority integration in the management practice is based on analysis
of the following aspects:
The relevant authorities at all levels are (timely) involved in the management process and also
the public is appropriately involved.
The cooperation between the parties involved is professional.
If view-points and attitudes are coordinated internally within authorities having responsibility for
more areas of coastal zone management.

The management of the coastal zone and its resources

The experiences and conclusions of the seminar are presented in the following.

The legal framework and regulatory instruments

The existing legal and regulatory framework for the Alappuzha coastal zone is scattered across a
number of different regulatory systems. Each of these may be characterised by different
organisational and institutional arrangements. Consequently, coastal zone authority is dispersed
among different sectors anddifferent administrative levels of decision-making.

The most important regulatory systems for protection of the coastal zone are the Environment
Protection Act of 1986 and Coastal Regulation Zone which was strengthened in 1991. The
Environment Protection Act does not separate coastal zone planning - coastal protection
considerations should be integrated into regional, municipal and local planning. The

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Coastal Regulation Zone lays down a set back protection zone along the entire Alappuzha
Coastal zones .New activities are prohibited in the beach protection zone, unless particular
circumstances indicate a need to grant an exemption.
Relevant authorities according to these Acts are primarily regional and local authorities. The
Management Plan should provide public participation in relation to planning procedures and
environmental impact assessment procedures.

The complexity is a weak point in the legal framework, which may create constraints to
integrated coastal zone management. A number of new legislative initiatives - including the
introduction of certain instruments - may in different ways promote an integration of coastal
zone interests. Such procedures or instruments may take the form of, inter alia, planning and co-
ordination requirements, environmental impact assessment requirements, hearing and co-
operation procedures and requirements of public participation.

It is possible to distinguish between two different tendencies of integration - namely planning

coordination through strengthening the co-ordinating role of planning, and integration through
incorporation of cultural, environmental and nature protection interests into legislation.

The Management Plan provisions thus express efforts of planning co-ordination giving priority
to coastal protection interests. The Plan also express other co-ordination requirements directed
towards both planning and administration carried out by the regional and local authorities.

Public participation is a central element of the Management Plan. Prior public participation is,
not a characteristic of other parts of environmental legislation nor of other regulatory systems.
Involved parties and citizens normally participate actively in relation to environmental impact
assessment and heritage management projects.
The case study material supports the opinion that public participation promotes an integrated
coastal zone management.

Management practice

In Alappuzha the management of resources and activities in the near-shore sea territory is
undertaken by a number of sector authorities like Port Trust and Tourism department while
management land is primarily the responsibility of regional and local authorities and based on a
broadly defined frame legislation. The analysis of the existing management show that the
missing integration of legislation, planning and resource management across the coast line in

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Coastal Heritage Management for Alleppey, Kerala Management Seminar
some cases may lead to situations which conflict with the overall goals and strategies for the
coastal zone and are inappropriate in relation to more holistic socio-economic concerns.

The character and the extent of the heritage resources integration which takes place in the coastal
zone management reflect the management barrier which is in the coast-line between the
dominantly land oriented competences which rest with the regional and local authorities..
Because of the lacking land-sea integration, fishing, sea transportation, raw material extraction,
etc. in the coastal territory is by and large not integrated with the other management of the
coastal zone.
Only by establishing voluntary co-operations between a number of authorities , balanced
solutions to various development opportunities, problems and conflicts can be done. Missing
integration internally with a single management authority may result in fragmentized processes
and solutions.

Integration between different authority levels and public participation

Kerala has integrated management of the landward part of the coastal zone including significant
decentralisation and management integration between authorities at regional and local levels.
This applies both where physical and activity planning are concerned and in the management of
specific cases of utilisation or protection. There is also a tradition for involvement of the public
as a hearing party in the process of physical planning and in environmental impact assessment.
Most parts of the legislation which regulate the coastal zone do not have similar provisions for
decentralisation of the management competence and involvement of the public and the affected
citizens in the decision process, e.g. through information dissemination and hearing.
Many of the case studies show a management practice which involves and integrates authorities
at different management levels in accordance with the Planning Act. Involvement of the public
and the NGOs organisations also seem to be as prescribed in the Act. The study documents that
political interest in a specific case both at local and regional level as well as interest from the
media, enhance the integration process.

Sources
CRZ notification 1991
Coastal Zone Management for Kerala
Swaminathan Committee Report
Census of India, 2001, Department of Census, Government of India.
Resource Atlas of Kerala, 1984, Center for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Kerala

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