Assess the Significance of Coastal Regions in the Economic Development in India

IAS Mains General Studies Sample Answers

Assess the Significance of Coastal Regions in the Economic Development in India.

India was about 7516 km long coastline, including two island groups. Nine states have sea-coast including two island territories. The coastal zone inhabits about 25% population of India in its first 50 km of area.

It is the coastal region that provides India with a number of sea-ports, minor as well as major, and harbours to take on large scale sea-trade activities which are cheapest means of transport and helped India flourish its international trade. About 90% of our foreign trade by volume and nearly 70% of value is carried out through sea route. Apart from this, coasts are the reservoir of petroleum and sea-food items. It also provides economic activities like fishing, saltfarming, handicrafts based on coastal materials. Oil exploration facility from seabed installed at Bombay High accounts for more than 15% of nation's petroleum output.

India's Exclusive Economic Zone area constitutes about 2 million sq. km. This area gives economical benefits in term of marine resources like minerals, vegetation and aqua-life. Major industrial activities like metallurgy, ship-building, manufacturing etc. are also concentrated around the coastal cities and urban centres around the coasts. The sea-coasts also helps India on security front. India's three sides are covered by sea. India's strategic location in sea is helpful. India is one mid-journey destination for ships travelling in the Indian Ocean. India gets earning from such visiting ships. So, we can say that the coastline is the life-line of the economic development of India but it is under constant threat of Global warming and rising Sea-level.

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