India possesses a vast coastline of 7,516.6 km (covering 9 states and 4 Union Territories), which serves as a critical economic engine and a strategic asset. However, this geostrategic advantage is accompanied by high vulnerability to natural disasters, creating a duality of immense opportunity and significant risk.

Resource Potentials of the Indian Coastline

India’s coastal regions are the backbone of the “Blue Economy,” offering diverse resources:

• Trade and Logistics: With 13 major ports and over 200 non-major ports, the coastline handles approximately 95% of India’s external trade by volume. Initiatives like Sagarmala aim to further unlock “port-led development.”
• Fisheries and Food Security: The Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) supports a thriving fishery sector, making India one of the largest fish producers globally. The Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) is leveraging this to double export earnings.
• Energy Security:

○ Hydrocarbons: Offshore basins like Mumbai High and Krishna-Godavari (KG) Basin are critical for oil and gas production.

○  Renewables: The coastline holds immense potential for offshore wind energy (e.g., coasts of Tamil Nadu and Gujarat) and tidal energy (Gulf of Khambhat and Kutch).

• Mineral Wealth: The coastal sands (placers) of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha are rich in strategic minerals like monazite (thorium), ilmenite, and rutile. Furthermore, the Deep Ocean Mission targets polymetallic nodules in the central Indian Ocean.
• Ecological Services and Tourism: Coastal ecosystems like the Sundarbans mangroves and Gulf of Mannar coral reefs support biodiversity and a robust tourism industry, contributing significantly to state GDPs (e.g., Goa, Kerala).

Status of Natural Hazard Preparedness

The Indian coastline acts as the “first line of defence” against tropical cyclones, tsunamis, and sea-level rise. The preparedness status has shifted from a “reactive relief-centric” approach to a “proactive prevention-centric” one.

• Robust Early Warning Systems (EWS):

○ Success: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and INCOIS (for Tsunamis) have achieved high accuracy in forecasting. This “Zero Casualty” policy was evident during recent cyclones (e.g., Biparjoy, Mocha), where mass evacuations drastically reduced mortality compared to the 1999 Odisha Super Cyclone.

○ Technology: Utilization of GEMINI devices for fishermen and the Mausam App for real-time dissemination.

                   Tsunamis

○ Vulnerability along Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Tamil Nadu coast.

○  Preparedness: Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre (ITEWC) at Hyderabad provides real-time alerts.

• Infrastructure and Mitigation:

○ The National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) has established multipurpose cyclone shelters and embankments in vulnerable states like Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

○  Nature-based Solutions: The MISHTI scheme (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) actively promotes mangrove plantation to act as bio-shields against erosion and storm surges.

• Institutional Framework:

○ Disaster Management Act (2005) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) provide policy framework.

○ The implementation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms regulates construction to reduce exposure to hazards.

○ Odisha has become a global role model, with two of its villages receiving ‘Tsunami Ready’ recognition from UNESCO-IOC.

 Existing Gaps and Challenges

Despite progress, significant vulnerabilities remain:

• Coastal Erosion: According to the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), nearly 34% of the Indian coastline is under varying degrees of erosion, largely due to unscientific port structures and sand mining.
• Urban Flooding: Coastal cities (e.g., Chennai, Mumbai) frequently face inundation due to the loss of natural wetlands and poor drainage, rather than just storm surges.
• Changing Hazard Patterns: The frequency of cyclones in the Arabian Sea has increased, catching west coast states (with historically lower preparedness than the east coast) off guard.

 Conclusion

India’s long coastline is a powerhouse of resources that requires a sustainable “Blue Economy” approach. The way forward lies in integrating Climate-Resilient Infrastructure (as championed by CDRI) with strict enforcement of Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP). Balancing economic extraction with ecological conservation is vital to ensure the coastline remains an asset rather than a liability.