PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry has been selected for launching a pilot project on integrated coastal management for preparation of an integrated coastal management plan by the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystem (BOBLME). The BOBLME is a regional initiative launched by the Global Environmental Facility, the Food and Agricultural Organization and several international organisations. Eight countries - India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Maldives - have joined hands to evolve a common strategy to optimise the use of shared marine resources on a sustainable basis.The project envisages preparing the community and stakeholders to adopt an integrated coastal management framework for the development of Puducherry. “The management principle advocates a bottom-up approach with participation of stakeholders in the development process,” a press note said. A three-day seminar designed to initiate the process was organised with support from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai.Puducherry chief secretary M Sathyavathi inaugurated the three-day seminar organised by BOBLME on Friday. While thanking BOBLME for selecting Puducherry for the project, she said the government would render all assistance in fulfilling the organisation’s task.She urged people to be more cautious in carrying out their duties and responsibilities and added that they should not leave everything to the government. Referring to the difficulties faced by the government in garbage handling, she said the problem could be dealt with if people cooperated.She also explained about the challenges faced by the government in meeting the expectations of fishermen, a group that had considerable stake in marine resources off the coast.
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