Coast Guard’s hopes of setting up base near Karwar dashed

The wait for the Indian Coast Guard to get a functional station in perhaps the most sensitive part of the State’s coast will continue with the Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) denying them forest land.

Though the Indian Coast Guard Station (ICGS) had commissioned the station in 2009 to cover the naval base of INS Kadamba and monitor 11 minor ports and 70 landing points, its plans to develop it into a full-fledged base were stalled as the authorities could not get the necessary land. The ICGS had, for two years now, set its sights on 6.07 hectares (nearly 15 acres) of forest land at a village outside Karwar town to set up the station, with quarters, a parade ground, administrative buildings, training areas, and a helipad.

On May 16, the REC delivered a blow to the ICGS’ hopes by observing that as their proposal to divert forest land was “non-site specific,” there remained a possibility of finding non-forest land to set up the project. “The committee advises the user agency to make all efforts to procure non-forest land for the project in consultation with the State government,” said the decision of the seven-member committee.

“This is the second time we have been denied,” said an officer of the Coast Guard. A few years ago, the Forest Department refused to divert land in Harwada village as it was a forest nursery. “We moved around for several weeks to finally find the land in Shirwad village in Karwar. It was approved at the level of the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Additional Chief Conservator of Forests, and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests. We are deeply hurt by the rejection.” For the REC, the project, which will divert forest land within eco-sensitive areas mentioned by the Kasturirangan report, did not justify the damage. The land, after all, comes under the dense evergreen or semi-evergreen category, and forests are Eco Class I. There are 463 trees and 19 species on the land, including gaur, leopard, jungle cat, mouse deer, and king cobra.

While the proposal had got approval from the Forest Department and the State government, the REC said it had not received approval from the local gram sabha or the Forest Rights Committee.

For the Coast Guard, it has been a long-drawn attempt at setting up a base. A previous proposal to set up a base close to the Karwar-Majauli beach met with opposition from fishermen.

The coastal station, according to the coast guard’s proposal, could enhance coastal security and provide timely intervention in case of disasters and protection of fishermen. The coast guard has saved nearly 450 fishermen stranded at sea since 2001, including nine earlier this month. “We are forced to operate from a building by paying a monthly rent of ₹4 lakh. Our personnel are staying in houses by paying rents of ₹10,000 a month. It is difficult to run a station like this,” said the officer.