India's First Coral Garden: Good Step By Gujarat

India's First Coral Garden: Good Step By Gujarat

India will now have its very first coral garden. The garden is going to be set up in Gujarat. In a move to conserve several coral species at one place and increase tourism in the state as well, a coral garden will be set up in Gujarat. The location of the coral garden will be in the Mithapur coastal reggion of the Devbhoomi-Dwarka district in the state of Gujarat.

According to the Senior Adviser (WTI), B. C. Choudhury "We will set up country's first coral garden at Mithapur coast which will conserve coral species. Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) and Tata Chemicals Limited (TCL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up the first of its kind coral garden.” This is a positive step taken by the Gujarati CM Anandiben Patel and her government. The coral garden project will be receiving funding from the forest department of Gujarat.

Gujarat's WTI has signed a broad MoU with respect to this with the state of Gujarat, according to Choudhury. The garden is also set to house all the coral species found in the Gulf of Kutch. The project has been conceptualised by Choudhury as early as 2006 after the WTI attained success in initial research for ensuring the conservation of coral species. The project has finalised only after painstaking experiments were conducted wherein scientists sought to conserve coral species in select locations across the proposed site.

After having attained success at its experiments, the WTI attained success in getting clearance for the project as well. According to the project plan of the Mithapur Coral garden, the reef will be divided into separate sections wherein almost al of the species of coral can be found under one roof.

The Mithapur Coral Garden is going to be one of its kind in India according to media reports. But one does hope that more coral gardens come about so that people can absorb the beauty of nature at close quarters.

"The 'Mithapur Coral Garden' will be one of its kind and it will house nearly all coral species found in Gulf of Kutch. Just as in a terrestrial botanical park or garden, the reef will be separated into various sections, based on accessibility," a joint report by WTI and TCS indicated. This report contains the proposed plan of the Mithapur Coral garden indicating that "The tidal pools are primarily targeted for the coral garden. Each pool will contain a variety of corals, and will give a special emphasis to the placement of different species. It would be useful not only for education and tourism, but also restoration of the reef.”

Tourists visiting the state of Gujarat will now be able to see the magical beauty of the corals. Authorities are also planning to have water sports and adventures such as wading, diving, snorkeling as well as jetty and boat anchoring. The field officer at WTI, S. Subburaman has been quoted by the media as saying

"This is an opportunity to create the first coral garden in the country, which will have major role in the conservation by serving as the mother reef for new sites. This project run by Wildlife trust of India (WTI) is in partnership with Gujarat Forest department and Tata Chemical Ltd. Tata is our funding agency.”