Kerala’s Legal Voyage Towards Comprehensive Port Development In The Blue Economy: An Analysis
- IJLLR Journal
- Dec 24, 2024
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 18
G. Uma Maheswari, Research Scholar/Assistant Professor, VISTAS
Dr. S. Jenifer Stella, Assistant Professor, HOD, Department of Law, VISTAS
Introduction
Water is one of the major sources of existence without which no lives will survive in the world. In that the ocean covers 70 percent of Earth's surface. It contains about 1.35 billion cubic kilometres (324 million cubic miles) of water, which is about 97 percent of all the water on Earth.1 India is having a vast coastline of approximately 7,500 kilometres which spreads across nine coastal states and two Union Territories (Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep). India has 12 major ports and 217 minor ports. These ports form the backbone of India’s maritime trade and economic activities, facilitating the movement of goods, boosting regional economies, and enabling India's engagement with global trade. India is strategically positioned as a maritime nation, offering immense opportunities for leveraging the blue economy for its economic growth and maritime development. Among the states of India, Kerala is one of the states which has 590 km of coastline. Kerala boasts one major port at Cochin and 17 classified non-major ports2. Available potential along Kerala's coastline can be used to support the shipping industry's and maritime trade's long-term expansion. This article explains about the Kerala’s port development as one of the blue economy initiatives and effective legal remedies made by the state to the displacement of the coastal community which arose due to the port development.
Concept of Blue Economy
The blue economy indicates the sustainable use of ocean resources and preserving it for the future generation while exploiting the same, which means the phrase blue economy which is frequently used interchangeably with sustainable ocean-based economy, refers to both the exploitation and preservation of the maritime environment. According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems.
