Gulf of Kutch

The Gulf of Kutch is located between the peninsula regions of Kutch and Kathiawar, in the state of Gujarat. The gulf has a width ranging from 15-65 km and a length of approximately 150 km filtering into creeks, wetlands and tidal flats.[1]

Gulf of Kutch on the left. Image NASA Earth Observatory
Gulf of Kutch in 1896

The Gulf of Kutch harbours many ports including; Okha, Māndvi, Bedi, and Kandla, while also enclosing a rich marine biodiversity. Due of this some areas within the gulf have become protected sanctuaries to maintain the ecosystem within the region.

History

The Gulf of Kutch is referred to in the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea, a travelogue written in about 50 CE, as the Gulf of Baraca.[2]

Flora and fauna

The first coral garden will be set up near Mithapur in the Gulf of Kutch. The different species of corals will be set up and an underwater garden will be developed for conservation and tourism purposes. It will be developed by a joint venture of Gujarat forest department, Wildlife Trust of India and Tata Chemicals.[3]

Vessel Traffic Service

In 2012, the vessel traffic service (VTS-GOK) was opened in the Gulf of Kutch. The project was the join initiative of the Kandla Port Trust, Gujarat Maritime Board and the Directorate General of Lighthouses And Lightships of India. It is one of the largest VTS system in the world covering water area of 16,500 square kilometres (6,400 sq mi). It extends from Koteshwar to Okha, about 800 km. It cost ₹165 crore (equivalent to ₹264 crore or US$35 million in 2020). It has nine radars, three repeater stations and six port monitoring stations. Two additional monitoring stations of the Indian Coast Guard at Jakhau and Okha and one station of Indian Navy at Okha is also integrated in the system. The master control centre is located in Kandla.[4][5][6]

See also

References
  1. Wagle, B G (1979). "Geomorphology of the Gulf of Kutch" (PDF). Indian Journal of Marine Sciences. 8: 123–126.
  2. Schoff, Wilfred H.: The Periplus of the Erythrean Sea - Travel and Trade in the Indian Ocean by a Merchant of the First Century, Longmans, Green and Co. London, 1912.
  3. "India's First 'Coral Garden' to be Set up in Gujarat". Press Trust of India. 3 September 2014.
  4. "VTS system to make navigation easier in Gulf of Kutch". The Times of India. 13 December 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  5. "India: VTS for the Gulf of Kachchh to the Nation DGLL to Launch AIS for Tracking Vessels". Safety4Sea. 13 February 2012.
  6. "VTS: Directorate General of Lighthouses & Lightships". www.dgll.nic.in. Retrieved 26 July 2020.


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