Foreword
India has a long coast line .of 5686 km which adjoins three important conti- nental shelves/reef zones. There are a number of coastal cities with several major industries having large potential for the discharge of domestic and industrial wastewaters into the sea. Fifteen marine outfalls were already constructed at various places and another nine outfalls are either in the construction or under planning stage. The experience gained through the existing outfalls appear to be not satisfactQry. There are several cases of damage caused to the outfalls for various reasons resulting in the pollution of coastal waters, apart from loss of huge investment made on such works. The risk factors involved in t[1e construction, maintenance of marine outfalls are scouring and damage due to wave forces, damage due to anchors, corrosion and bio-fouling of pipe lines and diffusers, etc. Hence a need for pooling information on th-e status of technology presently available in the country for evolving an Action Plan for developing indi- genous capability for acquiring adequate Oceanographic data and also capability for proper construction and maintenance of marine outfalls, was strongly felt.