Industrial units dealing with fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, paper, chemical, petroleum and cement are being setup along the coast. Most of these industries need guidance and advice for identifying suitable areas and modes to discharge their treated effluent into the sea such that the impact on the environment is minimal. Power plants look for appropriate sites in their vicinity to draw large quantities of seawater to serve as coolant. Other developmental activities such as the expansion of ports and harbours, deepening of navigational channels and construction of offshore facilities require an assessment of their potential environmental impact.
