Planned Dugong Centre Faces Backlash for Violating Coastal Regulations

As of October 18, 2025, a proposed International Dugong Conservation Centre in Thanjavur district, India has sparked controversy among local residents and environmental activists. The centre, planned by the Forest Department, is set to be built in Sarabendrarajanpattinam village within Pattukottai taluk.

The issue lies in the fact that the site falls within a No-Development Zone under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines. The project, covering nearly 23,000 square meters, includes research and recreational facilities such as an interpretation centre, marine museum, open-air theatre, and rehabilitation centre. Notably, the main building is designed to resemble a dugong.

Environmental groups have raised concerns over the potential ecological impact of the construction, as many of the planned structures are located in ecologically sensitive areas like seagrass beds, tidal rivers, and intertidal forests - zones where development is highly restricted or prohibited under the CRZ Notification, 2011. Activists argue that a conservation initiative should not be built in a manner that could potentially harm the very habitats it aims to protect.

Authorities, however, maintain that the centre needs to be situated near the dugong habitat to serve its intended purpose of research and education. The Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, Supriya Sahu, stated that the project will only move forward after securing all necessary clearances, including a special provision in the CRZ guidelines.