According to CAG, an audit will guarantee that ocean resources are not overused

The national auditor has advised them to use "land" resources instead, warning against the dangers of thoughtless exploitation of maritime resources.
The Comptroller Auditor General of India (CAG) Girish Murmu said in his opening remarks at the G20's three-day meeting of senior audit officials that began on Monday in Guwahati, "We as Supreme Audit Institutions (SAI) have an opportunity here—to ensure that the journey of exploring oceanic resources does not follow the same path as exploitation of land."

He stressed the need of audit by stating, "The unplanned and uncontrolled growth in the coastal regions must be addressed in audit. Governments must also be convinced, via facts, of the significance of protecting the way of life of those who reside in these places.

The CAG's comments take on greater significance against the backdrop of the Brahmapuram waste plant's smoke fumes engulfing portions of the port city of Kochi, where many residents are having breathing difficulties despite local administration advisories urging residents to stay inside and wear masks when they venture outside.

The trash factory caught fire on March 2, which is what caused the towering smoke.

The SAI summit is concentrating on the twin agendas of "Blue Economy" and Artificial Intelligence in parallel with the G20 agenda.

The concept of the "Blue Economy" focuses on protecting freshwater and marine ecosystems while "promot[ing] their sustainable usage, providing food and energy, sustaining livelihoods, and functioning as a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity."

The difficulties facing a "Blue Economy" include the physical transformation and loss of marine and coastal ecosystems, unplanned and uncontrolled development in the constrained coastal interface, marine pollution, and the unsustainable exploitation of marine resources, including overfishing, etc.

The CAG also identified the possibility for several implementation agencies at various levels of governance as a concern in India. "The interweaving of social, economic, and environmental-ecological sectors leads to a difficult implementation framework, with possible inter-sectoral problems and conflict," according to the study.

Of of the 20 nations that make up the G20 platform, roughly eight are represented at the summit in Guwahati. The UK, China, France, and Germany were notable absences.

It's interesting to note that the CAG just finished a Performance Audit Report on Conservation of Coastal Ecosystems that focuses primarily on the management of the coastal regions in India.

India has 199 ports, including 12 major ports that handle around 1,400 million tons of cargo annually, a coastline that is 7,517 km long, and an Exclusive Economic Zone that is over 2 million km2. The coastal economy supports over 4 million fishermen and other coastal communities.