Visitors to Digha, the popular sea resort in West Bengal that plays host to around 16 lakh tourists every year, are in for a nasty surprise - the shimmering sea water there has been considered by experts as unfit for all activities other than gardening. "The shallow coastal water, highly contaminated with colliform bacteria from the inflowing untreated sewage as well as having high iron content and hardness, is, however, being extensively used by the hotels and local people," said Dr Sugata Hazra, Director, School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University. To tackle these pollution concerns as well as problems of coastal erosion, loss of biodiversity and lack of administrative coordination, the Digha Shankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) has recently submitted a perspective plan containing a list of recommendations for the Integrated Coastal Zone Management of the area.