The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Body to enforce coastal regulations on the anvil

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Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Body to enforce coastal regulations on the anvil

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, JAN. 25. The Union Government was in the process of constituting a National Coastal Zone Regulatory Authority to monitor and enforce the coastal regulation rules, the Union Environment and Forests Minister, A. Raja said here today.

The Minister told newspersons that shortly after the tsunami, the Centre formed a high-level committee led by M.S. Swaminathan, chairman of the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, to make more stringent the rules of the Coastal Zone Regulatory Act. The Committee looked into various aspects, including constructions along the coastal areas coming in three different zones under the Act.

The Committee was expected to submit its recommendations by this month end, following which the Centre would constitute the regulatory authority. Similarly, soon after the tsunami, the Ministry held a meeting with experts from various departments and the feasibility of various disaster prevention measures, including creation of mangrove reserve forests was discussed. To a query on the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's demand for construction of retainer walls along the shore, the Minister said if the need for such walls was scientifically established, there was nothing wrong in going in for it.

On the threat to ecology, especially to marine life and coral reefs, from the Sethusamudram Project, Mr. Raja said the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute had cleared the project in its Ecological Impact Assessment Report. Hence, there was no need for any apprehension on this count.

To a query on the National River Conservation Programme, the Minister said the ministry had already spent Rs. 4,200 crores for cleaning up the rivers during the current plan period. Another Rs. 400 crores would be sought for completing ongoing projects. Another Rs. 12,000 crores would be sought to take up NRCP works over the next five years. The Centre had sanctioned Rs. 28 crores for cleaning the Cooum River in Chennai.

To a query on afforestation measures, the Minister said the present 22 per cent forest cover would reach the target of 33 per cent within the next five years. There was a two per cent increase in forest cover in the last four to five years and the southern States had done well in the afforestation drive.

On the straying of elephants into human habitations, the Minister said Rs. 400 crores and Rs. 250 crores had been earmarked under the Project Elephant and Project Tiger schemes for carrying out habitat improvement programmes. It was for the State Governments to identify conflict prone pockets and suggest remedial measures and the Union Government would act on it.

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