The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Coastal regulation zone clause a hurdle

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 07, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Coastal regulation zone clause a hurdle

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI, MARCH 6. No concrete measures have been initiated for providing permanent houses for the tsunami-affected fishing families in coastal districts. But the initial or preparatory moves by the State and district administration have stirred a hornet's nest. The coastal regulation zone and the continuing controversy over the feasibility of implementing the 500 m freeze on construction activity are posing serious problems for both the authorities and fisherfolk.

The relevant GO on construction of permanent houses for the tsunami-affected population seems clear: a "preliminary discussion with the affected population, including the panchayat/ ward members and the president [of the panchayat or appropriate local body] will be required to assess whether they [fisherfolk] would be interested in shifting from their existing location."

On the basis of a discussion, the District Collectors of the 13 affected districts have been asked to take up survey of coastal hamlets to cover all partly and fully damaged houses within 500 m of the High Tide Line.

"A conscious decision has to be taken whether houses partly or fully damaged in the range of 500-1000 metres will also have to be relocated. The survey should assess the details of the fully damaged and partly damaged houses, including kutcha houses," says the order.

While the survey has been completed in some districts, it has not been able to make much progress in some areas — notably in Chennai — owing to what officials describe as "non-cooperation" by affected families. Official sources say in some fishing colonies the headmen insist the authorities must go by the list provided by them. There is a deadlock there.

What has irked fisherfolk and raised strong protests from non-governmental organisations is the statement, "In case of houses within 500 metres line, it is necessary that they are compulsorily relocated. However, if a further distance above 500 metres is required because of the topography, relocation may have to be undertaken. It is necessary that the vulnerable areas are fully covered. In case of relocation, the existing houses will have to be handed over to the Government by relinquishment for appropriate action, since the beneficiaries in the new locations will be given full ownership patta for the area under their enjoyment and the construction will be fully funded either by the Government or by the NGO/ Voluntary agencies/ public and private enterprises/ national or international rehabilitation organisations."

`Insensitive policy'

The Citizens Platform for Tsunami Affected-Tamil Nadu has described this as an "insensitive rehabilitation policy."

"We are appalled by the fact that the relief and rehabilitation policy of the Government is not exhibiting any sensitivity to the issue of housing and livelihood rights of the affected communities... Instead of focussing on enabling the affected communities to regain their livelihoods in the shortest time, the Government has embarked on a plan to clear beaches of the fishing community and relocating them in places far away from their traditional homelands." The forum has raised fears over the "real intention of the Government". Official sources say the administration, both at the State and district levels, was only focussing on the larger canvas for rehabilitation. "There are serious problems involved in land acquisition and relocation. Our first objective is to identify the land in each area, which, we must then acquire if it is not government or poramboke land. We must keep everything ready to start work on permanent housing once the funding is tied up," explains a senior official.

On the debate over the 500 m barrier, he said "There are two issues involved. The CRZ is a Government regulation and we cannot brush it aside. But we do realise that the fishermen need to be as near the coast as possible. There are inherent contradictions in this scheme that need to be resolved. Depending on the availability of land in each area we will take a decision."

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