The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : `Coastal regulation zone notification amended to suit industrial lobby'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 16, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

`Coastal regulation zone notification amended to suit industrial lobby'

Special Correspondent

"Fishing community struggling to survive"

CHENNAI: : Systematic attempts were being made to drive fishermen out of their traditional habitations. The Coastal Regulation Zone notification, 1991, aimed at protecting the coast and fishermen, was being continuously amended to suit the interests of industrial lobby, said speakers at a meeting organised by the Coastal Action Network here on Wednesday.

N.D. Koli, general secretary, National Fishworkers' Forum, said CRZ violations were so rampant that the coastal areas were facing a threat. A survey conducted by the forum revealed that there were 728 violations in eight of the coastal areas. Dredging and reclamation by real estate developers was common and destruction of mangroves was a big threat to the marine life. There was depletion of fish resources everywhere, and the fishing communities were struggling to survive. To be effective, the CRZ law should spell out clearly the punishment for violations. He wanted panchyats and fishermen associations to be involved in the implementation of the law.

Jesurethinam, convenor of the network, criticised the Centre for its "hasty action" on the Sethusamudram project. Fishermen were not allowed to express their views. Petitions submitted by environmentalists and the Coastal Action Network were overlooked. The meeting demanded revocation of amendments that went against the spirit of the notification. The State should take steps to mark the high tide line along the coast and provide village-level coastal survey maps to identify land falling under the CRZ. It condemned the Union Forest Ministry's alleged efforts to reengineer the environmental process, which was "pro-business". It wanted the Forest Ministry to withdraw environment clearance granted to the Sethusamudram project, as it "would destroy the unique environment of the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay and Strait and 3600 species of marine life.

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