Fisherfolk against proposed notification on coastal zone
Special Correspondent
NAGAPATTINAM: Thousands of men and women belonging to the fishing community staged demonstrations and took out rallies in various parts of the district and in the adjoining Karaikal district in the Union Territory of Puducherry on Thursday in protest against the move to implement the Coastal Zone Management 2007 (CZM) notification of the Centre.
According to the fishermen, the notification would affect their livelihood and the coastal eco-system. The demonstrations were staged under the banner ‘National Campaign Against CZM Notification.’
The fisherfolk, who took out rallies in Nagapattinam, Tarangampadi, Vedaranyam and Karaikal areas, alleged that the CZM notification would bring untold hardship to the residents in the coastal areas. They urged the Centre to withdraw the move to replace Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification, 1991 with that of CZM 2007.
They also claimed that the proposed notification would be against the rights of the fishing people, the poor and the working class.
The 1991 CRZ notification was diluted through 19 amendments to suit commercial interests resulting in ‘destructive’ development practices.
The CZM 2007 notification would further pave way for the opening of coastal zone for large scale commercial projects such as resorts.
It would redefine the coastal zone as an area from the landward boundary of the panchayat up to 12 nautical miles into the sea, including the sea bed, backwaters, lagoons and creeks, thus favouring development activities displacing the fishermen from their habitat and economic activity, they alleged.
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