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Opposition to CMZ notification mounts

BHUBANESWAR: Protests by fishermen community against Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) notification is growing louder by days with coastal Orissa fish workers on Wednesday renewing their pledge to strengthen their campaign demanding withdrawal of “controversial” notification.

Addressing a press conference coinciding the arrival of a group Machhimar Adhikar Rashtriya Abhiyan (MARA) here on Wednesday, K. Alleya, General Secretary of Orissa Traditional Fish Workers’ Union (OTFWU) said they were determined to protect fishing rights along the coast.

He said they would stage peaceful demonstration in front of important government offices on June 20 as proposed by National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) and join the march by fisher and other coastal community representatives to Parliament on July 22 demanding withdrawal of notification. Earlier, NFF Chairperson Harekrishna Debnath lashed out at the Centre for coming up with such a notification, which would see the Indian coast dotted with either ports or tourism projects or special economic zones leaving little space for fishermen community to continue with their traditional profession.

“What is required is an overarching approach and legislation to protect our coasts and seas and the livelihoods of those dependent on these resources, and not piecemeal approaches, such as changes to existing notifications,” Mr. Debnath said. He said the marine fishermen community churned out an annual business turnover of Rs. 30,000 crore for which the Indian government had not made any substantial investment.

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