Fishers at bay

When it was introduced in 1991, Coastal Regulation Zone was a blanket notification to protect India's coast and fisherfolk. In 17 years, it was amended--diluted to favour industry--21 times. Now, a new line of management rules might give industry a free run at the cost of fishing communities and environmental concerns. An analysis

New rules for coasts

The Union environment ministry has notified the new Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) regime, replacing the CRZ notification of 1991. The notification, which has come after years of heated debate and controversy pleases no group entirely—the developers see it as a further restriction of building and industrial activities along the coast, while fishers’ organisations complain it gives in to builders and does not protect their interests sufficiently.

Push for sand mining

Sand dredgers will soon be back in business along the Bankot creek bordering coastal Raigad and Ratnagiri districts in Maharashtra. They had been silent for over a month after the Bombay High Court banned sand mining in the state on September 24, after people who mine sand manually filed a petition. “A month ago, it was impossible to stand near the dredging site because of the noise,” said Anis Jalal, president of Sagar Shramik Haat Pati Vaalu Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha, a union of manual excavators. A new policy of the state okays mechanical dredging.

New coastal rules draft made public

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has made public its proposed coastal regulation zone (crz) notification. The draft, uploaded on the ministry website on September 13, would replace the existing coastal regulations of 1991. It has classified coastal land into four zones.

Clearance based on false claims

A COMMITTEE set up by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has confirmed the existence of wetland at the thermal plant near Sompeta and the Bhavanapadu thermal plant site near Kakrapalli village in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh.

Court reins in Goa coast violations

THE High Court of Bombay in Goa has come down heavily on the state’s coastal village panchayats for structures built in violation of the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification 1991.

Road open for development

On december 1, 2009, the Tamil Nadu government changed the landuse classification for three villages on the Chennai coast. Environmentalists say the move would regularize illegal houses overlooking the beach and lead to a real estate boom in the area.

Fishers reject new coastal rules

A NEW notification proposed to regulate India’s coasts has no takers. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests has proposed the pre-draft Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), 2010 in place of the CRZ notification of 1991 and circulated the document in April. Leaders of fishing communities, non-profits and activists who met in Chennai in mid- May rejected the document.

Backdoor democracy

ALL the 18 villages that will be affected by the proposed airport at Navi Mumbai boycotted the public hearing held on May 5. The government acquired the land for urban development almost 40 years ago, but until the airport project was planned for the site, villagers did not fear losing it all. “Even after so many decades we have not received any compensation. Give us our dues first,” said R C Gharat, president of the association of 18 affected villages.

CMZ dropped

The committee set up to review the Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) notification has recommended the proposed law be allowed to lapse. The panel chaired by scientist M S Swaminathan suggested the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 1991 be strengthened instead. Any proposed legislation should take into account the problem of climate change induced sea level rise and growing pressure on coastal resources, the committee said. The report was submitted on July 17, five days before the CMZ notification was to lapse. Fishing communities have been