[Reader-list] ‘CRZ norms should not violate State's rights'

[Samvit]

Hello Peter,
In India it is very sad that marine life and the fragile marine
eco-system is not given much importance. It seems we are too obsessed
with the tiger.
I know some friends who have been pushing the Goa government to remove
the River Princess from the Candolim beach. The ship belongs to a
prominent business house and has been stuck near the beach for many
years. This has played havoc with the eco-system of Candolim. Half of
the ship has rusted and fallen apart. This has killed much of the fish
near that place. Also, it has hurt many a swimmers and locals of the
Candolim area.

I suggest that you study the River Pricess story, it is a classic case
of passing the buck from one agency to another.
-Samvit Rawal




On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 9:58 AM, T Peter <peter.ksmtf at gmail.com> wrote:
> ‘CRZ norms should not violate State's rights'
>
> http://www.thehindu.com/2010/11/07/stories/2010110760790300.htm
>
> Staff Reporter
>
> KOCHI: Minister for Fisheries S. Sarma said here that the new Coastal
> Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms prescribed by the Union government should
> not violate the State's rights and that the Union government should
> discuss with the stakeholders all the issues involved before these
> recommendations are made into a law. The Minister raised this demand
> at a meeting of the leaders of the fishermen's unions held at the
> Government Guest House here on Saturday, said a press release here.
>
> The Minister also said that a Cabinet meeting on November 10 will
> discuss all issues related to the CRZ norms, which will affect the
> State as a whole and fishermen in particular, and submit a report to
> the Union government.
>
> The Minister said that no special economic zones should be allowed
> within the areas that come under Coatal Regulation Zone.
>
> The Minister said that areas within 12 nautical miles off the coast,
> which come under the State's rights, should not be brought under CRZ.
> Bringing this under CRZ would be a breach of the rights of the State
> under the Constitution.
>
> http://www.thehindu.com/2010/11/08/stories/2010110854980300.htm
> Fishermen reject draft CRZ notification
>
> Staff Reporter
> Say it does not protect their right to habitat
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> KSMTF apprises Union Minister of its stand
>
> ‘Conservation of eco-system inadequate'
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> KOLLAM: The Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) has
> written to Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh
> stating that the fishing community in the State totally rejected the
> Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2010. The letter was sent to the
> Union Minister on November 5.
>
> T. Peter, KSMTF State president, said the notification was rejected
> primarily on grounds that it did not protect “the inalienable rights
> of the fishing communities to their habitats and did not offer
> adequate protection to the coastal eco-system.” He said while the
> fishing communities had sought their rights to the coast, the
> notification gave only some concessions. They had not sought
> concessions, but their right to have settlements on the coast.
>
> The letter said up to 50 metres from the high tide level (HTL) of the
> CRZ area should be kept free of non-fishery activities. Houses of
> fishermen within that zone can be rehabilitated within the 50-metre to
> 500-metre zone. All existing houses of the fishing community within
> that zone should be regularised.
>
> The letter alleged that the notification violated the fundamental
> principles of coastal protection. There was no logic in permitting
> activities such as large housing projects, greenfield airports and
> power plants on the narrow 500-metre strip from the HTL in the CRZ
> area. In fact, the notification would only serve to displace the
> fishing communities from the CRZ areas. Activities that require
> waterfront and foreshore facilities can destroy the coast over time
> through cumulative impacts, Mr. Peter said in the letter.
>
> He said the special dispensation for Kerala in the notification was
> essentially to reduce the CRZ from 100 metres to 50 metres for the
> backwater islands. While this provision outwardly appeared to be one
> that facilitated the construction of houses for the local communities,
> it could also facilitate other construction activities for commercial
> purposes and in the process throw out the fishing communities.
> Therefore, the dispensation should be limited only to the local
> fishing communities.
>
> The letter stated that the fishing community was not in favour of the
> “integrated management plans” to govern critically vulnerable coastal
> areas.
>
> The KMSTF called for a draft Bill on the CRZ that protected the
> traditional rights and interests of the fishing community and also the
> coastal environment.
>
> http://www.keralafishworkers.in
> http://www.alakal.net
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