Alarmed by the ever-increasing industrial activity along the 5700-km long coastline, an expert committee set up by the ministry of environment and forests for recommending changes in the draft Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) notification 2008, on Friday suggested the introduction of a legislation to manage the proliferation of ports along the coastline.
The committee was set up in June 2009 following complaints from various NGOs and fishing communities that the CMZ-2008 proposed to ?encourage and legalise industrial corporate activities along the coasts.?
The committee, under the chairmanship of MS Swaminathan, in its report titled ?Final Frontier: Agenda to protect the ecosystem and habitat of India?s coast for conservation and livelihood security? has asked the government to introduce tighter norms for disposing effluents into coastal waters in order to ensure that these waters do not become cheaper alternatives to inland pollution management. Based on the recommendation of Swaminathan committee, the government has decided to allow the 2008 CMZ notification to lapse and is expected to formulate a new CMZ notification
In view of strong protests by the 10-million strong fishing community, environment minister Jairam Ramesh has said that the government would soon frame a ?reformed? and ?scientific version? of the CMZ notification. ?The notification was to be finalised by July 22. Because of the opposition from various stakeholders and keeping in mind the interests of fishermen, we have decided to amend it,? Ramesh added.
He also said many changes would be incorporated into the new CMZ notification, based on inputs provided by the Swaminathan committee. Ramesh also announced the constitution of National Coastal Zone Management Board, to be chaired by the minister of environment and forests and co-chaired by the minister of earth sciences.
The Swaminathan committee has observed that the coastline is highly vulnerable since it faces unprecedented pressure due to industrialisation and is also threatened by growing intensities of cyclonic storms and an eventual a rise in sea levels. The report has also recommended the resolving of issues related to the development and redevelopment of Mumbai, based on locale-specific amendments. The environment ministry has decided to notify a separate Island Protection Zone for Lakshadweep and Andamans which ?combines CRZ-91 and the scientific principles of the CMZ-2008 notification?. ?The reform will not interfere with the traditional and customary rights of fishing communities and we have suggested the checking of violations on the CRZ through improved space technology-enabled enforcement,? Swaminathan said.
Fishermen have been objecting to the draft CMZ notification of 2008, which they alleged, would displace their settlements along beaches and halt fishing near the coasts. ?The coast belongs to the fishermen by tradition and they must not be alienated from their homeland. Protection of the interests of fishermen and their families will be paramount in the exercise,? Ramesh said.
Safety norms
• Govt asked to introduce tighter norms for disposing effluents into coastal waters
• The Constitution of National Coastal Zone Management Board announced
• Swaminathan Committee says legislation will manage the proliferation of ports along the coastline
• Environment ministry to notify a separate Island Protection Zone for Lakshadweep and Andamans
• Fishermen had objected to the draft CMZ notification of 2008 fearing displacement and a stop to fishing