CMZ : Fishermen plan nation-wide agitation

Fishermen under the banner of Natiional Fish-Workers Forum and Kerala Swarantra Matya Thozhilali Federation will launch a nation-wide agitation in protest against the Union Government's decision to implement the Coastal Management Zone (CMZ). State president of the Federation T.Peter said that Union Minister for Forests and Environment Jayaram Ramesh had decided to issue notification cancelling the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and implement the CMZ from July 16. The Union Government's decision is a challenge to the people living on the coastal belt of the country, he said. Peter said that Governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Goa had asked the Union Government not to implement the CMZ in its current form. The Parliamenary Standing Committee also had submiyyed a report to the Government asking not to implement the CMZ after conducting sitting in various states. The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) also had conducted sitting in the coastal areas and advised not to implement the CMZ, he said. The draft notification had seen stalled following protests from the fish workers and various other trade union workers. He alleged that the UPA Government was once again trying to help the tourism industry and sand-mining lobbies. Peter alleged that since the 12-nautical mile limit of coastal waters, which is under the control of the State Governments, also  has been included in the CMZ, it will have to let the coastal waters for activities other than fishing. Such activities would be detrimental to the interests of the fishermen. In the proposed CMZ, there has been demarcation of a setback line. Construction of houses will be allowed only outside this setback line. At the same time, there is provision for allowing construction activities for tourism and industrial projects even within the setback line, he pointed out. He demanded that the next session of the Parliamentshould discuss the CMZ and facilitate a public debate on this issue. If the government did not take the opinions of the MPs representing the coastal constituencies and States concerned, it will lead to serious repercussions. The National Fish Workers Forum's meeting to be held in Kolkata on June 19 and 20 will finalise the national agitation. He called upon the mainstream political parties to make clear their stand on the issue. 

 

The New Indian Express, 14th June 2009