This story is from August 24, 2014

Coastal regulation zone norms: Central team to submit report in October

The seven-member high-level committee of the ministry of environment and forests on coastal regulation zone rules, which met various stakeholders in the state on Friday, will submit its report in October.
Coastal regulation zone norms: Central team to submit report in October
KOCHI: The seven-member high-level committee of the ministry of environment and forests on coastal regulation zone rules, which met various stakeholders in the state on Friday, will submit its report in October.
"Each state has its own problems. We can't say that Kerala has the most severe issues but they have raised the concern of the fisherfolk and tourism industry. We have met the chief minister and other officials.
We will examine their concerns," committee chairman and ministry secretary Shailesh Nayak said.
The state government had sought relaxation in certain provisions of the rules. Nayak said the chief minister had stressed the need to address the genuine concerns of the tourism industry without compromising on the environment or affecting the rights of the fishing community.
"Because of our special topography, many essential projects are getting affected by the CRZ norms. We have given a detailed report on problems of various stakeholders," chief secretary E K Bharat Bhushan said.
Nayak said the committee was mandated to look into factors like sea-level, inundation and vulnerability of residents to changing climate factors. "We will consider if relaxation of rules could affect the population in the longer run," he said.
Apart from Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat have also approached the committee with concerns. "We need to listen to all these states. We will address these concerns in a manner in which the ecology-sensitive areas are preserved," Nayak said.
The committee, set up to look into demands from several coastal states for easing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, has additional director, MoEF, A Senthil Vel; joint director Amardeep Raju; additional secretary Shashi Shekar, National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management director R Ramesh, Hardik Shah of Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority and Centre for Earth Science Studies former director A Baba as members.
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