The National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), Thiruvananthapuram, has been directed to look into the demand of some coastal panchayats to re-assess the salinity levels in rivers that flow past their territory.
The Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) has asked the NCESS to look into the representation of panchayats, including that of Cheranalloor village panchayat, to reassess the salinity level. The panchayats raised the demand for reassessment of salinity as it is the deciding factor regarding Coastal Regulation Zone laws.
The CRZ laws, which have marked No Development Zones and imposed certain restrictions on development activities along the coast, are applicable to waterfront areas where there would be a minimum salinity of 5 parts per thousand during driest season of the year. The NCESS was entrusted the task of reassessment as the agency had earlier drawn up a Coastal Zone Management Plan for Kochi Corporation areas and Maradu municipality. The agency had also marked salinity levels in water bodies that are flowing through and around the two local bodies.
The Cheranalloor village panchayat recently received a communication regarding revaluation of salinity levels from the Authority.
