Kerala to seek relaxation on Coastal Regulatory Zone

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 27: Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today told the state Assembly that his government will approach the Centre for relaxation of certain guidelines of the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) after getting the report of the committee looking into the matter.

Replying to a Calling Attention by Mr V D Satheesan of the Congress, the Chief Minister said the committee, comprising Dr N R Menon, Director, Centre For Integrated Management of Coastal Zones of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Dr M Baba, Director, Centre for Earth Science Studies and others, was studying the issue.

Mr Satheesan said the Government should take steps to ensure that the thickly populated coastal areas of the state be placed under the CRZ-II, instead of the present CRZ-III. Relaxation on the norms had already been given to West Bengal and Gujarat, he pointed out.

UNI