CZM notification will deprive fishermen of their rights: NFF

Chennai, June 12 (UNI) The proposed Coastal Zone Management (CZM) notification of the Centre replacing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification 1991, on the basis of Swaminathan Committee report, is 'highly detrimental' to the interests of the fishing community and the coastal eco-system, National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) chairman Harekrishna Debnath said today.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of its meeting on'national consultation on impending threat on the coastal zone' here, he said the proposed CZM notification would be a 'final axe' on the livelihood of the traditional fishermen.

The 1991 CRZ notification had been diluted through 19 amendments to suit the commercial interests resulting in ''destructive'' develoment practices. The CZM notification would further pave way for the opening of coastal zone for largescale commercial projects like resorts, SEZ and ports. As many as 25 commercial harbours were in the pipeline in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat alone, he added.

Initiatives were also taken for setting up ship breaking yards at Kulbi in West Bengal and Wadarevu in Andhra Pradesh. The CMZ notifcation would 'remove all impediments' in the fruition of these projects displacing thousands of fishermen from their habitat and economic activity, he said.

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