More than 100 members of fishing communities and fishers organizations, including Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti, Vadarai Machhimar Srvodaya Sahakari society Ltd, and gram panchayats of Satpati, Mahim villages in Palghar District of Maharashtra have protested against the Union environment ministry’s recent draft notification to modify the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification (CRZ) 2019, a law that protects the country’s coastal areas.
The fishing communities have written objection letters asking the environment ministry not to issue the draft notification. It was not in the best interests of the local communities. Gaon ConnectionA copy of these letters is available.
The draft notification was published last month on November 1. It proposes changes including allowing temporary beach-shacks to remain during the monsoon season, permitting coastal communities to remove sandbars, and exempting prior clearances for development and natural gas production.
Experts believe that these proposed amendments will not only disrupt ecology in these areas but will also increase risk of environmental damage further endangering lives and marine biodiversity.
Also read:Net losses – Maharashtra fish communities reel under COVID19 restrictions
The Environment Ministry should take all measures to protect coastal communities and the environment. This is especially true in times of climate change and global heating, where the effects of these changes are obvious in coastal areas. Dhwani Shah, research associate at Centre for Financial Accountability in Mumbai, said. Gaon Connection.
Shah said that the ministry is doing everything in opposition to what was intended by CRZ Notification. Her organization works to ensure accountability in financial institutions that lend money to development projects..
What are the proposed amendments?
The draft notification dated November 1 states that temporary structures like beach shacks in Maharashtra and Goa may be kept during the monsoon months from June to August. These structures are usually built between September and May.
These temporary structures will be made permanent. If this happens, common public lands will be created. [in coastal areas]Shah demanded the withdrawal of the draft notification.
She explained that the removal of the structures was important since during monsoon the coastal areas could revitalize and there would not be any human activities to interfere with the ecologically sensitive ecosystems and the fauna and flora of the coast.
The notification also proposes to allow sand bars being removed by coastal communities using a manual, non-mechanised method. DinghiesSmall boats that use baskets/buckets for a specified time and in a specific quantity
Communities use sand bars as navigation channels. They would be detrimental to fishing communities. Shah stated that there is no regulation regarding the removal of sand from these bars. This would encourage sand mining in this region.
The Union environment ministry has other proposals. It wants to exempt the need for prior approval for exploratory drilling operations, development, and production of oil and gas. Experts fear this will lead to the abandonment or reduction of oil and gas wells that constantly release oil, which can have a detrimental impact on marine flora.
It is important to note that natural ecosystems like mangroves, mudflats and intertidal zones play a significant role in supporting livelihoods as well as carbon sequestration.
Also, read: COP26: PM Modi announces Indias commitment to achieve net-zero emission by 2070. Here’s what experts have said
It is interesting that the draft notification was issued at the time Prime Minister NarendraModi made commitments to India’s carbon footprint during the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.
In the meantime, the Union ministry has granted a two month time frame to the public to submit objections and suggestions about the draft notification. December 30th is the deadline. You can send comments on the draft notification to the Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
