the goan I network
PANAJI
National Fishworkers’ Forum [NFF] vice-chairperson Olencio Simoes along with the affiliated union Goenchea Raponkarancho Ekvott (GRE) submitted a memorandum to Member Secretary, Goa Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) listing their objections to the new draft coastal regulation zone notification.
They have demanded that they, as a significant community representing fisher communities across the country’s coastline be consulted before the government finalises any notifications.
“It is shocking that we are made to feel that the Government of India does not feel it important to consult the fishing community and its legitimate representatives, while formulating the most important piece of policy, meant to protect the coastal lands and secure our livelihoods “ the Draft Coastal Regulation Zone notification,” Simoes told reporters.
“Therefore we demand that the present notification be scrapped in toto and Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) under CRZ 2011 be completed including demarcation of lines, zones, plans and long-term housing needs of coastal fisher communities “ in a transparent and accountable way, with community participation and wisdom being incorporated,” he said.
Failing which, the states will witness a massive agitation in the coming month,” Simoes stated
National Fishworkers’ Forum [NFF] has declared June 11 as National Protest day on draft CRZ Notification 2018 in all coastal states i.e in West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry, Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
He pointed to the history of NFF interventions under Thomas Kocherry, Harekrishna Debnath, Bhai Bhandarkar, Matanhy Saldanha, Rambhau Patil, N D Koli, and other which led to the formulation of CRZ, the Murari Committee recommendations, the Majumdar Committee, etc.
“This led to vibrant pro-environment and pro-community legislation and implementation of policies in the Indian coastline and marine areas. It goes without saying that, NFF has single-handedly played the most important role in the history of protecting Indian coastline,” he said.
“Be it the 2008 draft CMZ notification, the Meena Kumari Committee or the many efforts at a dilution of CRZ 1991 and CRZ 2011, NFF has made sure that the democratic government of the day was compelled to heed the voices of the primary stakeholders,” he added.
He said that it was the Sagarmala programme which focuses on ports, coastal shipping traffic, economic zones, power, petroleum and manufacturing plants along India’s already-stressed 7500-kilometre coastline which was behind the dilution of coastal laws.
“This massive 8-lakh crore project cannot be implemented under existing coastal regulations which guarantee traditional and customary rights to fishworkers, besides containing numerous prohibitions on environmentally polluting industries. To facilitate this program, coastal infrastructure and tourism have been given priority over coastal livelihoods, biodiversity and ecology in the draft notification. This stands in opposition to the long-term demands of the fishing communities, as well as ignores the protection of coastal ecosystems,” he said.
