Tamil Nadu: Fishermen want Centre to abandon MCRZ

Chennai: Condemning the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC)’s move to replace the existing Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) notification, 2011, with a new Marine Coastal Regulation Notification (MCRZ), fisherfolk from Chennai and neighbouring districts have threatened to go on strike, if the government does not withdraw the draft.

The new rules,which welcome commercial activities on the shore, is a threat to the marine eco system, cry environmentalists.

Although MCRZ extends to at least 500 metres towards the landward side from the high-tide line demarcated by the government, it encourages certain activities like land reclamation for commercial purposes that were banned earlier.

“The proposed changes significantly weaken the essence of the CRZ Notification, introduced with the aim of protecting the coast and securing the livelihoods of the communities that are dependent on a healthy coastline,” said Saravanan K, secretary of the Urur Kuppam Fishermen’s Co-operative Society.

According to the MCRZ Draft, reclamation of water bodies and other wetlands for commercial activities is allowed.  Fishermen said that the move would further compromise access to coastal livelihood commons and increase the vulnerability of coastal communities to extreme weather events such as cyclones, heavy rainfall and drought.

Fishermen communities are distressed over the fact that the government chose to dilute the environmental laws, when the implementation of the existing laws itself are quite poor.

The number of increasing cases in the National Green Tribunal on the lines of encroachment makes it evident that the coast is not safe, despite existing stringent laws.

“All along our coasts, acres of livelihood spaces including fishing grounds are being lost to illegal development, the existing laws calls for action to be taken on such violations. It is an irony that the violators of environmental laws are not penalized often,” said K. Bharathi of the South Indian Fishermen’s Federation.  

The fishermen had not fallen prey to the draft MCRZ notification, which also allows setting up of fish-processing units.

“Relaxing the CRZ 2011 will in no way improve the way our coasts are being managed but rather complicate existing problems. If the central government is to proceed, we will organize protests to ensure that the MCRZ is abandoned and the CRZ Notification 2011 is strengthened,” added Saravanan K.