Coastal Management Zone Notification 2008 is unpragmatic says trade body
The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has issued the draft Costal Management Zone (CMZ), Notification, 2008 on May 1, 2008. This CMZ Notification, 2008 shall supersede the existing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification of February, 1991. It seeks to regulate and impose blanket restrictions on certain industrial and development activities in coastal areas which could be harsher than the existing CRZ dispensation.
To enable industry and other stakeholders understand the implications of CMZ Notification, 2008 and to help everyone in the workshop formulate suggestions, comments or observations for sending them to MoEF, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized a one day workshop on CMZ Notification, 2008 and REACH Regulation of EU today at Kolkata.
In the inaugural session, Mr. K.P. Nyati, Principal Advisor, CESD & Head, Environment Policy Division, CII said that the CMZ Notification, 2008 leaves very little room for the development of the coastal zones. He said that the suggestions, recommendations, comments and observations of the stakeholders regarding the CMZ Notification, 2008 need to be send to Ministry of Environment & Forest (MoEF) by 30 June 2008.
Prof. Ashoke Nath Basu, Chairman, West Bengal Pollution Control Board said that the coastal zones are extremely important as they are fragile and home to huge natural resources. The population in the coastal zones is increasing day by day because of rapid urbanization and development and this can hamper the environmental balance. However, he stated that although it is imperative to focus on coastal environment, if the people residing in the coastal zones are given secondary consideration, then the objective of the coastal management can not be achieved. He stated that only the noted points in the notification are not sufficient and we have to look into this notification from different perspectives with open mind. He urged to the universities and research institutes to come forward and carry out research and development on this aspect.
Shri. M L Meena, Principal Secretary, Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal, in his inaugural address said that coastal zones are of huge importance from the point of view of environment. Worldwide over 2/3rd of the marine species depend upon coastal zones. He stated that the existing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification of February, 1991 has been amended from time to time. In order to make a comprehensive policy, the CMZ Notification, 2008 is coming up. He said that the coastal management policy needs to be pragmatic and there should be consideration for the public also. He affirmed that the notification should consider the diverse nature of coasts in different states. He said that we should be judicious in marking a coastal zone as vulnerable.
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