Date:25/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/25/stories/2008052553560300.htm

Karnataka

Jatha against CMZ proposal

Correspondent

SIRSI: A fishermen’s jatha headed by Harekrishna Debnath, president of the National Federation of Fishermen, reached Karwar on Wednesday.

The jatha is to create awareness among fishermen on the problems they are likely to face owing to a proposal of the Centre to create a coastal management zone (CMZ) instead of costal regulation zone, according to a report received here on Friday. The jatha was launched in Gujarat on May 1. It will end in Kolkata on June 27.

Mr. Debnath said that if the proposal was implemented, it would affect three crore fishermen living in 3,200 villages in the coastal areas of the country.

The proposal would help industrialists to build their units along the costal line, he said.

Mr. Debnath said that the federation opposed the proposal and would organise a “Parliament chalo” in July.