Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Concern over CZM policy

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) has expressed concern over the move by the Central government to issue notification on the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) policy.

State president of the federation T. Peter said that coastal communities in the country were gearing up for an agitation against the government to protest the move to replace the Coastal Regulation Zone Act with the controversial notification.

Mr. Peter challenged the Centre to place the CZM policy before the Parliament.

“The governments of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Maharashtra have raised their objection to the CZM policy. The parliamentary standing committee has also called on the government to refrain from implementing it. Yet, the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is proceeding with the notification. This is an open challenge to the fishing community," Mr. Peter said.

Mr. Peter alleged that the government was surrendering to the interests of the tourism, industry and sand-mining lobbies. He feared that the setback line specified in the notification would deprive the fisherfolk of their livelihood.

Mr. Peter urged mainstream political parties to clarify their stand on the issue.

The executive committee of the National Fishworkers Forum meeting at Kolkata on June 19 and 20 will finalise a nationwide agitation against the CZM policy.

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