Kerala expects changes in CRZ laws

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today expressed hope that Centre would make amendments to the Coastal Zone Regulation Act by incorporating the state's concerns over the act's impact on its coastal people.
Fishermen community and others living in the coastal areas had already started facing problems due to the implementation of CRZ, Chandy said replying to a calling attention on the issue in the assembly.
Due to restrictions imposed by the Act, people living in coastal areas were finding difficult even to repair their damaged houses or built a new one.
The state had already conveyed to the Centre its concern and reservation on certain restrictions imposed by the act, he said adding the government was for implementing environment preservation laws in participation with people without affecting their livelihood.

He said the state government had also submitted to the previous UPA regime a comprehensive Coastal development project with a total estimate of Rs.500 crores.
'Though the state has not received any official communication accepting the project, Centre then had conveyed that it would be approved', he added.
Moving the calling attention, former fisheries minister S Sarma (CPI-M), said restriction on fishing activities within the 12 nautical miles was virtually violation of fundamental rights guaranteed under the constitution.
He wanted the government to implement a comprehensive package including coastal management plan to improve the living standards of fishermen.