Demand to cancel all CZMP public hearings for Gujarat till Sept 9, as maps put on website are "faulty"

Public hearing in Porbandar

By A Representative
The Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) Sangharsh Samiti, Gujarat, has demanded that since the new draft maps of CZMP for Gujarat were placed on the website on August 9, all hearings on that have either taken place or will take place till September 8 should be canceled.
In a statement, Azeema Girach of the civil society network, formed in the wake of the hearings, says, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of January 6, 2011 clearly states that, in fact, it is necessary to consult people in the coastal areas before the maps are prepared, but this has not happened.
Raising other objections, the statement says, the draft maps are only in English. Only maps have been published, but without explanatory notes. Names of villages, fisherfolks’ colonies, talukas or districts have not been mentioned. While the survey numbers have been mentioned, it is not clear as to which village do they belong to, hence it impossible for people, especially fisherfolk, to understand them.
Also, ivers in the CRZ areas have not been properly marked, mangroves have not been not shown, nor have reserved and protected forests, eco-sensitive zones, national park, wildlife sanctuaries shown, such as those exist in Hazira, Valsad and Bharuch coastal areas, been mentioned.

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