Skip to main content

Gujarat govt admits of failure to include fishing jetties in CRZ maps put up for public hearing

MSH Sheikh
By A Representative
The Gujarat government has admitted that it has failed to identify fishing jetties, salt pans and shrimp farms in its new Coastal Regulatory Zone maps released for public hearing for finalising the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for each district. Following a strong representation by MSH Sheikh, environmentalist and representative of the fishing communities, district collector Ravi Kumar Arora, who is chairman of the district-level authority for preparing CZMP, "We will include them in our final maps after consultation with the authorities concerned. I can assure you as representative of the government."
Making a strong representative at the public hearing in Bharuch, Sheikh wondered, "Why have fishing villages and jetties not been the CRZ maps though there are 40 spots where boats land? Where are the spots for even one?" He asked, "Why are the maps which are printed called predaft? Why are the maps so old, when the coastline of a large number of coastal villages have changed? Besides, why is nothing available on Gujarati? Ordinary people do not understand from these maps, what they want to know whether they can carry on their fishing activity or not, or whether their place will be taken away by the corporates." He added, "Not one coastal village panchayat was consulted before making any of these maps."

Comments

TRENDING

Small Farm, big success: How an innovative couple built a model of sustainable farming

By Bharat Dogra  In Sema, a remote village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, Bhagwati Lal and his wife Rekha share equal credit for creating a remarkable farm that has become an inspiration for villagers and visitors alike. Their achievement demonstrates how even a very small piece of land can provide a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods while enhancing climate resilience and protecting the environment.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Shrinking settlements, fading schools: The Tibetan exile crisis in India

By Tseten Lhundup*  Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline.