In a letter, Mr. Karunanidhi said there was a strong apprehension among the coastal communities that the draft notification would cause widespread destruction to the livelihood of fishing communities and other poor communities in the coastal areas, resulting in damage to coastal ecology and marine resources.
Further, it was felt that the introduction of amendments under the draft CRZ Notification 2010 such as “revision of Coastal Zone Management Plans every five years”, “hazard line”, “critically vulnerable coastal areas”, gave the scope to tamper with zones and accommodate new interests from time to time.
Already, the State was experiencing a series of agitations in the coastal areas, strongly opposing the draft Notification.
Environmental concerns
Environmental groups were also apprehensive that· the draft CRZ notification 2010 encouraged growth of certain interest groups at the cost of environment.
“Any drastic changes in the existing regulations may cause distress among the fisherfolk and some interested groups may create law and order problems utilising the situation,” Mr. Karunanidhi said.
The Chief Minister recalled that in September 2008 he had requested Dr. Singh to defer issuing the draft Coastal Management Zone notification 2008 till the coastal communities, especially fishermen, accepted it.
The notification was allowed to lapse then, Mr. Karunanidhi pointed out.
The present letter was in response to the publication of the draft CRZ notification in September 2010, requesting objections or suggestions, he added.