Chennai – The Tamil Nadu Environment Department is set to hold meetings with representatives from fishermen’s associations throughout the state. They want to gather input on the final draft of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), which has been revised by the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR).
The NCCR updated the plan after facing pushback from fishing communities. Fishermen were concerned that the original 2022 draft missed key ecological areas including salt pans, water bodies, and backwaters, which are vital for the environment.
Recently, the NCCR submitted the revised draft to the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA). Supriya Sahu, who oversees both the Environment and Fisheries Departments, has instructed the Fisheries Department to organize preliminary consultations with fishermen’s groups across all coastal districts.
This issue started with the release of the 2022 draft CZMP, which led to several legal challenges in the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Petitioners argued that the TNSCZMA should have used the 1996 CZMP as a base for the 2019 plan rather than an older version that overlooked significant ecological zones.
The NGT agreed with these concerns and instructed the Tamil Nadu government to prepare the CZMP using the 1996 base map. However, petitioners claimed that the authorities did not follow these orders properly.
Fishermen’s organizations also criticized the draft land-use maps. They highlighted that crucial areas like fishermen’s settlements and fishing zones were not accurately marked. Some existing water bodies were even left out of the maps, making them incomplete.
In response, the NGT asked the TNSCZMA to verify the ecological areas in question and to consider input from District Collectors. They emphasized the need to correct and update the draft CZMP before it is finalized for public consultation.
Antony John, a leader from one of the fishermen’s associations, welcomed the government’s decision to consult with fishing communities about the CZMP. He stated that engaging with fisherfolk is a positive step before finalizing the plan.
Check out this related article: Join the Conversation: TN Government Engages Fishermen on Final Coastal Zone Management Plan Draft
Source linkCoastal Zone Management Plan,Tamil Nadu govt,fishing communities
