Chennai, March 10 (VOICE) – The Tamil Nadu Environment Department is organizing meetings with fishermen’s groups statewide to discuss the latest version of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP). After fishermen expressed their concerns, the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) revised the plan on behalf of the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA).
The fishermen highlighted that the 2022 draft of the CZMP left out important ecological areas, like salt pans, water bodies, backwaters, and other sensitive regions vital for their activities and the environment.
Recently, the NCCR shared the updated draft with TNSCZMA. Supriya Sahu, Secretary of the Environment, Climate Change, and Forest Department, is leading this initiative. She has asked the Fisheries Department to set up a pre-consultation meeting with representatives from various fishermen’s associations across all coastal districts.
It’s worth noting that when the original CZMP draft was released in 2022, it faced legal challenges at the National Green Tribunal. Petitioners argued that the TNSCZMA should base the new plan on the 1996 CZMP map instead of the 1997 version, which they claimed excluded critical ecological zones.
The tribunal backed these concerns, urging the Tamil Nadu government to prepare the new CZMP using the older map as a reference. However, petitioners felt the authorities did not fully comply with this directive, leading to ongoing issues.
Fishermen’s organizations also criticized the draft’s land-use maps for not clearly marking vital areas, such as fishermen’s settlements and designated fishing zones. Many pointed out that important water bodies were not included in the draft maps, deeming them incomplete and misleading.
In response, the NGT ordered the TNSCZMA to verify sensitive ecological areas and follow previous court orders, incorporating feedback from District Collectors. The necessary adjustments must be made to the draft CZMP before it can be opened for public consultation.
Antony John, a leader of a fishermen’s association in Tamil Nadu, expressed approval of the government’s decision to engage with fishing communities on the CZMP. He stated, “We appreciate the Tamil Nadu Environment Department’s initiative to consult with fisherfolk before finalizing the Coastal Zone Management Plan.”
These discussions are crucial for addressing the fishermen’s concerns and ensuring a balanced, ecological approach to managing coastal areas in Tamil Nadu.
