CHENNAI: The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCCR) has submitted an updated version of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2019. In response, the state environment department will hold pre-consultation meetings with representatives from various fishermen associations in all coastal districts before any public hearings.
The NCCR made these revisions after fisherfolks raised concerns. They felt that the previous draft, released in 2022, left out important areas like salt pans, water bodies, and backwaters, which are vital for the ecosystem.
During a recent meeting, Supriya Sahu, the secretary of the environment, climate change, and forest department, who also leads the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA), emphasized the need for pre-consultation discussions. She asked the fisheries department to organize meetings with fisher representatives to review the draft CZMP.
Following the 2022 draft’s release, some stakeholders filed cases with the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). They sought the tribunal’s help in instructing the authorities to reference the CZMP from 1996 instead of the 1997 version when preparing the 2019 plan. They argued this misstep caused the exclusion of crucial areas.
The NGT had previously ordered the government to use the 1996 CZMP as the foundation for the 2019 plan, but the TNSCZMA did not follow through, according to some claims.
Petitioners noted that the drafts were lacking essential details, stating, “The drafts are incomplete. They fail to properly account for important water bodies. This isn’t just about making corrections; this is about serious mistakes that affect the entire CZMP’s integrity.” They illustrated their point by mentioning that the 1997 CZMP excluded the entire Kosasthalaiyar River.
Fisher organizations also criticized the draft land use maps. They highlighted that these maps don’t show designated areas for fishermen’s homes or spaces for fishing activities, which are crucial for their livelihoods.
As the tribunal considered the cases, it instructed the TNSCZMA to verify and assess ecologically sensitive areas whenever concerns were raised. The TNSCZMA is now required to gather feedback from District Collectors, make necessary corrections, and adjust the draft CZMP before moving forward with public meetings.
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coastal districts, fishermen, public hearing
