PANAJI: Expressing utter shock at the failure of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest as regards fulfilling the assurances given by it to the National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF),

pertaining to some of the provisions to be included in the CRZ 2011 notification, the NFF chairman, Mr Matanhy Saldanha said that the promises made to the Forum, during four rounds of consultations in New Delhi and Mundra in December 2010 were not reflected in the said notification, which was issued last week.
Looking at the notification with all seriousness, Mr Saldanha further said that the NFF now has no option but to launch a struggle against the same, if all the changes which had been assured are not fulfilled. “The Forum will also continue to oppose the location of nuclear power plants and other developmental activities not requiring foreshore facilities, in the CRZ,” he observed, informing that the NFF strongly opposes the FSI concessions given in Bombay for slum rehabilitation in order to facilitate the participation of private builders.
“Following large-scale protests against the provision related to ‘roads-on-stilts’ by fishing community and environmental groups across the country, given the potential for its gross misuse, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest had indicated that it will drop this provision from the final Notification,” the NFF chairman recalled, maintaining “It is unacceptable that this provision continues to be reflected in the CRZ Notification 2011.”
Stating that the NFF is deeply concerned about loosely wording the provision, which allows new construction within the 100 to 200 mts No Development Zone in CRZ III, Mr Saldanha said, “While reconstruction/ renovation should be allowed for all coastal communities, new constructions should be allowed only for the fishing community and that too, in specific locations or areas where there is no alternative.”
“That will ensure that fishermen can pursue their livelihood,” he said, pointing out, “The idea that fishing communities and the state governments will work together and make plans for the expansion of the fishing village is lost in the new formulation of traditional coastal communities, which will not be easy to define.”
The NFF further slammed the MoEF for not keeping to its promise that fishing community associations would be given fair representation in the national and state-level Coastal Zone Management Authorities.
“Fishing communities are the traditional inhabitants of the coast, with the largest stake in its protection and management,” Mr Saldanha reminded, adding, “The NFF maintains that representation of fishing community associations in the NCZMA and SCZMA is absolutely critical and demands that this be reflected in the composition of the CZMAs.” 
The NFF also expressed fear that the provision, which allowed for state-level Coastal Zone Management Plans to be revised every five years, would be misused.
“In discussions, the MoEF had agreed to provide for the revision every 10 years, given the time taken to prepare such plans, and the fact that they need to be oriented towards protection and management of the coast with a longer-term vision,” the Forum chairman pointed out.
“Although, some of the demands of the NFF like the dropping of non polluting industries in SEZs, the inclusion of cumulative impacts for ports, the protection of Koliwadas in Mumbai, etc have been incorporated into the new Notification,” Mr Saldanha noted, stating that there continues to be several problem areas.
“The NFF has no option but to launch a struggle against the Notification if all the changes which had been assured are not fulfilled,” he warned.