Russel Ignatius (russelignatiusmsw@gmail.com)
Abstract: The articles highlights the important points stressed in the recent Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011, published on 7th January, 2011. It journeys through the livelihood implications it has on the traditional fisher folk, the original inhabitants of the coast. It reflects the positive and negative lineage of the law and the reactions of the fishing community.
Introduction:
India has a long coastline of 7,500km, ranging from Gujarat to West Bengal, and two island archipelagos. Our coastal ecosystems provide protection from natural disasters such as floods and tsunamis to the 250 million people who live in our coastal areas. Coastal waters provide a source of primary livelihood to 7 million households. Our marine ecosystems are a treasure trove of biodiversity. Thus our coastline is both a precious natural resource and an important economic asset, and we need a robust progressive framework to regulate our coast. The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011 demonstrates the need to bring about modifications in laws and regulations to ensure a demonstrably better balance between the equally urgent imperatives of faster economic growth and deeper environmental conservation.
Chronological sequence preceding CRZ Notifications, 2011
Pressures of development, population and climate change are felt more along coastal regions than anywhere else. Conserving coastal ecosystems and resources, preserving the rights of coastal communities and regulating development along the coast are indeed a challenge to planners and policy makers. The timeline of coastal regulation in India is as follows: 1972: India becomes signatory to the UN conference on the Human Environment held at Stockholm. 1986: Environment Protection Act (EPA) enacted to implement decisions taken at
Bibliography: www.ceeindia.org/cee/latest_crz.html moef.nic.in/downloads/public-information/FAQ-CRZ.pdf moef.nic.in/modules/others/?f=press-releases www.marinebuzz.com