Fishermen await union government nod to construct houses

Fishermen await union government nod to construct houses

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, June 20: The union government is yet to approve construction of houses close to the seashore. The fishermen of the district, who are waiting to construct houses on their land close to the sea, have demanded certain changes in the proposed amendments of the Coastal Regulatory Zone Notification, 1991. 

Fishermen’s associations from all over the country have appealed to Jairam Ramesh, the union minister of state for environment and forest to consider the demand positively, failing which they would launch a protest. General Secretary of the Coastal Karnataka Fishermen’s Action Committee Vasudev Boloor said that the association will soon meet the minister. 

Mr. Boloor also said that fishermen leaders had rejected the proposed amendments because they did not meet their demands.  A demand to strengthen the 1991 notification was made during ministry meetings held in 2009 - 10 in various parts of India because it has been weakened by a number of amendments and served the purposes of industrialists who are out to exploit the natural resources and construct permanent structures close to the sea shore. 

According to the 1991 notification, the 500mts area from the high tide line (HTL) is considered to be a regulated zone and construction of houses is not allowed, except under special conditions. The 200mts area from the HTL is no-man’s land. 

Upendra A. Hosbet of DK Parisarakta Okkoota has been demanding a strengthening of the 1991 notification to permit fishermen, who have lived by the shore for generations, to construct houses. Fishermen have protested against the fact that those living within the municipal limits are permitted to construct houses in the regulated zone, but residents of rural areas are not permitted to do so.