Fisheries department can only report CRZ violations – Mahesh Kumar

Fisheries department can only report CRZ violations – Mahesh Kumar

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Nov 29, 2011: Mahesh Kumar U., the assistant director of the fisheries department, said that the fisheries department has no power to stop violation of CRZ norms although it is the monitoring body and can only report violations to concerned authorities. 

He was delivering a session on new notifications related to the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) at the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI) on Nov 28 Monday. 

He spoke about the latest CRZ regulations, stating that the objectives of the CRZ are to protect the interests of fishermen and other coastal communities, to conserve and protect the coastal environment, and to promote sustainable development in the coastal region. 

Further, he said that CRZ areas are classified into five categories called CRZ-I, CRZ-II, CRZ-III, CRZ-IV, and CRZ-V and that the regulations for each category differ slightly.  The term CRZ is used for the areas within 500m of the high tide line toward land, 200m from rivers during the tide, and 12 nautical miles into the sea.

Fish processing units, new industries, mining for rock, sand, and others, sinking well, and waste disposal facilities are not permitted within 200m of CRZ. Besides, changing sand dunes, manufacturing, handling, and storing dangerous substances, and dumping city waste and untreated sewage are prohibited as per CRZ regulations, he said. However, the guidelines for various CRZ categories differ, he added. 

Besides, CRZ regulations protect turtle-breeding grounds, mangroves, and coral reefs, he said.

Latha R. Kini, the president of KCCI; Mohammed Ameen, the vice president; and other members of the KCCI were also present.