New recommendations to take better action on draft Coastal Management Zone 2008 are accepted by Ministry of Environment and Forests here today. The committee headed by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan and comprising of Ms. Sunita Narain, Director CSE along with two Ministerial Secretaries. presented their report to Minister of Environment and Forests.
Key features of the recommendations has now made the draft Coastal Management Zone Notification 2008 irrelevant. Instead whole action regarding Coastal Zone Management will be oriented by the founding principles inherent in original CRZ notification 1991. Key features of these new recommendations are:
- Check violations to CRZ through improved space technology enabled enforcement, strengthened institutions, and regulatory and legal reforms.
- Enhance protection to fishing communities and families for habitat and livelihood secity through amendments in CRZ notification
- Resolve issues regarding the development and redevelopment of Mumbai, based on local specific amendments
- Introduce regulations to manage proliferation of ports along the coasts with possible impacts on coastline by considering cumulative impacts of these developments
- Introduce tighter standards for disposal of effluents in coastal waters so that these water does not become cheaper alternatives to inland pollution management
- Introduce new management regimes in the Andaman and Nicobar as well as Lakshwadeep islands after careful deliberation and discussion
- Introduce any new protection regime-such as critically vulnerable new areas after careful deliberate understanding of the impact of the conservation policies on local communities, particularly fisher families
- Strengthen protection of Mangroves based on clear definitions
- Include the seaward side to ensure protection from current and future threats, but with safeguards to ensure there is no restriction on livelihoods of fishing communities.
- Introduce measures to greatly strengthen research and regulatory capacity at all levels.
- Introduce policies to cope with and adapt to the future dangers from sea level rise and increased vulnerability of the coasts.
The recommendations have distinctly identified the priorities of new approach towards Coastal Zone Management in the form of ‘Conservation’, ‘Sustainability, ‘Equitable use of natural resources of coastal areas’. Although new measures have been suggested for more enhanced use of Remote Sensing techniques for reporting and stopping of new violation of coastal regulation norms, Minister has mentioned it clearly that any violation which will threaten to create humanitarian crisis of large scale displacement will not be the prime concern of the executive. This is in direct interest of 25 % of population which resides within 15 km range from sea coast.
The government has moved from Coastal Zone Management (CZM) through Regulation in early nintees to CZM through planning upto the CZM notification 2008. By citing the 35 nationwide consultations about this issue conducted jointly with Centre for Environment and Education Government is claiming that Czm 2008 was very open for subjective interpretation and the The recommendations clearly mark the shift as it points out at the Preventive Approach by developing quality research base and ensuring introduction of new protection regime about critically vulnerable coastal areas. This realization is significant considering the fragility of Indian coast from the perspective of both recent security breaches and Climate Change Threats.
Considering the recommendations of committee about using satellite and information technology to map the coast and to monitor real time violations taking place, it has been suggested to MoEF that it should institute a national level programme to map the coast and to develop technology that can inform authorities of changes and violations as and when they occur. According to Prof. Saumitra Mukherjee, (Head, Geology & Remote Sensing, Jawaharlal Nehru University) Indian peninsula which is surrounded by water from three borders is witnessing seismic shift of five meters in northern direction every year. He also said that India is making full use of it's current potential of Remote Sensing capabilities through Oceansat I and Oceansat II but still we are lacking the exact resolution which is desirable for detecting violations in more accurate manner.
Referring to his own experience, Dr. Mukhearjee was concerned about how the deep divide between the scientific expertise and the executive authorities are making the it more difficult to solve the any impending crisis by informed judgment. As per his belief India is witnessing good research focused on Coastal and Climate Change related issues but the lack of linking agent between expertise and policy making bodies, we are not able to rebuild our skilled human resources towards solving problems which are anticipated by research much earlier than emergence of debate about the complex issue Coastal Zone Management which requires multiple expertise from all fields of sciences.
To strengthen the research base by expanding the institutional framework at all the levels is also prime concern of legendary experts working in this field. In this direction, Ministry has proposed to establish National Coastal Zone Management Board the approval of which is pending with the Ministry of Law and Justice. Also, the proposal of new National Institute of Sustainable Coastal Zone Management is in the process of finalization. Let us hope that these newly proposed bodies will really help to visualize the intellectual foundation of newly envisaged protection regime of Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas. This knowledge base as the report maintains will be used to address the question of identifying, classifying and conserving of critically vulnerable coastal areas including national parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats, mangroves, corals/coral reefs, areas close to breeding and spawning grounds of fish and other marine life, areas of outstanding natural beauty, historically/heritage areas, areas rich in genetic diversity, areas likely to be inundated due to rise in sea level consequent upon global warming etc.
Emphasizing the role of research in regulating, planning and preventing any further problems in coastal areas the role of information, warning and monitoring becomes of paramount significance. As Committee Report notes, “Currently there is huge gap in data collection, information and more importantly using the knowledge for policy and practice change. This will be only possible after the capacity development of current coastal research mechanism which involves both fishers and environmentalists. !”
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