Arbitrary imposition of CMZ rules under saffron fire
The Centre’s proposed Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) plan has come under BJP fire.
By ET Bureau |
MUMBAI: The Centre���s proposed Coastal Management Zone (CMZ) plan has come under BJP fire. The party has objected to the ���arbitrary��� manner in which the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) is going ahead with the proposals. The party wants a wider debate on CMZ rules and a proper legislation moved in Parliament instead of a notification.
On May 1, 2008, the MoEF issued a CMZ notification. The ministry will accept suggestions and comments from the public till June 30. If it goes through, the notification will supercede the existing Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules of 1991. The CMZ rules seek to regulate and impose restrictions on industrial and development activities in coastal areas. The state government has been asked to submit its opinion by July 9. ���The period of 60 days is too short to study the notification, form an opinion, and file it. The deadline to receive public suggestions must be extended to August 30,��� said BJP legislator Raj Purohit, whose Mumbadevi constituency in south Mumbai has several pockets affected by the CMZ rules.
Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh went on record expressing his disappointment, claiming the new rules would severely affect a host of development and infrastructure projects in Mumbai. Even NCP chief and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has opposed the CMZ notification in its current form. The notification is based on a report submitted by the MS Swaminathan committee but BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari alleged that the MoEF has incorporated only those recommendations which it deemed ���suitable���.
The BJP has claimed that the state government, despite being instructed, has not done any effort to publicise the notification by publishing its Marathi translation. ���The notification has been posted on the website and it has not been published in Marathi,��� Mr Purohit stated. Mr Bhandari said the Swaminathan Committee had mentioned that 22% of India���s population would be affected by the CMZ rules.
���We have a 7500-km long coastline of which 720 km is only in Maharashtra. The CMZ rules would affect industry, native communities in the coastal states, tourism industry, infrastructure projects, and a host of other sectors. Yet, the government has not taken due care to publicise the notification in regional languages and through the electronic media and newspapers,��� Mr Purohit said.
Echoing the sentiment expressed by the chief minister, Mr Purohit said Mumbai would have to pay dearly if the notification was brought into force without a wider debate. ���We will support the chief minister if he takes up the matter with the prime minister,��� Mr Purohit said.
On May 1, 2008, the MoEF issued a CMZ notification. The ministry will accept suggestions and comments from the public till June 30. If it goes through, the notification will supercede the existing Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules of 1991. The CMZ rules seek to regulate and impose restrictions on industrial and development activities in coastal areas. The state government has been asked to submit its opinion by July 9. ���The period of 60 days is too short to study the notification, form an opinion, and file it. The deadline to receive public suggestions must be extended to August 30,��� said BJP legislator Raj Purohit, whose Mumbadevi constituency in south Mumbai has several pockets affected by the CMZ rules.
Chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh went on record expressing his disappointment, claiming the new rules would severely affect a host of development and infrastructure projects in Mumbai. Even NCP chief and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar has opposed the CMZ notification in its current form. The notification is based on a report submitted by the MS Swaminathan committee but BJP spokesperson Madhav Bhandari alleged that the MoEF has incorporated only those recommendations which it deemed ���suitable���.
The BJP has claimed that the state government, despite being instructed, has not done any effort to publicise the notification by publishing its Marathi translation. ���The notification has been posted on the website and it has not been published in Marathi,��� Mr Purohit stated. Mr Bhandari said the Swaminathan Committee had mentioned that 22% of India���s population would be affected by the CMZ rules.
���We have a 7500-km long coastline of which 720 km is only in Maharashtra. The CMZ rules would affect industry, native communities in the coastal states, tourism industry, infrastructure projects, and a host of other sectors. Yet, the government has not taken due care to publicise the notification in regional languages and through the electronic media and newspapers,��� Mr Purohit said.
Echoing the sentiment expressed by the chief minister, Mr Purohit said Mumbai would have to pay dearly if the notification was brought into force without a wider debate. ���We will support the chief minister if he takes up the matter with the prime minister,��� Mr Purohit said.
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