The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests through an order dated December 21, 2010, has directed the Kerala State Coastal Zone Management Authority (KSCZMA) to take appropriate action against the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) for violating the provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 1991.
As per the order the violation pertains to destruction of mangroves in the Coastal Regulation Zone-1 area at Pambaimoola near Edakochi of Eranakulam district. The KCA had acquired the site for construction of an international cricket stadium. The order says that according to a report based on photographic evidence submitted by the regional office of the MoEF at Bangalore, there were mangroves at the site till September 3, 2010 and that the mangroves were destroyed and removed by September 22, 2010.
The KSCZMA had issued issued notice to the KCA to stop all construction activities at the site and the Kerala Forest Department had registered a case against the KCA on September 17, 2010 for destroying mangroves in more than 23 acres at the site. The area is also a Ramsar site and a habitat for migratory birds.
The order says that the KCA had violated the CRZ Notification by land reclamation, bunding, disturbing the natural course of the sea water, destruction of mangroves construction and development activities which are prohibited under the Notification.
The KSCZMA has been directed to take action against the KCA in accordance with the Environment Protection Act 1986. The order also states that the KSCZMA should submit the action taken report to the MoEF within fifteen days.
