Fish workers’ forum plans agitation

They will protest against move to tinker with coastal regulations

National Fish Workers’ Forum has decided to launch a nationwide agitation protesting against the Centre’s move to tinker with coastal regulations.

The forum had deliberations with MPs to keep the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in check.

It noted that the MoEFCC introduced a draft Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2018 this April and and introduced the amendment in July as the ninth amendment to the existing CRZ 2011. The forum said a reading of the changes shows that there is a move to dilute coastal regulations to promote industry and tourism, which in turn would displace the fishermen.

The forum alleged the Ministry is misusing its powers under the Environment protection Act. The changes are no longer being made in consultation with fish-workers, who are the largest non-consumptive and primary stakeholder of the coastline in the country, it alleged.

Forum vice-president Vasudev Boloor told The Hindu that its attempts to impress upon the MPs did not get much support when it recently organised an interaction at New Delhi.

The forum wanted to advance the demand for a comprehensive coastal protection bill during the three-hour interaction, “coastal Regulations” Protection to Destruction.”

Since the forum is not being heard, it has planned to launch a national agitation to protect the coastline as well as waterbodies across the country. Mr. Boloor said.