CRZ violations: authorities to firm up act

After a six-month wait, the district administration and the Town Planning Department have decided to receive complaints from the public regarding Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act violations in the district.

The Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) had issued an order on December 12, 2013. But, the order had been lying ‘unattended’ as the Revenue Department and the Town Planning Department did not act on it, sources said.

The District Collector and the Town Planning Officer would receive complaints from the public.

Action promised

The Collector had recently stated that prompt action would be taken on each complaint. A special panel comprising representatives from the Departments of Panchayat, Town Planning, and Forest would look into the complaints.

CRZMA sources told

The Hindu here on Thursday that several instances of violation had been reported from Kozhikode. “The CRZMA had made a mention of these in various reports but action was getting delayed due to the laxity of the local bodies and the officers concerned,” he said. The CRZMA had issued an order directing action against the Corporation Secretary for not responding to notices seeking clarifications on certain violations, he said.

“At the 62nd meeting of the CRZMA in February, a decision in this regard was taken. The directive was issued to the Kozhikode Collector but no action was taken,” the panel member said.

Some complaints from Kozhikode had reached the National Green Tribunal (NGT). CRZMA sources said some of the complainants would give their statements at a hearing in Chennai on August 1. The complainants had received notices from the NGT and they would submit the case details, sources said.