Coastal Zone Management: Fishermen, island dwellers feel left out

Kochi: With the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) approving the state's coastal zone management plan, 66 village panchayats previously categorized under the restricted Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-3 have been included in the more lenient CRZ-2 category. Under CRZ-2 regulations, construction is permissible on the landward side of existing structures or roads, effectively designating these panchayats as urban areas under the CRZ-2019 framework.
The state can proceed with its management plans once the NCZMA issues a notification, expected within a week.
While residents of many coastal panchayats, particularly in Ernakulam, expect relief as they can now rebuild or renovate their homes, there is growing disappointment among fishermen's organizations and island communities with the state's management plan.
"Only the zone changes for these 66 panchayats have been approved, which were already accepted earlier. However, the request to include 275 villages — 175 coastal areas and 100 inland villages — under CRZ-2 was outrightly rejected. This is being portrayed as a major victory, but it is a setback for the state govt's vision of turning the coastline into a tourism hub," said Charles George, president of the Kerala Matsyathozhilali Aikyavedi.
George said the CRZ-2019 notification does not prevent fishermen or coastal residents from building homes. "The state should have prepared a corresponding management plan and settlement plan for the coastal communities," he added.
Island communities are similarly dissatisfied, citing the lack of progress in creating the mandatory integrated island management plan (IIMP) required under CRZ-2019.
"We were also supposed to prepare a management plan for the islands. Even after five years, we haven't made any progress in this direction. Panchayats have created obstacles for fishermen's housing construction, turning fishermen against the law," he said.
Meanwhile, some panchayats, such as Edavanakkad, have benefited from the new demarcation, with the sluice gate now serving as the boundary line. "Almost 100 people in our panchayat have benefited from this. Our houses are located near fish farms, less than 50 meters away, but the demarcation of the sluice line has ensured that the distance is around 200 metres. So, we can now rebuild our homes," said Saliharan, secretary of the CRZ Action Council.
However, concerns are growing about potential construction activity in these areas, particularly due to the risks of flooding and inundation during the monsoon season. "Many people planning to set up resorts have kept their construction plans ready with evacuation details in the event of flooding. One has to see how practical it is," he said.