SAVE THE COAST SAVE THE FISHERS NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ALONG THE INDIAN COAST

A report from Western Coast

The Machhimar Adhikar Rashtriya Abhiyan with the motto "Save the Coast, Save the Fishers" started from Jakhau, Kutch, Gujarat on the 1st May 2008. It covered the coastline of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa before entering into Karnataka on 21 May 2008 at the Polem border and was welcomed by the Akhila Kanataka Fishermen Parishad under the leadership of Mr. P.M. Tandel and Mr. Vasudev Boloor . The campaign team visited several fishing villages and landing centres in the Uttar Kanada coast including Majali, Karwar, Thadari, Honavar and Bhatkal during the last two days. They had a number of public meetings, intensive interaction with the fishing community and on the spot experience of some contentious issues confronte by the Uttar Kanada fishermen.

In the course of its 2500 k.m journey so far, the campaign team found the fisher folk and other coastal communities vehemently opposing the move of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) to replace the CRZ notification of 1991 by a new CMZ notification. Communities across the coast consider the new CMZ notification as a motivated design to
condone all violations of the CRZ and accommodate so called"development" like SEZs, STZs etc.

Coastal people, environment activists, civil society organizations and people from all walks of life feel that the new CMZ notification will open a floodgate of destructive activities along the coast. It will jeopardize the natural resources and livelihoods of the fisher-folk and other coastal communities. Ultimately this would result in a crisis of food and nutritional security of the masses.

On its way the campaign encountered quite a number of ecological hotspots along the coastline. The SEZ of Adani group in Mundra, Changi Cement in Jakhau, the Reliance Petrochemicals and refineries in Jamnagar, Agrochemical plants and other projects of the Atul Industries together with the Indian Oil Corporation refinery and oil rigs in Dahej, Bharuch are a few to mention in Gujarat. In Maharashtra, the proposed SEZ in Gorai, Thane; SEZ in Revas, Alibag;
Container port of the Reliance industries in Alibag, Raigad are posing a serious threat to the life and livelihood of the people. Destruction of the Dabbhol/ Vashistha creek by discharge of effluents from the Ratnagiri Power and Gas Supply Company and the Bharati Shipyard, wholesale sand-mining at Chiplun and Marine Sanctuary in Malvan, Sindhudurg, were encountered.  In Goa, a proposed water sports complex near Nerul, Dandari village was stalled by resistance of local fisher folk. The campaigners found boiling anger among the masses against such "development projects".

The Adani SEZ in Mundra is a case in point which has already displaced 12 fishing villages and destroyed 4000 hectares of mangroves. The Dahej and adjacent area including the Nani-Daman Ganga River is the worst example of what can happen if proliferation of these so called developmental activities is allowed in the coastal zone. The fishing community, other coastal communities, environment groups and civil society urge the Government of India to immediately stop this mindless race of "vikas" and secure people's rights over the natural resources.

People considered the new CMZ notification as a machination to satisfy the greed of big companies and rich classes. They are burning copies of the draft CMZ notification to give vent to their wrath.

In a press conference held here today, Mr. Harekrishna Debnath, Chairperson of NFF said that he was shocked to see the plight of the fisher people all over the coast. He questioned the justification of putting up the draft CZM Notification of the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) on the internet for objections and comments. Every second fisherman or woman met, asked the question "what is internet?" "How does the GOI and the MoFE expect the innocent computer unsavy fisher people to send their objections when they don't even know what is internet! It appears to the NFF members that the GOI, specifically the MoEF is trying to fool the coastal people with this deceptive, manipulative approach. If the GOI is sincere in getting the true response from the people it should publish the draft notification on
all news papers of the country and direct the state governments to disseminate the draft notification at every panchayat level throughout the country. Mr. Debnath said that land and water within 22 Kilometers are within the jurisdiction of the state and any legislation in this context have to have total ascent or concurrence of state governments. MoEF's attempt to bypass this procedure smack of a design in order to help the business lobbies who have their eyes on the coastal land and the resources.  NFF demands that the GOI should immediately withdraw
the draft CMZ notification.. Mr. Debnath said that he was overwhelmed by the response of the people to the campaign and said that people all over the coast are in severe pain and are ready to stand up and fight for their rights and their protection.

"In Uttar Kanada coast, siltation of the channels leading up to various fishing centres, blanket ban on fishing due to military exercise firing range around Fission Island and the mega tourism project of an infamous real estate business house are among the most serious predicaments faced by the fishermen" Mr. Debnath observed.

Mr Debnath said that the fish catch throughout the coast so far visited has dwindled to 50%. NFF demands adequate and enhanced assistance towards fuel & fishing implements, exemption of road cess on HSD for fishing, waiver of debts of the fishers. NFF demands immediate cancellation of all Letters of Permission (LOP) given by the GOI to foreign fishing vessels.  Debnath also said that it is time that we rationalize our own fishing activity so that it becomes sustainable and productive in the run.


The fishing community and other coastal communities will march onto the Parliament during the monsoon session in July 2008 to press for their demands. The present Abhiyan is a precursor to the Delhi March.

Mr. N.D. Koli, General Secretary NFF; Mr. Vasudev Boloor, Secretary, Akhila Karnataka Fishermen Parishad also spoke to the media persons. Fishermen leaders in the campaign team namely Ramesh Dhuri from Malwan, Maharastra, Ahmed Ellyus Manjelia from Kutch,Gujarat; T.K.Rahaman from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh,  Debasis Shyamal from West Bengal, Sudarshan Chotaray from Orissa  were present. The NFF campaign team proceeds to Mangalore after a reception and public meeting organized by the local fishing community in the afternoon.