‘Builders can’t be allowed on coasts’

Sixty-five-year-old Rambhau Patil is a veteran activist working for fishermen’s rights. He is currently the president of the influential fishermen’s trade union, Maharashtra Macchimar Kruti Samiti (MMKS) and General Secretary of the widely respected National Fishermen’s Forum (NFF). Recently, at a national public consultation of the pre-draft of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification (the new version of the Coastal Regulation Zone Act 1991 being discussed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests), Patil rallied opposition to the notification, the provisions of which, he says, could destroy precious coastal ecosystems along the 720-km coastline of Maharashtra. Rambhau Patil speaks to DNA about the concerns of the fishermen.

What is your main objection to the Coastal Regulation Zone, 2010 notification?
Coastal ecosystems are crucial for the sustenance and growth of marine wealth, of which fish are a part. They (the fish) are also a fisherman’s wealth.

This notification encourages activities like dumping of waste, constructions and so on near coastlines in an unrestrained manner, which invite pollution and inevitable destruction of coastal ecosystems, and thus, the fishermen. Consider, for example, the issue of permits to nuclear power plants. The concept note acknowledges that 25% of India’s population lives within 50km of the coast.

It is unimaginable that the government permits nuclear power plants within 50km of such high population density. The consequences of any failures will be catastrophic. Even then, the CRZ allows nuclear power plants within 500m and even in CRZ-1 areas. Such callous disregard for human safety and environment is being legitimised by CRZ-2010.

How will you respond to arguments which say that the current CRZ provisions are preventing ‘development’?
I realise that coastal cities like Mumbai can be given some scope for development in environmentally fragile areas, but there should be limits. Also, permissions to construct near coastlines are being given to big builders, but when small fishermen, whose forefathers have been living in these areas, seek to expand the gaothans, they are denied permission.

What is your opinion about redevelopment of old structures in coastal areas?
Coastal populations like fishermen, agriculturists residing in decades-old structures should be given permission to construct for private use.

What are the expectations of MMKS from new Coastal Regulation Zone provisions?
The most important ones are:

1) Recognise the right of the coastal fishing communities to the coastal zone and give them responsibility to plan and use coastal space in a sustainable manner.

2) Protect fishing villages from encroachments by slums, industries, SEZs, power plants, ports, hotels and motels.

3) Re-establish primacy of water front and foreshore requirements as principle for permitting activities on the coast.

4) Recognise that activities that require waterfront and foreshore facilities cannot be allowed without setting limits.

5) MoEF must undertake a comprehensive study of the coast and cumulative impacts of various activities, and fix limits that will allow the coast to exist as a healthy eco-system providing sustainable benefits to many. 6) Strengthen EPA provisions for deterrent punishments that will include fines in proportion to the ecological destruction caused, and include imprisonment of violators.