While attending an environmental public hearing with affected villagers, in Dholera on deciding on the mapping for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification, state activists have said that Gujarat's mapping is based on old data and is severely flawed.
The mapping is done to decide which region falls under what category as per the notification. The category under which an area falls decides what sort of economic activities will be allowed there.
Rohit Prajapati of Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti said that during the hearing, it was brought to the officials' notice that they were trying to get the mapping done on the basis of 2011 data.
"The problem with deciding on the basis of old data is that a lot of changes happen on the ground and this will not be reflected. We have sought that the maps be made on the basis of 2018 data," said Prajapati.
Giving an example of why old data will not work he said that Mandvipura village is one such village that has been gobbled up by the sea. "Now if the map was to be made on the basis of old data, it will reflect villages that no more exists," said Prajapati.
He said the confusion was created because the coastal zone management plan (CZMP) was to be completed by 2013. "It was only after the NGT intervened that the authorities began the process. And in a haste, they have relied on old data." Mapping is an important step in creating the CZMP.
He also said villagers who attended the hearing also raised objections to the fact that the maps did not show the villages or their survey number. "So effectively what they did is bring out a map that did not point out to the village or survey number of land that is covered in it. How can the villagers raise objections if they don't know which part of their village falls under what zone of the CRZ," said Prajapati.
WHAT EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE TELLS
- Activists say if map is made using old data, many villages that don’t exist will figure in it too
- Villagers objected to the fact that maps did now show their villages or survey number
