Catholic protest helps Kerala object costal regulations

Thiruvananthapuram, India, 8 February 2014: Following protests from Latin Catholic community in the Southern Indian state of Kerala, the state government has decided to object new costal regulations.

The government will raise objection to the new coastal regulation zone (CRZ) rules, 2011, which will impact the fishing community living along coast, said Chief minister Oommen Chandy.
He said this while replying to an adjournment motion moved by CPM legislator S Sharma in the assembly on Wednesday.

Chandy said the government is aware of the situation and the proposed coastal zone management plan will be implemented only after taking the view of all the stakeholders.
Sharma said there had been 25 amendments to the CRZ rules and there was still confusion regarding the rules.

The leaders of Latin Catholic community have been protesting the rules saying it threaten to displace thousands of their people affecting their livelihood and housing.
"What is coastline for fishermen is forest for tribal’s," Archibishop Francis Kalarakkal of Kerala Latin Catholic Association had said.

According to him "if we do not protest against CRZ then that will be the end of the existence of many members of the fishing community," he said.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said that new CRZ rules will impact the lives of 11 lakh fishermen in the state.Source: UCAN