2018 Coastal Zone Management Plan for Tamilnadu Released – Incomplete Plan Irks TN Fisherfolk

View 2018 Approved Coastal Zone Management Plan Here

Chennai – 3rd December 2018

Much to the dismay of fisherfolk and coastal residents, Department of Environment, Government of Tamilnadu on 30/11/2018 released incomplete and illegal maps purporting to be the 2018 approved Coastal Zone Management Plan for Tamilnadu State.  Drafts of these maps that were released for public consultation in February 2018 faced stiff opposition on grounds that they were incomplete and violated the guidelines of the CRZ Notification 2011.

The maps have failed to incorporate important features like 1) Land Use of local fishing communities 2) Long Term Housing plan for fisherfolk 3) Fishing zones and fish breeding areas 4) Violations 5) High Water Line and Low Water Line and 6) A written document containing a management plan and justification of deviation from the earlier approved plan.

Vigilant fisherfolk ensured that more than 11,000 acres of coastal wetlands were brought under the CRZ by conducting simple ground truthing exercises. “Public ground truthing efforts forced the Central Government’s authorized agency to re-draw the coastal setback lines in many places like Kanniyakumari, Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam and Villupuram Districts” said K Saravanan from Urur Kuppam fishing village in Chennai.

The significance of good coastal planning is all the more evident in the backdrop of Cyclone Gaja that devastated the southern coastal districts of Tamilnadu in November 2018. In what is considered the worst natural disaster since the 2004 Tsunami, the mega-cyclone inundated low-lying areas in Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Pudukottai districts in Tamilnadu, leaving more than 3.7 lakh people homeless. Material damages were reported form approximately 333 fishing villages. In addition to damage to coastal areas, storm surges higher than 1m moved inland through estuaries affecting more than 32,000 Ha of paddy inlands.

Ironically, Government of India diluted CRZ norms to withdraw protection to areas such as those affected by Cyclone Gaja by relaxing development norms in the region between the High Tide Line and the Hazard Line. The hazard line is a line drawn on land to mark the extent to which the impact of the sea through waves, wind, storm surges and sea level rise can be felt.

“The Coastal Zone Management Plan is the roadmap for how our coastal areas are going to be managed. Protecting fisher livelihoods and putting in place a long-term housing plan for the coastal communities must be made a priority for the government. We will intensify our struggle to secure a complete, effective coastal plan to safeguard our collective futures” Says K. Bharathi of the South Indian Fisher Welfare Federation.

The Approved Coastal Zone Management Plans can be accessed here – http://www.environment.tn.nic.in/appdczmp.html

For More Information, Contact : Saravanan K, Urur Kuppam – 9176331717

IOCL lays Hazardous LNG Pipeline in Ennore Creek Earmarked for Remediation by NGT Committee

DOWNLOAD PRESS KIT HERE

Chennai- 19th September 2018 : While experts appointed by the NGT have recommended a scientific remediation of the polluted Ennore Creek wetlands, Indian Oil Corporation Limited has been locating a LNG Pipeline across the wetland without any mandatory legal sanctions. In complete disregard to environmental concerns and the rule of the land, two roads have been laid across the wetlands to facilitate the movement of heavy machineries employed by IOCL for the LNG Pipeline connecting Kamarajar Port in Ennore to Manali Industrial Estate. The work is being carried out with no foresight as the said location will be excavated for remediation.

“We have been left out of the whole planning process, fisherfolk were not informed about this project at all. While we are fighting for a scientific clean up of the river, dangerous projects like this are being located here” said a member of the Ennore Anaithu Meenava Grama Kootamaipu.

Fisherfolk in Ennore have expressed grave safety concerns as no scientific study to ascertain the safety of laying such a pipeline through the wetland has been conducted. Transmission of high pressure gas through such fragile ecosystems could have dangerous consequences, such as hugely contaminating leaks and or/explosions.

“There is no information available to see if the company has conducted any safety studies. We are totally dependent on the river for our livelihoods. Given they are laying the pipeline through the river, any leak or explosion will only further damage the ecosystem and push us into further hardship” expressed another fisherman from Ennore Creek.

The project has commenced without obtaining any mandatory Environment or Coastal Regulation Zone clearance from the respective authorities. No licence under Air and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts have been obtained either.

For More Information Visit – www.storyofennore.wordpress.com

Contact : Ravindran, Ennore Anaithu Meenava Grama Kootamaipu  – 7358756165 ; Pooja, Coastal Resource Centre – 9791122180

---

தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாணயம் சீர் திருத்தத்திற்காக ஒதுக்கி வைத்திருந்த எண்ணூர் முகத்துவாரத்தில், அபாயகரமான எரிவாயு குழாய் இணைப்புக்களை IOCL அமைத்துள்ளது.

தேசிய பசுமை தீர்ப்பாணயம் அமைத்திருந்த வல்லுனர்களோ மாசு கொண்டிருக்கும் எண்ணூர் முகத்துவாரம் மற்றும் நீர்நிலைகளை அறிவியல் முறைப்படி சீர்திருத்த வேண்டும் என்று பரிந்துரை செய்த போதிலும், இந்தியன் ஆயில் கார்பொரேஷன் லிமிடெட் (IOCL) எந்த ஒரு சட்ட அனுமதியும் இன்றி அலையேற்றமுள்ள நீர்நிலையில் ஒரு எரிவாயு குழாய்யை அமைத்துள்ளது. சுற்றுசூழல் பாதுகாப்பிற்கும் சட்டதிட்டங்களுக்கு எந்த வித மதிப்பும் இன்றி கனரக இயந்திர சாதனங்கள் வந்து போக இரண்டு சாலைகள் இந்த நீர்நிலையின் நடுவே அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. எண்ணூர் காமராஜர் போர்ட்‘இல் இருந்து மணலி தொழிற்பேட்டையை இணைக்கும் எரிவாயு குழாய்கள் சம்பந்தமாகவே இந்த கனரக இயந்திரங்கள் IOCL’ ஆல் பணி அமர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

“இந்த திட்டத்தை குரித்து மீனவர்களுக்கு எந்த தகவலும் அலிக்கவில்லை, அதாவது இத்திட்டமிடல் பனியில் இருந்து எங்களை வெலியெற்றி இருக்கிரார்கள். நாங்கள் அரிவியல் ரீதியாக இந்த ஆற்ரை சுத்தப்படுத்த வெண்டும் என்று பொராடும் தருனத்தில் இது பொன்ற அபாயகராமான திட்டங்கலை இங்கு அமைத்து வருகிரனர்.”என்ற ஒரு மீனாவா கிராம உறுப்பினர் கூறினார்

இப்படிப்பட்ட குழாய் ஒரு நீர்நிலையில் மீது கட்டப்படுவதால் ஏற்படும் விளைவுகள் குறித்து எந்த ஒரு அறிவியல் சார்ந்த ஆய்வும் மேற்கொள்ளாததால் அருகில் வாழும் எண்ணூரை சேர்ந்த மீனவர்கள் பாதுகாப்பு பற்றிய கவலைகளை வெளிப்படுத்தி உள்ளனர். உயர் அழுத்தம் கொண்ட எரிவாயு இப்படிப்பட்ட ஒரு சுற்றுசூழலிற்கு முக்கியத்துவம் வாய்ந்த பகுதியில் இயங்கும் பொழுது ஆபத்தான விளைவுகள் ஏற்பட கூடும் – உதாரணத்திற்கு எரிவாயு கசிவும் வெடித்தலும் ஏற்படும் வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது.

“இந்த நிறுவனம் பாதுகாப்பு ஆய்வை மெர்கொண்டதா என்ற தகவல் எதுவும் இல்லை. இந்த ஆற்றை மட்டுமே நம்பி எங்கள் வாழ்வாதாரம் ஒட்டியுல்லது. இந்த குழாயை ஆற்று படுகயில் அமைப்பதினால், ஒரு கசிவொ அல்லது விபத்து நெரிட்டால் இந்த ஆற்றின் சூழல் மேலும் பாதிப்புகளுக்கு உல்லாவது மட்டும் அல்லாமல், எங்கள் வாழ்வாதாரமும் சீர்குலையும்.” என்ற

ஒரு மீனாவா கிராம உறுப்பினர் கூறினார்

இத்திட்டம் கடற்கரை மண்டல ஒழுங்குமுரை அரிவிப்பானை அல்லது சுற்றுப்புர சூழல் ஆனையிடம் இருந்து எந்த விதமான கட்டாய அனுமதி பெரபடவில்லை. இது மட்டும் இல்லாமல் காற்று மற்றும் நீர் மாசு தடுப்பு சட்டத்தின் கீழ் எந்த வித அனுமதி பெரவில்லை என்பது குரிப்பிடதக்கது.

மேலும் தகவல் – http://www.storyofennore.wordpress.com

தொடர்பு கொள்ளுங்கள்: ரவீந்திரன், என்னூர் அனத்து மீனாவா கிராம குடையாபு – 7358756165; பூஜா, கரையோர வள மையம் – 9791122180

Press Release: MoEFCC Misuses Environmental Protection Powers; Dilutes CRZ to facilitate mega projects on the coast

DOWNLOAD PRESS KIT HERE

Chennai: In a perversion of environmental protection laws in India, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has used clauses meant for strengthening provisions of existing legislations to bring in yet another dilution of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011. The amendment, dated 02/07/2018 removes all administrative powers given to the “Hazard Line” within the CRZ Framework, reducing the hazard line to merely a tool that has to be taken into account while planning. The sprit of the CRZ notification, that introduced the hazard line as a way forward for sustainable coastal planning as been misused.

The need for hazard mapping for coastal planning gained relevance after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami when, unsustainable development activities and its associated coastal degradation led to widespread inundation, loss of ecosystems, coastal habitats, infrastructure, property and life.

Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESAs), earmarked as CRZ I, requiring most protection under the notification have also been opened up for “Strategic”, “Defence” and “Projects of National Importance”. However, definitions for these words have not been laid out. Mega flagship projects like “Sagarmala”, “Bharatmala” and “Smart Cities” have been touted to be multi-million dollar strategic projects of GoI. The lack of clarity about what makes a project strategic could mean that mega corporations can enjoy impunity while setting up destructive development on India’s coastline

Allowing facilities of such projects to come up unregulated in CRZ Areas I Ecologically Sensitive Areas is hazardous and is bound to degrade the marine ecology, coastal environment, coastal land use, livelihoods and the aesthetic uses of the sea coast. Both these changes were proposed via the Draft Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2018, which faced massive objections and criticism from fisherfolk, civil society groups among others.

The latest amendment can be accessed at http://envfor.nic.in/sites/default/files/S.O.3197(E)-AMENDMENT%20IN%20CRZ%20NOTIFICATION%20.pdf

For More Information, contact:

Pooja Kumar – 9791122180

Saravanan K – 9176331717

****************************************************************************

சென்னை : மத்திய சுற்றுச்சூழல் துறைக்கு சுற்றுச்சூழலை பாதுகாக்க கொடுக்கப்பட்ட அதிகாரத்தை தவறாக பயன்படுத்தி CRZ-2011 அறிவிப்பாணையை வழுயிலக்க செய்துள்ளனர். 02.ஜீலை.2018 அன்று கொண்டுவந்த இந்த திருத்தத்தில் அபாயக்கோடுக்கு இருந்த அதிகாரப்பூர்வ சக்தியை குறைத்து, திட்டமிடலில் மட்டுமே ஒரு கருவியாக காண்பிக்கின்றனர்.  அபாயக்கோடு என்பது சிறான வளர்ச்சி (ம) கடற்கரை திட்டமிடலுக்காக கொண்டுவரப்பட்டது. ஆனால் இந்த திருத்தம் இதற்கு நேர்மாறாக அமைந்துள்ளது.

2004- சுனாமியில் ஏற்பட்ட உயீர் இழப்பு, கடற்கரை சூழலுக்கு பாதிப்பு, வாழ்விடத்திற்கு பாதிப்பு, வெள்ள பாதிப்பை வைத்து கடற்கரை திட்டமிடலில் அபாயக்கோடுக்கான முக்கிய துவம் கண்டறிந்தோம்.

CRZ-2011 கீழ் அதிகபடியாக பாதுகாப்பு கொடுத்துள்ள, CRZ-I னாக கருதபடுகின்ற எளிதில் பாதிக்கக்கூடிய சுற்றுச்சூழல் முக்கியதுவம் வாய்ந்த இடங்களில் யூத்திவாய்ந்த திட்டங்கள், பாதுகாப்பு திட்டங்கள், தேசிய முக்கிய துவம் வாய்ந்த திட்டங்களுக்கு இந்த திருத்தம் வழிவகை செய்கிறது. ஆனால் இந்த வார்த்தைகளுக்கு ஆர்த்தம் கொடுக்கப்படவில்லை. அரசினுடைய மிக பெரிய திட்டங்களான பாரத்மாலா, சாகர்மாலா, சுமார்ட் சிட்டி யுத்திவாய்ந்த திட்டமாக கூறிவரும் நிலையில் யுத்திவாய்ந்த திட்டம் என்ன என்ற தெளிவு இல்லாத்தை பயன்படுத்தி பெரிய கார்பேர்ட் நிறுவனங்கள் இந்திய கடற்கரையை அழிவுக்கான வளர்ச்சியை செயல்படுத்த முடியும்.

இத்தகைய திட்டங்களை CRZ பகுதியில் கட்டுப்பாடில்லாமல் அனுமதித்தால் சுற்றுச்சூழல் ரீதியாக எளிதில் பாதிக்கக்கூடிய இடங்கள், கடல் சூழல், கடலோர சூழல், கடலோர நில பயன்பாடு, வாழ்வாதாரங்கள் மற்றும் கடற்கரையின் பயன்பாடுகளை சீர்குலைக்கும். இந்த மாற்றங்கள் இரண்டும் வரைவு கடற்கரை ஒழுங்குமுறை மண்டல அறிவிப்பாணை – 2018ன் வழியாக ஏற்கனவே முன்மொழியப்பட்டது. இதில் மீனவர்கள், சமூக ஆர்வளர்கள்  கடுமையான ஆட்சேபனைகள் மற்றும் விமர்சனங்களையும் பதிவு செய்துள்ளது என்பது குறிபிடத்க்கதாகும்.

இந்த திருத்தத்தை அனுக:- http://envfor.nic.in/sites/default/files/S.O.3197(E)-AMENDMENT%20IN%20CRZ%20NOTIFICATION%20.pdf

மேலும் விவரங்களுக்கு :

பூஜாக்குமார் :  9791122180

கா.சரவணன் : 9176331717

 

PRESS RELEASE: Fishers Threaten Statewide Stir Demanding Withdrawal of Illegal Coastal Zone Management Plan

DOWNLOAD PRESS KIT HERE

27 February, 2018. CHENNAI : Tamil Nadu fishers and civil society groups have threatened statewide action unless the Government of Tamil Nadu withdraws the illegal and incomplete CZMP uploaded by it for public comments. The documents uploaded are in contempt of two orders of the National Green Tribunal directing the Government to conduct public consultation only after publishing complete plans prepared in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991. See NGT (South Zone) orders in OA 86/2014 and OA 141/2014.

The maps uploaded by the GoTN do not contain the Hazard Line, a demarcation of areas that are vulnerable to the effects of Sea Level Rise, waves and tides. In areas where the hazard line lies beyond the 500 metres line from High Tide Line, the CRZ Notification restricts development between the HTL and Hazard Line as this zone is considered dangerous and vulnerable to the extreme behaviour of the seas. The notification also requires the state government to provide necessary safeguards for the fishing communities if located within the hazard line. The Notification considers the hazard line to be integral to the plan. Not demarcating the hazard line will provide leeway for unrestricted development in vulnerable and dangerous areas along the coast.

Toxic air pollutants alarmingly high in Chennai: Survey

The residents of Chennai are breathing unhealthy air most of the time, claims a real-time, first of its kind citizen-led air quality monitoring network on Monday.

The data collected a daily average of the levels of the dangerous tiny particulate matter, known as PM 2.5, which lodge deep in human lungs, in Kuruvimedu (Vallur), Kodungaiyur, Anna Salai at Teynampet and Mugatwarakuppam in Ennore, ranging from unhealthy to hazardous for more than 80 per cent of the time.

Health Experts and Citizens launch a network of low-cost air quality monitors for Chennai

DOWNLOAD PRESS KIT HERE

Chennai, 29 January 2018: Launching Chennai’s first citizen-led real time air quality monitoring network, founder and trustee of Delhi-based Lung Care Foundation Dr. Arvind Kumar said data from Chennai’s new “Atmos” monitors reveal that Chennai residents are breathing unhealthy air most days in a given month. The data revealed that between January 1 and January 23, daily averages of the levels of the dangerous PM2.5 in Kuruvimedu (Vallur), Kodungaiyur, Anna Salai at Teynampet and Mugatwarakuppam in Ennore ranged from unhealthy to hazardous for more than 80 percent of time. Air quality in Eldams Road near Teynampet was better with 10 days out of 16 daily measurements revealing air quality within the 24-hour Indian PM2.5 standard of 60 micrograms (ug)/m3. None of the locations had any day where air quality was within the more stringent World Health Organisation (WHO) 24-hour standard of 25 ug/m3. All locations recorded hazardous levels (above 180 ug/m3) of PM2.5 on 13 January, the day of Bhogi festival.

A joint project of Chennai-based Huma Lung Foundation and The Other Media’s Healthy Energy Initiative, and Mumbai-based UrbanSciences, the citizen air monitoring exercise will display its results on the website atmos.urbansciences.in/dashboard. The website will continuously report readings of PM2.5 from the five locations. Dr. Hisamuddin Papa, a leading pulmonologist who is leading the effort in Chennai, has installed one monitor atop his hospital in Teynampet, and has urged medical institutions and media houses to also invest in the Rs. 15,000 easy-to-operate air quality monitors.

Coastal Cities and Sea Level Rise

Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) in a 2012 study titled Coastal Zones of India predicted that more than 3020 SqKM of productive land mass in Tamilnadu is prone to submergence due to rising seas in 100 years. Given this reality, the looming question remains – How prepared are Indian Cities to deal with Sea Level Rise (SLR)? While several cities across the world have begun developing plans to deal with the vulnerabilities associated with rising sea levels, Indian cities continue to grow precariously and often directly in harms way.

SLR is already underway. But it is popularly perceived as something that will occur in the future. This seminar aims to start a conversation about rising seas and ways to educate ourselves and our regulators about what is at stake, the need to put the safety of coastal infrastructure, communities and spaces in focus in planning the city’s future.

More Information

CRZ Plan Should Consider Sea Level Rise: Fishers, Environmentalists urge GoTN

DOWNLOAD PRESS KIT HERE

DOWNLOAD REPORT HERE  

Chennai:  Highlighting a 2012 report that predicts that 3209.33 sq. km of Tamil Nadu’s coast is likely to be submerged and millions rendered homeless if sea level rises by 1 m by 2100, fisherfolk and environmentalists have urged the state government to ensure that the soon-to-be released Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) accounts for Sea Level Rise (SLR) and contains the mandatory hazard line, long-term plans for fisher housing and prospective land-use. Under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011, each maritime state ought to have prepared its CZMP by 2012 containing these mandatory elements. Despite the dire warnings contained in the report – “Coastal Zones of India” – by ISRO’s Space Application Centre (SAC), the Governments of India and Tamil Nadu have allowed densification of industrial installations and urban sprawl in vulnerable coastal areas.

Prepared in 2012, the SAC’s report predicts that for a 1 m sea level rise by 2100, sq.km of state highway, 85.66 km of railway infrastructure, 497.65 sq.km of cropland and 826 sq.km of aquifers will be submerged or degraded by tidal action. Another document – “Future Sea Level Rise: Assessment of Loss and Damage in 2015” – prepared for the State Planning Commission predicts that in Chennai alone, 10 lakh people and 144 sq.km of land are in danger of submergence due to SLR by 2050.

While the SAC’s report has been quietly filed away, the State Planning Commission’s report on Chennai has not been published despite its public importance.

As per the submergence maps contained in the SAC’s report, Chennai stands to lose 3.11 sq. km of critical industrial infrastructure, almost all in the Ennore region. NTECL Vallur, all of TANGEDCO’s power plants in Ennore, Kamarajar Port’s existing and proposed infrastructure inside the Creek, HPCL and BPCL’s oil terminals, the Minjur desalination plant and portions of CPCL’s petrochemical refinery in Manali will be swallowed by the sea. The groundwater resources of Araniyar-Kosasthalaiyar basin will be degraded due to tidal ingress. The entire IT corridor will be affected by sea level rise and most of the newly developed areas in Pallikaranai marshlands will be submerged under an advancing sea.

Industries and settlements in low-lying areas – such as the proposed 4000 MW Cheyyur plant and existing nuclear complex in Kalpakkam, the existing IL&FS plant and proposed petroleum refinery and Petrochemical Investment Region in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam, industrial installations and salt pans in Tuticorin and the Koodankulam nuclear reactors are located in vulnerable areas that are prone either to submergence or degradation due to tidal action.

“Climate change and sea level rise are real and present dangers. The CZMP offers an opportunity to plan for the decongesting of the coast. Other countries are doing that. We must start retreating from the sea and improving our natural safeguards against extreme sea-borne events,” said Pooja Kumar of Coastal Resource Centre.

Saravanan, whose village Urur Kuppam is already witnessing erosion, says “The CZMP should include a long-term housing plan for coastal communities as we are being squeezed by a seaward moving city and a land-ward moving tide.”

For More Information, contact – Pooja Kumar – 9791122180

Organized by – The Coastal Resource Centre, 92, 3^rd Cross Street, Thiruvalluvar Nagar, Besant Nagar, Chennai 600090

Forest dept wakes up, stays illegal construction near Pulicat

CHENNAI: Cracking the whip on rampant illegal constructions at the ecologically-sensitive Pulicat, the State forest department stayed a mega residential project that proposed to construct rows of villas on the sea front of the lake.

The action came following a series of reports in Express, including one on July 28 that detailed the real estate developments in the area, including the under-construction township coming up within the Pulicat sanctuary.K Geethanjali, wildlife warden, Chennai, told Express that a team has been sent to probe the allegation that construction was taking place within the Pulicat sanctuary boundaries.

“About 13 villages under local panchayat limits are part of Pulicat sanctuary, which is a no-development zone. Traditional fishermen in the area can carry out bona fide activities, but building permanent structures for commercial activities is prohibited. We issued notices and works have been stopped,” the official said.

Hydrocarbon Activities Have Harmed Delta Environment, Scientific Analysis Reveals

DOWNLOAD MEDIA KIT HERE

FIELD CONTAMINATED BY ONGC’S OIL SPILL ON 30 JUNE 2017

CHENNAI. 09 August, 2017 — Scientific analysis of soil, groundwater and surface water samples from Thanjavur, Thiruvarur and Nagapattinam confirm delta villagers’ fears that hydrocarbon operations by ONGC and CPCL are harming the environment. The study also concluded that ONGC had failed to observe international best practices in responding to the June 30 oil spill leading to spread of contamination to public water courses and the Velloor irrigation canal. All seven samples – including four soil, two surface water and one groundwater – are contaminated by hydrocarbons linked to oil extraction or refining. Releasing the results in Chennai, the Solidarity Group for Justice and Accountability, a state-wide alliance of individuals and people’s organisations, called for an independent third-party audit of the environmental impacts of ongoing hydrocarbon activities and remediation of contaminated sites at ONGC’s cost. They demanded for the release of jailed villagers, and prosecution of negligent ONGC, TNPCB and district officials.

The results also contradict claims made by the state government, and hydrocarbon majors like ONGC and CPCL.

Samples were taken as per established scientific methodology

ONGC’s claim: Oil leaks and spills are promptly attended to; contaminated lands are fully restored.