New green coastal norms in two weeks: Jairam Ramesh

CHENNAI - The central government would notify the new Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) in two weeks, said union Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh here Monday.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the Madras Crocodile Bank, around 40 km from here, Ramesh said the final touches were being given to the notification.

He said the purpose of the new CRZ was to bring about a balance between the development needs and protection of coastal areas.

Ramesh’s announcement comes in the backdrop of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi requesting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to defer notification of the new CRZ.

“Already, the state is experiencing a series of agitations in the coastal areas strongly condemning the proposed notification,” Karunanidhi wrote to the prime minister last month.

Citing the fears of environmental groups that the draft CRZ encouraged growth of certain interest groups at the cost of the environment, Karunanidhi said: “Any drastic changes in the existing regulations may cause distress among the fishermen folk and some interested groups may create law and order problems, utilising the situation.”