Mundra Hit Rakshak Manch[1]
(Forum for Protection of Rights in Mundra)
Mundra Taluka, Kutch District, Gujarat
21st November 2013
Shri Harshad Patel
District Collector, Kutch District
Bhuj, Gujarat
Subject:District Level Implementation of the critical clauses of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), 2011 notification.
Dear Shri Patel,
Greetings on World Fisheries day from the members of the Mundra Hit Rakshak Manch. We are a forum of affected people and mass based organisations who have been raising concerns related to large scale industrial expansion in the Mundra region of Kutch district of Gujarat. While we have been raising concerns at an individual level in our villages we have now come together as part of the Mundra Hitrakshak Manch.
As you are aware, the Kutch coast is not just a unique ecological hotspot but its vast inter-tidal zone and inland areas have support a variety of livelihoods. These include artisanal fishing, salt production, agriculture, animal husbandry (including pastoralists) and horticulture. We believe that it is only with our collective efforts and through active implementation of our existing laws and policies we will be able to ensure sustainable development along the Kutch coast. It is for this we look forward to your immediate and continued cooperation.
As you are aware, the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011 in its Clause 6 (c ) has the specific provision for setting up District Level Coastal Committees (DLCC) to assist the Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA) of the state in enforcement and monitoring of the CRZ notification. The order of 14th October 2013 by the CZMA lists out the possible composition of the DLCC and a wide range of functions for the same.
As Chairman of this DLCC, we do hope you would take the lead in setting up a vibrant and active DLCC for livelihood protection and conservation of the Kutch coast. The Manch and its members will be extremely happy to work on and with the DLCC in all its activities and we would like to extend our full support to the district administration for the same.
those practicing artisanal fisheries.
We also hope that through your initiative, the DLCC will also be able to a play a significant and path-breaking role ensuring a leadership role for the DLCC in the preparation of the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for Kutch. This will be crucial input into the state level CZMP being prepared by the Gujarat CZMA. We, the members of the Mundra Hit RakshakManch would be keen to participate actively in the preparation of the CZMP, which can become a vision document for the Kutch coast.
We would also like to share with you that we have recently been part of a day long training program and discussion on the CRZ notification, 2011 organised by UjjasMahilaSangathan in Mundra. Representatives from Namati-Centre for Policy Research Environment Justice Program who have put together simple and pictorial material on the CRZ notification were also part of this discussion. We take this opportunity to share copies of the Gujarati and English material with you, which we have found useful. We hope that as District Collector you can consider directing similar programs along the Kutch coast where we, and our network members knowledgeable about this law can actively participate.
We look forward to your response, cooperation and working together for the protection of local livelihoods and sustainable development of the Kutch coast.
Sincerely,
Harun Sale Kara Gajendrasinh Jadeja
Bhadreshwar Village Navinal Village
Haji Ayub Osman Majalia Haresh Shamji Mahraj
Bhadreshwar Village Bhujpar Village
Ibrahim Manjaliya Sanjay Bapat
Bhadreshwar Mundra Village
Usmangani Vimal Kalavadiya
Setu Namati
Bharat Patel Abhu Kasu Manjaliya
MASS, Kutch Bhadreshwar Village
Encl:Legal Awareness material related to CRZ Notification, 2013
CC: 1. Hardik Shah, Member Secretary, Gujarat CZMA
2. V. Rajagopalan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forests
2. E. Thirunavukkarasu, Additional Director, Ministry of Environment and Forests
[1]Mundra Hit Rakshak Manch(Forum for Protection of Rights in Mundra) is an informal collective of villagers impacted by large scale land use change due to large scale industrial expansion in the Mundra region. These persons and organisations have been regularly raising concerns against the social and environmental impacts of these projects through memorandums and street action as well as through courts. The forum was organically formed in June 2012 during the discussions of the community-led ground truthing of violations by projects in Kutch.