Team Goemkarponn
KUNDAIM: Kundaim residents have petitioned the government to protect Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) and No-Development Zones (NDZs), citing concerns that unregulated unlawful construction, hill cutting, and mangrove degradation will negatively affect biodiversity and traditional fishing methods.
Residents said that the panchayat had inspected unlawful structures in the CRZ area eight months prior, and they are now calling for action to be taken in response to the site inspection report.
Concerns regarding building activities using substantial hill cutting in no-development zones have been voiced by farmers and locals. According to local resident Vijesh Naik, “hill cutting has started where the CRZ line ends, with a seven-meter-high section already cut.”
He also mentioned that at least four new projects had appeared in the CRZ and no-development zone zones. He added that in order to make development easier, mangroves have been destroyed.
Kamlesh Bhandari voiced his worries and cautioned that traditional fishing operations would be disrupted if development activities go uncontrolled. He emphasized that “CRZ areas are essential because they act as catchment zones during heavy rains to prevent flooding.”
Meanwhile, local farmers have also voiced concerns over illegal fishing activities being initiated at Manaswada Khazan fields without consulting them. They fear that such activities will negatively impact the traditional khazan farming system in the future.
