Public consultation on CRZ notification

PANJIM, AUG 26
People from nearly 8,500 dwellings, who are facing the axe on account of the CRZ notification, will get a platform to make their voices felt at a public consultation to be attended by Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh at Fr Agnel Ashram in Verna on Sunday, August 30, between 2 pm and 6 pm. 
This event is part of the 10 public consultations called by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in the coastal states to gather public opinion on amendments required in the CRZ notification of 1991.
The Centre for Environment Education (CEE) has been asked to invite stakeholders, including coastal community representatives, fishermen federations, NGOs/CBOs and related government departments to give their inputs at the meeting. 
After the Centre allowed CMZ 2008 notification to lapse, the MoEF has shown keenness to gather public opinion as per the recommendations of a committee led by Prof M S Swaminathan and incorporate appropriate suggestions before bringing in further amendments to strengthen the existing CRZ 1991.
With this objective, the ministry has commissioned CEE to hold 10 public consultations. Jairam Ramesh has expressed he would be attending the public consultations being held at Goa, Mumbai, Cochin, Chennai and Bhubaneshwar. The remaining consultations to be held in Gujarat, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal will be held during the first and second week of September 2009. 
In view of the time constraint at the Verna meeting, CEE Goa State Office has requested affected people attending to come well prepared with their view points.
It has asked those participating to submit views on the Review Committee Report during or preferably prior to the meeting.
Participants have been asked to include their name, list of signatories, stakeholder represented and contact address. In case the document is in the local language, CEE has requested for an English translation. 
Those wishing to participate have been requested to confirm their participation soon after reading this news item as it would help CEE in organizing the event in a better manner. For details contact Sujeetkumar M Dongre at 9422063917 or mail him at sujeet.dongre@ceeindia.org <mailto:sujeet.dongre@ceeindia.org>.