Fishermen’s stir against CRZ Act

By Express News Service

25 Oct 2010 12:09:23 AM IST

Fishermen’s stir against CRZ Act

RAMANATHAPURAM: A large number of fishermen staged a demonstration here on Sunday protesting the government attempt to implement Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Act 2010.

Presiding over the demonstration, Ramanathapuram District Fish Workers Trade Union (RFTU) president Paulsamy said that the government had introduced the CRZ Act in 1991 which was welcomed by fishermen community.

However, the government failed to implement the Act at that time and was trying to introduce the modified CRZ Act 2010 at present, he said and pointed out that the fishermen community would be removed from the coastal villages for establishing chemical factories and beach tourism on the shores. Therefore, he charged, the fishermen would become refugees in their own land and the marine wealth would be affected if the new Act was implemented.

The fishermen have decided to stage a demonstration in all the coastal areas of the country on October 29 and they would resort to a nationwide strike if the government failed to withdraw the new Act, he warned.

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