No demarcation for Koliwadas in maps

Mumbai: The draft coastal zone maps for Thane and Palghar district published on Friday on the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) website do not demarcate koliwadas. Moreover, some of the mangrove and wetland areas that come under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-1 areas and saltpans are shown in CRZ-2. The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal had recently directed all the governments of coastal states to submit coastal zone management plan(CZMP) to the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change by April 30, 2018.

The CZMP is carried out to prevent the congestion along the city’s coastline while conserving the coastal environment. An important koliwada demarcation has been omitted in the draft map, which is seen as a major way to provide the fishermen villages on a platter for real estate developers. “If a proper demarcation and survey is not done, the fishermen colonies along the city’s coast will see intervention by high rising buildings and private projects. The same was adopted for Mumbai draft map and eventually the Floor Space Index (FSI) of the areas are increased,” added Stalin Dayanand, project director, Vanashakti.

“The entire Kopri mangroves and wetland area, which should be a CRZ-1, has been classified as CRZ-2. Only a part of it has been illegally reclaimed by dumping debris which has also been asked by the Wetland Committee to be restored,” added Mr Dayanand.

The entire mangrove area near Arnala Fort in Vasai has also been removed from the CRZ-1, according to Godfrey Pimenta, Trustee of Watchdog Foundation.

The MCZMA have sought objections and suggestions on the draft map, which will be sent to the National Centre for Earth Science Studies (NCESS), Kerala the environment institution that prepared the drafts. “The NCESS will make changes in the final maps, according to the suggestions and objections and it will be sent to the Environment Ministry for approval,” said a senior official from The Maharashtra Environment Cell.

Mapping the Future

CRZ-1- the ecologically sensitive areas lying between low and high tide line and no constructions are permitted.

CRZ-2- the areas that have already been developed up to or close to the shoreline and authorized constructions are allowed.

CRZ-3- Areas will include coastal zone in the rural areas (developed and undeveloped) and also areas within Municipal limits