Exempt low cost housing from CRZ: Jairam

Mumbai: Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh asked state government to exempt low cost housing from environmental norms. His recent statement on the Coastal Regulating Zone norms (CRZ) could change the future of Mumbai's fishermen colonies.

"Low cost housing for the poor built by the state government should be exempt from Coastal Regulating Zone (CRZ norms)," said Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh.

For years Mumbai's fishermen have been living in shanties across the coast and have not been allowed to reconstruct their homes. The Ministry's move could solve their housing problems but the fishermen themselves are skeptical.

"Ham log kuch thik karna chahte hain to sarkar hamko CRZ dikhata hai to bahar ka builder log ko develop karne de raha hai. Yeh kaisa kaayda hai.?" (if we want to construct something government show us the CRZ norms but on the other hand, they are allowing outsiders to construct buildings. What kind of rule is this?), said a member of Moragaon fishermens' co-operative Dinesh Mangela.

The fishermen also allege that the same norms don't seem to apply to the more in the cases where powerful personalities are involved. As in the case of Shah Rukh Khan's home Mannat is embroiled in a court battle over CRZ norms and this under construction housing society in Cuffe Parade floated by a former state environment minister is also under the CRZ scanner.

The state government has now suggested that the Environment Ministry allow a floor space index of 2.5 for slum rehabilitation projects in CRZ areas. That could affect around 2500 dilapidated structures and 60 slum pockets across Mumbai's coastline .

"On the account of livelihood, I would support that fishermen be rehabilitated on the coast itself, but in case there is a tsunami or a cyclone they will be at the most risk," said an environmentalist.

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