Coastal Action Network meeting held on 27.5.2014 at Chennai 35 Representative including fishing community leaders from 5 Coastal Districts, Representatives from NGO’s and fishermen organisation, Environment Activists were participated

Thematic of these meetings include:

• Present status of proposed Thermal Power Plants along the coast in Tamil Nadu (including litigation)
• Proposed 4000 MW Ultra Mega Thermal Power Plant in Cheyyur – Proposed Udankudi Thermal Power Plant in Tuticorin- Proposed 9 Thermal power plant in Nagapattinam)
• Implementation of decisions taken in A National Consultation to Review Government Policies on the Thermal Power Plants and Ports and its Impacts on Coastal Ecology, Fisheries and Coastal Communities
  CRZ 2011- sharing of views
• SSCP – Information about Supreme court case
• Proposed construction of sea walls in 1000km length along the Coast of Tamil Nadu.
• Planning and discussing issues of women fish workers

Main themes have been discussed:

• Last Meeting minutes of Coastal Action Network and other People’s Organisations taken action against illegal coastal zone management plans and Map’s Public Hearings and Position of filed litigations.
• Public Hearing on illegal shrimp industries in coastal districts in TamilNadu
• Action Plan to be taken by CAN for Seawall Construction about 1000kms length in TamilNadu Coastal District.
• Position of litigation against 4000MW Cheyyur Ultra Mega Thermal Power Plant.
• K.U.Ultra Mega Thermal Power Plant Proposal in Tuticorin District.
• 4000MW (5X800) Ultra Mega Thermal Power Project, Captive port and desalination plant proposal in Cuddalore Coastal Districts and its status.
• Public Hearing on Ennore Port Phase II (Extension) in Thiruvallur District.
• Status of tsunami housing and other coastal poors housing
• Impacts of Tourism in Muttupet swamp Thiruvarur district.
• Men and Women fishermen Cooperative society.

Resolutions:

• Homage to memory of fr. Tom Kochery who was founder of National Fish workers union. Who is passed away last April 2014. Most of the participants from this meeting sharing their experience with fr.Tom Kochery
• Organise the victims in every coastal district who they are affected by Illegal Shrimp Industries functioning near the coastal villagers for public hearing illegal Shrimp Industries. The Public hearing held on 27th June 2014 at Nagapattinam
• To be filed litigations and challenging against Illegal Public Hearing on Coastal Zone Management plans and Maps prepared by Government of TamilNadu.
• To be strengthen Coastal Action Networks and Admit New members especially fishing community youths, Leaders, Environmentalists, Experts Advocates and Social Activists.
• To be filed litigations against Thermal Power Plants proposed in Uppur at Ramnad district, Udankudi, Ottapidaram in Tuticorin district, the above proposed Thermal Power plants may Impacts Coastal Environment Land and fishing communities health and livelihood.
• To be resisted the union for women fish workers and vendors in every districts.
• To be stop 1000 Kms Sea wall construction in entire TamilNadu Coast Announced by Government of TamilNadu. Because this project destroyed entire coast of TamilNadu and severe affect to the fishing communities livelihood, fishing and common land.
• To be give Trainings to the coastal communities regarding how to draw village Maps for protect their land and livelihood.

Consultation with Coastal Action Network Members on 27th November 2014 at Chennai

Human Rights Advocacy and Research Foundation as a member of Coastal Action Network has been involved for several years for the protection of fishing people’s and other coastal poor livelihood, their resources, fisheries and coastal ecology.

Some of these issues that will come up for discussion relate to

• Thermal Power Plants, Captive Ports and fly ash dumping – Appeals in the National Green Tribunal, Southern Regional Bench
• Repeal of Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011and taking an action against CRZ violations – restoring CRZ 1991 – Appeals in National Green Tribunal, Southern Bench
• Halting 2014 Coastal Zone Management Plans and Maps (CZMP) across all Coastal States – placing in public domain under section 4 of Right to Information Act including on website Coastal Zone Management Plans and Maps of 1996.
• Stopping disaster caused by coastal erosion due to construction of mega projects and sea walls and groyens – Appeals in the National Green Tribunal, Southern Regional Bench
• Condemning the efforts of BJP to realign Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project
• State Level Consultation on adverse impact of CRZ 2011, Plans and Maps (CZMPs) 2014, EIA and Draft Social Legislation for Traditional Coastal and Marine Fishing people (Protection of Rights) Act 2009.

Main themes discussed:

• Repeal of Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011and taking an action against CRZ violations – restoring CRZ 1991- Appeals in National Green Tribunal, Southern Bench
• Thermal Power Plants, Captive Ports and fly ash dumping – Appeals in the National Green Tribunal, Southern Regional Bench
• Condemning the efforts of BJP to realign Sethusamudram Shipping Canal project
• Halting 2014 Coastal Zone Management Plans and Maps (CZMP) across all Coastal States – placing in public domain under section 4 of Right to Information Act including on website Coastal Zone Management Plans and Maps of 1996
• Stopping disaster caused by coastal erosion due to construction of mega projects and sea walls and groyens in Puducherry and Tamil Nadu – Appeal in the National Green Tribunal, Southern Regional Bench
• Draft Social Legislation for Traditional Coastal and Marine Fishing people (Protection of Rights) Act 2009
  Violations in CRZ – I – Ecologically sensitive areas by tourism, entertainment parks, real estate, industries, ports and power plants, etc.,