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Time of India
a day ago
- General
- Time of India
NCSCM confirms only 50m Coastal Regulation Zone buffer applies to Palk Bay coastline
's National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) confirmed that only a 50-metre Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) buffer applies to the Palk Bay coastline—not 500 metres as claimed by a petitioner. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This means that development controls along the coastline could ease significantly. Petitioner Arul Raj, a Ramanathapuram resident, sought directions to quash draft CZMP map numbers TN 44 to 60, arguing that Palk Bay was part of the sea and should therefore be subjected to a 500-metre CRZ as per the 2019 Notification. Filed before the National Green Tribunal (NGT), NCSCM's submission draws on the CRZ Notification, 2019, and official hydrographic charts to classify Palk Bay as a tidal-influenced water body. Under the notification, such water bodies attract only a 50m buffer from the High Tide Line (HTL), not the broader 500m applicable to open sea stretches. This interpretation reaffirms that only a smaller stretch of coastal land is subject to regulation, potentially opening up more area in Ramanathapuram and Pudukkottai districts for fishing infrastructure, tourism, and livelihood-based development. "While it could unlock economic opportunities along the southern coast, it also raises the possibility of increased ecological pressure in the absence of proper safeguards," said B Raja, an environmental activist. Following the Tribunal's direction, NCSCM conducted ground-truthing on March 15, 2025, across 20 coastal sites from Rameswaram to Manamelkudi. Scientists used handheld GPS devices to verify the presence of mangroves, salt marshes, and fisheries-related structures depicted in the draft CZMP maps. The petitioner based his claim on light blue shading in the draft maps, interpreting it as a 500-metre CRZ zone. NCSCM clarified that the colour was a draft-level visual error—not a legal demarcation. It added that the maps would be corrected if such errors were pointed out during public consultations. The Tribunal is scheduled to hear the matter on July 17. Email your feedback with name and address to MSID:: 121937674 413 |
New Indian Express
30-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Palani farmers hit sweet spot with lime, rake in better profit
DINDIGUL: Farmers in Palani and nearby areas in Dindigul district are increasingly turning to lemon cultivation, finding it more profitable and marketable than traditional crops like tomato, sapota and guava. They say lemons could be directly sold to retailers or wholesalers, bypassing commission agents or traders. Speaking to TNIE , B Raja, a farmer said, 'Lemon mostly grows in red soil, which is mostly prevalent in Palani and its surroundings. There are many varieties of lemon saplings - Rs 120 (3 years old), Rs 90 (1 year old), and PKM (Periyakulam variety) costing Rs 10 (2 months old). Around 80-90 saplings can be planted in one acre. The total cost of inputs including fertiliser and pesticide touch Rs 20,000 per acre. Each lemon tree, which lives for 6-10 years, yields around 1,000 to 2,000 lemons annually. The cost for plucking is Rs 500 per day, but if the farmer's family pluck it, the expense is reduced.' Speaking to TNIE , G Radhakrishnan another farmer said, 'The wastage is less in lemon farmland. If a lemon falls on the ground, it remains the same without decaying for more than three days. But for the guava, it isn't. A guava starts to decay, the moment it falls on the ground. A guava farmer could lose more than 40-60 boxes (1 box-25 kilograms) per year due to decay.' Besides, he mentioned that lemons are also procured by pickle factories and industries for a good price of Rs 90 per kg. According to the horticulture department, over 400 hectares of fresh plantations of lemon were noticed in Palani and Oddanchatram in 2024-25. Overall gross cropped areas in Dindigul have grown from 2,376 hectares in 2021-22 to 2,900 hectares in 2024-25. Tamil Nadu Farmers Protection Association (Dindigul) secretary K Vadivel said, 'Many times, the price doesn't fluctuate and we find farmers often choosing farm produce whose price is mostly stable. Just as white ants destroy coconut trees, guava plants also suffer from infections, making lemons a safer choice. An official from the Horticulture Department (Dindigul) said, 'Farmers switch from one crop to another if it is financially beneficial. Farmers in hilly areas prefer lemons to other crops in Palani and Oddanchatram taluks in Dindigul district and the overall crop pattern of the district remains largely unchanged.'
