Chellanam residents fear more KCZMA restrictions

Draft coastal protection plan threatens the very existence of a few local bodies, they say

Residents of the coastal village of Chellanam have expressed concern at what they feel is an attempt by the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) to possibly impose more severe restrictions on coastal residents. Speaking for coastal residents, Paschima Kochi Theerasamrakshana Samiti spokesman T.A. Dalfin said a draft of the coastal protection plan for Ernakulam district had been issued on April 22, seeking reactions and suggestions from “stakeholders” within a fortnight of the draft being brought out. Mr. Dalfin said that the draft itself was around 130 pages long, and that coastal residents were not aware of the draft plan. His concern is that not enough time had been given to them to be heard.