Panel suggests CRZ amendments to benefit coastal communities

Reclassification of pokkali fields may enable construction of houses in area

Hundreds of traditional coastal dwellers of Kerala could construct new dwelling units in their holdings close to pokkali fields if a proposal of the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) is accepted.

A five-member committee of the authority has recommended the reclassification of the pokkali fields to CRZ 3 from the existing CRZ 1 B. Once accepted, the No Development Zone (NDZ) of 100 metres in these areas would be reduced to 50 metres, paving the way for new constructions. However, the relaxation will be available only to ecosystem people.

The traditional brackish water paddy-shrimp farming system of the central and northern Kerala are known as pokkali and kaipad fields. Going by the official records, 3,542 ha is under pokkali farming in Kerala.