7 months ago
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The projected International Dugong Conservation Centre successful Thanjavur territory has raised interest among locals and biology activists, arsenic the tract is located wrong a No-Development Zone nether the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines.
Planned by the Forest Department, the centre volition beryllium built astatine Sarabendrarajanpattinam colony successful Pattukottai taluk. It falls wrong aggregate CRZs, including CRZ III (No-Development Zone).
As per an authoritative papers submitted arsenic portion of the CRZ application, the task covers a full country of astir 23,000 sq.m, and includes some probe and recreational facilities, specified arsenic an mentation centre, marine museum, open-air theatre, nutrition centre, children’s learning centre, mangrove walkways, eco tower, rehabilitation centre, and an eco-hub. The main gathering is planned to beryllium shaped similar a dugong.
In addition, the program besides includes a bridge, gazebo, eco-tower, and pathways. An offshore level has besides been projected for dugong rehabilitation, including a feeding platform and anchoring systems.
Although a conservation initiative, the quality of operation has raised interest implicit the imaginable ecological impact. K. Saravanan, coastal activist, pointed retired the irony of a task aimed astatine conserving an endangered taxon being constructed successful areas affluent successful seagrass, wherever improvement was explicitly prohibited.
Many of these structures are planned wrong ecologically delicate and protected areas specified arsenic seagrass beds, tidal rivers, and intertidal forests — zones wherever improvement is highly restricted oregon wholly prohibited nether the CRZ Notification, 2011. The task volition effect successful a imperishable alteration successful onshore usage and topography and is located successful a coastal country prone to cyclones and seasonal flooding, the papers said.
Urging authorities to cull CRZ clearance for the project, K. Bharathi, sportfishing assemblage person from Chennai, successful a ceremonial practice to the Director of Environment, said this alleged dugong conservation task was, successful reality, a tourism task and did not comply with the CRZ Notification.
An environmentalist, who wished to stay anonymous, said constructing a factual gathering offered small payment to dugongs, whose conservation depended connected protecting their earthy habitat. “The operation is planned adjacent a mangrove spot and adjacent to a stream mouth. These are areas wherever the CRZ Notification intelligibly prohibits construction. Calling it a conservation effort doesn’t marque it permissible,” helium contended.
Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary to the Departments of Environment, Climate Change and Forests, said the conservation-cum-research centre needed to beryllium located adjacent the dugong situation for it to service its intended purpose. “There are nary plans to disturb the situation oregon the dugongs. Since the task is focused connected conservation, it indispensable beryllium situated adjacent to the situation to facilitate probe and education. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose,” she said. “Special proviso successful the CRZ volition beryllium reviewed and approved by the Government of India. We volition determination guardant lone aft securing each indispensable clearances,” she added.
