COASTS TWO LAST

While Rs 227 crore would be spent on 480 km Orissa
coast, Rs 200 crore in West Bengal and Rs 300 crore in
Gujarat, Ramesh said.
Rs 120 crore would be utilised for demarcation of high
tide and low tide line, he said.
Orissa government's move to construct new ports and
signing of MoUs for the purpose also came in for criticism by
the minister who said no clearance had been given by the
Centre for these.
Besides, importance was being given for protection of
mangrove forest along the Orissa coast, he said.
For safeguarding the rights of the traditional marine
fishermen, a special Bill would come up in the next session of
Lok Sabha, the minister said adding funds from the World Bank
would also be utilised for livelihood programmes of marine
fishermen and similar other groups.
On encroachment in the brackish water Chilka lake and
elsewhere along Orissa coast, he said it was state
government's responsibility to remove illegal structures.
Ramesh said Chilka, Gahirmatha and Bhitarkanika have
been identified as eco-fragile areas along Orissa coast, while
talks were on with Chilka Development Authority (CDA) for
protection of the lake's eco-system.
Apart from senior officials of the Centre and Orissa
government, representatives of fishermen community also took
part in the public hearing. PTI