Hubballi: Concerns have heightened among fishermen in Kasarkod Tonka, Honnavar taluk, Uttara Kannada district, as the Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority (KSCZMA)-approved Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) granted permission to pave a 2.1 km rough road adjacent to the nesting grounds of the critically endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle. The approval comes in the context of developing connectivity for a proposed private port in the village.
Despite objections from subject experts during the virtual 43rd meeting, the 10-member committee, consisting of seven government officials and three subject experts, gave the green light to the project within the notified port limits, where the No Development Zone (NDZ) rule, according to the CRZ notification of 2011, does not apply.
The KSCZMA rejected a proposal for a four-lane road connecting the port to National Highway 66, citing its passage through the CRZ-1A area. Marine biologist and activist Prakash Mesta expressed concern, pointing to the asphalt work on the rough road as an indication that port construction is imminent.
Mesta criticized the company for exploiting loopholes to secure an extension of environmental clearance (EC), despite the National Green Tribunal’s directive for a new EC. He questioned the need for a new port when existing ones operate well below capacity within a 200 km range.
Local fishermen have been legally contesting the establishment of a private port by Honnavar Port Private Limited, fearing adverse effects on ecologically sensitive areas like Sharavathi estuaries and Kasakod beach, crucial for Olive Ridley sea turtles. Scientist M D Subash Chandra, a KSCZMA member, highlighted objections from experts, emphasizing potential damage to ecologically sensitive zones.
KSCZMA Member Secretary R Gokul defended the decision, stating that the private company obtained all necessary permissions in 2012 for the port project. He cautioned against denying permission for the asphalted road, citing potential arbitration and significant financial repercussions for the government.
The controversy underscores the delicate balance between development and environmental conservation, particularly in regions crucial for the preservation of endangered species.
