British Deputy High Commissioner to Karnataka -Richard Hyde to visit Karwar on March 7

British Deputy High Commissioner to Karnataka, Richard Hyde, will visit Karwar on March 7, according to a press release from the British Deputy High Commission, Bangalore. He will meet senior government officials and those well-known in media and business circles and prominent citizens in Uttara Kannada.

According to the release, he will hold discussions on regional issues, political and social aspects of Karwar in general and Uttara Kannada in particular. This is to improve his understanding of the region's social, economic, cultural and political trends and developments. Officials of the British Deputy High Commission in Bangalore have visited Karwar and completed the formalities. They met the Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and the zilla panchayat Chief Executive Officer of Uttara Kannada and held discussions about the visit of Mr. Hyde.


News in SahilOnline and The Hindu


Earlier in The Hindu and in Times of India - British Deputy High Commission established at Bangalore

Bangalore: The city now has a new British Deputy High Commission which was inaugurated by Governor H.R. Bhardwaj on Thursday. British Deputy High Commissioner Richard Hyde told press-persons here that Bangalore and Karnataka, more widely, have greatly increased in importance to the U.K. “We have retained a strong trade relationship, but we also now enjoy wider and deeper academic and cultural links. The political economy of Karnataka is of tremendous importance to the wider bilateral relationship, and the State is well represented in the Union Government. A key part of my role will be to engage with political leaders and commentators of every persuasion throughout the State,” he said.

The U.K. had recognised the importance of Bangalore long before the others and invested in developing a strong commercial relationship. “But the wider political economy, culture, academic, science and technology communities in Karnataka are the key to Britain’s relationship with India. In the coming months, the British Deputy High Commission will focus on engaging with these groups,” he added.

About the High Commission’s Climate Change Programme in India, he said that the programme was focussed on promotion of a “low carbon, high growth” economy. “This includes supporting development and expansion of renewable energy, energy efficiency and enabling policies. We are assessing the feasibility of promotion of renewable energy in several States, including Karnataka. We hope to work with civil society organisations, think tanks and businesses to look at ways of using industrial innovation to mitigate the impact of climate change,” he said.

The British Deputy High Commission, he said, would organise more outreach events in cities across the State, including Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad and Mangalore. “We will be holding a British event in Mangalore in October, the first of what I hope will be many outreach events,” he added.

Later, the Governor welcomed the opening of the new Deputy High Commission. “The relations between India and the United Kingdom are historic. We are similar on various counts. For example, our legal system and civil services are gifts of the British. We also speak the same language,” he said.

Richard Hyde, British deputy high commissioner to Karnataka, visited Mangalore and met officials of the deputy commissioner’s (DC) office on Wednesday March 25 2009. - Daiji World

Uttara Kannada is ideal for tourism and health projects

Uttara Kannada district has several scenic spots that draw tourists. There is good scope for investors to invest money on tourism and health-related projects, said Richard Hyde, Deputy British High Commissioner to India. He was speaking to media persons on Sunday night during his visit to Karwar to explore the business opportunity in Uttara Kannada. 
- Sahilonline.org

Another Govt Imposed Project on Karwar - with a Happy Ending...

Fishermen on Monday owed to oppose handing over of the beach land to the Coast Guard and construction of a helipad there. They declared that they would launch a struggle to protect their right to use the seashore. They took out a silent procession in Karwar under the banner of Harikantra-Karvi Fisheries Cooperative Society. In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, the fishermen said that they had been carrying out fishing activities for generations on the Karwar beach. The beach was being used to dry fish, and keep their boats and nets. The memorandum referred to the report of Swaminathan committee which favoured strict enforcement of CRZ rules. Even the Supreme Court had directed the Government to provide protection to people who lived in the forests and on the beaches and banks of rivers, it said.
http://www.sahilonline.org/english/news.php?cid=1&nid=10071

Several social and fishermen organizations have threatened to launch an agitation against handing over part of Karwar beach to the Indian Coast Guard. Members of 10 organizations on Friday said when thousands of acres of unused acquired land are with the defence ministry in Karwar, what was the necessity of handing over civilian area, that too without taking Karwar residents into confidence? They demanded that the order be cancelled immediately.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Karwar-fishermen-up-in-arms/articleshow/7288025.cms


Members of the fishermen community on Monday took out a huge procession in Karwar to protest against the construction of the Coast Guard office and helipad on Karwar beach. Fishermen under the banner of Harikantra Karvi Fisheries Co-operative Society began their silent protest march from Mitra Samaj ground and culminated at deputy commissioner's office. The protesters also wore a black ribbon as a mark of protest. In a memorandum to the deputy commissioner, the fishermen said they have been conducting traditional fishing activities for generations at the Karwar beach. Apart from fishing activities, the beach is used to park boats and store their nets. Most of the fishermen use the beach to dry their fish before selling it, they said. They said some vested interests were creating one problem or the other to the community by bringing new projects to the beaches and opposed the move of the district administration, which had sanctioned a part of the beach land to some private companies and the Coast Guard. The memorandum cited the report of Swaminathan Committee which had demanded the strict enforcement of the CRZ rules. Even the Supreme Court in its judgment in 2000, had directed the government to provide protection to the people who live in forests and near the sea and beaches and on the banks of the rivers, thereby protecting the bio-diversity and natural resources. The fishermen `alleged' that by handing over 16 acres of the beach to the Coast Guard, the fishermen community will be left in the lurch. The Coast Guard has put up the boards on the beach prohibiting the entry of the people on the land and has violated the fundamental rights of the fishermen, the memorandum said. Deputy commissioner B N Krishnaiah received the memorandum and assured them that he would take the issue to the notice of the government. Fishermen leaders Gaja Surangekar, Prasad Karwarkar, P M Tandel and Ravindra Pawar addressed the protesters.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Fishermen-hold-protest-against-land-allotment/articleshow/7356136.cms


Indian government notifies new coastal regulation zone

In a move that could protect the livelihood of seven million fishing families, promote economic activity in the coastal region and preserve coastal ecology, the Ministry of Environment and Forest notified the Coastal Regulation Zone notification, 2011. The new notification replaces CRZ 1991. The minister for environment and forests, Mr Jairam Ramesh said that “In the latest notification the ‘no development zone' is being reduced from 200 meters from the high tide line to 100 meters only to meet the increased demands of housing of fishing and other traditional coastal communities. This is one of the major differences between CRZ 2011 and CRZ 1991.” Responding to a question, the minister said that any economic activity including power plants, ports and industrial enterprises could be permitted in the coastal area. He said that “India must get used to power plants being located in water areas. They require imported coal, gas and even uranium … all this necessitates that power plants be allowed in water areas.” Economic activity will, however, not be allowed in the no development zone in the high tide line. The new CRZ has special provision for Goa, Kerala, Greater Mumbai and critically vulnerable coastal areas such as Karwar and Kundapur in Karnataka, Vembanad in Kerala, Coringa, East Godavari and Krishna Delta in Andhra Pradesh and Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu among others. For the first time a separate draft island protection zone notification has been issued for protection of islands of Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep. Refuting charges that the latest CRZ Act was meant to benefit anyone, the Minister said that “violations of CRZ 1991 are not being condoned. What happened in Adarsh (society in Mumbai) and others will continue to be dealt with.” The Minister said that the Ministry will next week issue directives to Coastal Zone Management Authority in the various States and Union Territories to identify all CRZ violations within the next four months and initiate necessary action within four months thereafter. Mr Ramesh also announced that the Ministry was considering setting up of a River Regulation Zone to ensure that river beds are not destroyed by construction activity.

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/Indian_government_notifies_new_coastal_regulation_zone/185789.html



India’s 7,500km-long coastline will be governed by a new coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification from Friday that seeks to balance the interests of fishing communities and business. Jairam Ramesh, minister for environment and forests, said the new notification will reconcile livelihoods with coastal ecology and the promotion of economic activity. In recent months, Ramesh has been in conflict with various ministries and industry over his strict implementation of environmental laws. He said the CRZ notification 2011 demonstrates a better balance between the environment and development.


http://www.livemint.com/2011/01/07222258/Coast-gets-new-code.html?atype=tp

Under the new guidelines, the entire coastline has been divided into four zones.

In zone I, which are ecologically sensitive areas such as mangrove areas of Sunderbans or turtle nesting sites, horse shoe crabs habitats and nesting grounds of birds no development activity will be allowed.

The zone II, where development has taken place close to the coasts, repair or reconstruction of old buildings and construction on landward side of existing roads will be allowed.

The third zone would be up to 200 meters of high tide line, where no new development will be allowed, except fishermen, who will be allowed development up to 100 meters of the high tide line. Repair of old structures and construction public utility services will be allowed. The zone also includes area between 200 to 500 meters of high tide line where new regulated development will be allowed.

The fourth zone would be the areas relatively undisturbed, which does not fall in zone I or II, and are mostly in rural areas. Here, all activities impugning on the area and tidal influenced water bodies will be regulated except those necessary for fishermen to carry on their traditional work.

However, the new regulations provide relaxation to special areas such as Goa, Kerala and Greater Mumbai, where environment protection has to be balanced with existing development. Here construction of roads and repair or reconstruction of old buildings will be allowed. The development works will be carried out as per town planning regulations. The state coastal zone management authorities will be required to development coastal zone management plans for these areas.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Coastal-regulations-devised/Article1-647638.aspx


Coast Guard removes board from Karwar beach - The Hindu

Bowing to pressure and agitation by fishermen, the Coast Guard on Tuesday removed the signboards put up by it on the Karwar beach.

The Coast Guard had a few days ago put up signboards on the Karwar beach, declaring that the land belonged to the Defence Department and the area was prohibited for the general public. This had kicked up a row with the public protesting against the intrusion of the Defence establishment in a civilian area. The Coast Guard had now clarified that it had availed the land on the beach legally and it would not create any problems for the public and fishermen who used the beaches. Meanwhile, some miscreants had defaced the signboards by painting it black. On Monday, the fishermen in Karwar took out a procession against the taking over of the beach by the Coast Guard authorities. The Uttara Kannada district administration had reportedly informed the Coast Guard to go slow on the issue, as public agitation and law and order problems were expected. Although the boards were removed, it was not clear whether the Coast Guard would change its idea of building the office in Karwar. Meanwhile, in a press release, the Coast Guard clarified that providing protection to fishermen and providing assistance to them at sea while in distress and to preserve and protect the maritime environment were all its duties. For fulfilling these duties, Coast Guard needs land. The Cost Guard clarified that the Rabindranath Tagore Beach did not fall under the 9.36 acres of land allotted to it by the Government. It had no plans to impinge upon the rights of the local fishermen. The presence of Coast Guard Station would cause no hindrance to the normal activities of the public on the beach. The Coast Guard Station in Mangalore was situated along the Panambur beach and Coast Guard had never caused any interruptions to fishermen or the public. Most stations of the Coast Guard functioned alongside fishing harbours or on beaches since it was the primary duty of Coast Guard to safeguard property and life at sea. It said the fishermen of Karwar need not worry about losing their livelihoods because of setting up of Coast Guard station. The beach would be out of Coast Guard's purview of operations since Coast Guard ships and boats would be berthed at Naval harbour and Karwar Port. The presence of Coast Guard Station near the fishing area or the beach would be highly helpful to the fishermen community and also to the general public in terms of coastal security.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/26/stories/2011012657180300.htm

Coast Guard cautions people against trespassing near Karwar beach Land transfer

Coast Guard cautions people against trespassing near Karwar beach Land transfer

The action of the Uttara Kannada district administration of handing over the middle part of the Karwar beach to the Defence department has kicked up a new controversy. The Defence department has put up a board restricting entry to the beach.

Fourteen acres of revenue land on Karwar beach was handed over to the Coast Guard to build an office there, said K.. Narasimhamurthy, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada.

What surprised people was the secrecy maintained by the Revenue Department officials on the whole process, said Rajesh Nayak, president of the Karwar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit. After acquisition of the major part of the beaches in Karwar for the Seabird project, the people of Karwar were left with a small stretch of the beach. The Revenue Department officials should have consulted the public, fishermen and the social and political organisations before handing it over. What was the reason for secrecy that they maintained in the whole deal, said Mr. Nayak. Gaja Surangekar, a fishermen leader, said the district administration had cheated the fishermen who had been using the beaches for fishing for centuries. He said that the people came to know about the transfer of land only on Tuesday when the signboards were put up. “We will launch an agitation and never allow them to snatch our right to use the sea shore,” he said.

Ratan Durgekar, a morning jogger on the beach, criticised the officials of the district administration. He said when thousands of acres of land acquired for project Seabird still remained unused in Karwar, what was the necessity to hand over a new piece of land in the civilian area to the Defence department? He said the people living around the Seabird project area faced several restrictions. A Defence office in civilian area would create more problems for the citizens of Karwar. The Tourism Department was showcasing Karwar beach to attract tourists. About Rs. 5 crore project was prepared by the district administration itself to develop the beach. Officials of the National Highway Department, who worked on the four-lanes highway that passed through the same area were unaware of land transfer. The area where the signboard was put by the Coast Guard covered forestland.

A senior Forest Department official pleaded his ignorance about this. He said that part of land on the beach belonged to the Forest Department and survey no. 108 on the beach was a forest as per records.

The projects like “green wall” on Karwar beach was taken up by the Forest Department to stop the sea erosion, sea breeze and sand accumulation on the road. Now the Defence area in forestland might create problems to implement these projects, he said.

Many beach lovers, environmentalists and fishermen organisations have threatened to launch agitation against the district administration for handing over the beach area to the Coast Guard.