Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has urged the Centre not to implement a draft notification on River Regulation Zone (RRZ) issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Patnaik stated the concerns of his Government and the problems to be faced by Odisha. On the contrary, he sought a detailed discussion with all States covering all aspects of the proposed notification.
The draft notification seeks to declare river stretches and floodplain zones as river conservation zones and prohibits/regulates a large number of activities in these zones. The three zones along the river banks identified are Prohibited Activities Zone (RCZ-PA), Restricted Activities Zone (RCZ-RAI) and Regulated Activities Zone (RCZ-RAII).
Essential developmental activities like construction of jetties, repair and maintenance of roads, bridges, removal of sand from river bed, navigational facilities, erosion control measures, withdrawal of groundwater etc., construction of residential/institutional/ commercial buildings for schools, dispensaries, recreational facilities etc. are proposed to be governed under the new notification.
Approximately 1, 08,000 sqkm out of the State’s total area of about 1, 56,000 sqkm will be affected by the proposed notification. Such a notification will prevent progress of developmental activities in the State.
“In a federal structure, responsibilities and powers of the Centre and the State in the Union list and State list have been defined where water resources comes under the State subject. This notification of the Central Government will limit and restrict the powers of the State and create confusion since many of the activities come under the purview of State subjects. It appears that the proposed notification is non-implementable in its present form and will have severe anti- developmental consequences for Odisha,” the letter stated.