Kochi: Centre was negotiating with World Bank
a Rs 1,200 crore integrated coastal zone management project,
Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday said.
"Rs 1,200 crore project over the next five years is a large
sum of money. We are hoping to get World Bank approval by this
June," he told reporters here.
Earlier, speaking at a public consultation with fishermen
and local communities on Coastal Regulation Zone, Ramesh said
as part of the project, satellite mapping of violations of the
CRZ norms would be undertaken.
Such mapping had already been done in Gujarat and parts of
Tamil Nadu and Goa, he added.
Out of the Rs 1,200 crore, roughly Rs 200 crores would be
spent in West Bengal in the Sunderban region, he said.
Stating that the West Bengal Chief Minister had not raised
any objection to World Bank assistance, he, however, said it
would be a big issue in Kerala. "Comrades in West Bengal have
been little more practical and pragmatic," he said in a
lighter vein.
Besides West Bengal, Rs 300 crore will be spent on Gujarat
coast, Rs 200 crore in Orissa and Rs 100 crore in Tamil Nadu.
Kerala was not part of the project, but if the state
government was interested it could be included in the project,
he said.
PTI
First Published: Monday, February 08, 2010, 20:57