NEW DELHI, May 2: The Ministry of Agriculture has resurrected the Aquaculture Authority Bill (AAB) which is to be taken up during the budget session of Parliament. The Bill comes after the Supreme Court's critical order on acquaculture in coastal areas.Speaking to The Indian Express, Agriculture Minister Som Pal said that an appropriate authority to regulate aquaculture was necessary. He claimed that the government would ensure that ``rights of traditional fishermen are not jeopardised in any manner''.Som Pal said the bill would reflect the Supreme Court's observations. It would not allow any activity within 200 metres of the high tide line (HTL). Between 200 and 500 metre of HTL, there would be ``controlled activity governed by stringent rules as per the Supreme Court ruling,'' Som Pal said. It would also regulate the number of farms in each region as well as their water use and discharge.The bill stipulates that clearance for constructing shrimp farms would be made easier and quicker, withapplications decided within 45 days. ``If no decision is taken in 45 days, the proposal will get automatic clearance,'' Som Pal said.The bill, prepared last year, proposes to establish an authority that will monitor and regulate the extremely profitable business venture with marine exports worth Rs 4,000 crore in 1996-97.Environmental groups had gone to the Supreme Court alleging that uncontrolled shrimp farming threatened fishing communities. The court, in its December 1996 order, asked the government to demolish shrimp farms close to the coast.The government, through its Marine Promotion and Development Agency (MPEDA), and industry has since filed review petitions in the Supreme Court and the matter is under consideration.Meanwhile, the government has decided to introduce the bill in order to ``safeguard the shrimp-farming activity and fishermen's rights''. The writ by the government focused on the argument that intensive shrimp farming is not an industry but part of agriculture. Industrialactivity is banned close to the coast under the Coastal Regulation Zone. The second writ was brought forward by the aquaculture promoters arguing that the fundamental rights of the industrialists is being violated by the closure of shrimp farms.The National Committee Against Coastal Aquaculture (NACACIA) has condemned this renewed attempt to reactivate the Bill which they say will negate the CRZ Regulation.
