chennai the union ministry of environment has approved the draft coastal regulation zone notification sent by tamil nadu allowing construction up to 50m of the sea and temporary structures 10m from it reacting to this notification fishermen association members and activists said the new notification will allow developmental activities along the coast ignoring the signs of climate change that is causing a rise in sea levels similarly buildings along the coast which were considered unauthorized until now will be regularized under the new rulethe draft notification prepared by the state environment department was vetted by the national centre for sustainable coastal management and sent to the ministry last july the ministry had given 60 days to stakeholders to record their comments and express opinions last friday the ministry approved the states draft proposal south indian fishermen association president k bharathi said the fishermen were never allowed to build any facilities on the shore a group of fishermen visited the coastline from ennore to akkarai and identified more than 800 buildings that were constructed on the no development zone they have lodged complaints with various government agencies to remove such illegal structures however no action has been taken against these buildings the new notification has provisions to regularize such illegal buildings he said fisherman along the coast across the state who operate from shore fronts could be forced to move their boats or fishing gear and nets if private properties take over activist nityanand jayaram said the notification is a bonanza for real estate sharks and sounds a deathknell for the fisherfolks the notification is a perfect recipe for natural disaster especially when the climate is changing and sea levels are rising