Maharashtra Navnirman Sena President Raj Thackeray has appealed to South Indian states to unite against the North on the issue of implementation of the draft Coastal Management Zone.
According to Thackeray, north India has always looked down with contempt upon Maharashtra and if the draft notification of CMZ is implemented, development of Maharashtra and Mumbai in particular would be adversely affected.
Thackeray's fresh stand seeking unity of southern states against the North, comes after his stringent tirade against North Indians living in Mumbai.
In an article which appeared in the sunday supplement of Marathi daily Loksatta, Thackeray stressed that the draft, if implemented would hurt Mumbai and Maharashtra, the most.
According to Thackeray, considering the apathetic attitude of Northern Indian leaders towards Maharashtra, it was neccessary for all southern states to join hands, for the development of Mumbai.
Thackeray said, people from the North, who he said, have not seen the sea, will head the CRZ or the CMZ. In order to stop this, all states from the south need to join hands and start a campaign against CMZ.
He said that he would seek detailed information on the CMZ and convey his stand to the leaders of south Indian states.
Thackeray said that Goa and Kerala progressed despite CRZ being in place. But, north Indians create hurdles in any attempt to develop Maharashtra.
According to Raj, higher FSI is used for development of Mumbai. In case, the notification is implemented,granting additional FSI would become impossible. He agreed that it was neccessary to protect marine life and environment. "But too much of anything is bad,"he added.
Thackeray also pointed out that if Mumbai's civic development is stopped due to CMZ, it would affect the economy of the state and the country.
The CMZ notification seeks protection and sustainable development of the coastal stretches and marine environment through sustainable coastal zone management practices based on sound scientific principles, taking into account the vulnerability of the coast to natural hazards, sustainable livelihood, security for local communities, and conservation of ecologically and culturally significant coastal resources.
