At long last, the Goa government has decided to oppose the Coastal Zone Management (CMZ) draft notification of the central government. The last date for filing objections to the draft is 21 September, and we hope that the government sends its view forthwith, so that it reaches New Delhi in time. The new CMZ proposal, which is based on a report prepared by a committee headed by eminent scientist M S Swaminathan, proposes to do away with the blanket 200-metre and 500-metre bans on construction under the present Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules, and instead set rules according to terrain, geology, etc, which may vary from place to place. No minimum setback is prescribed under the new regulations. This has given rise to very justified fears that the entire exercise is aimed at overturning the present regulations and allowing the hospitality industry to build hotels and resorts right on the beach. This will not only displace the traditional fishing community, which even now is disadvantaged by some very quixotic provisions in the present CRZ rules, but lead to a virtual concretisation of the coast in tourist areas. The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI), the apex trade body of India