With the highest number of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations being reported from Kochi, the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) will hold its special sitting in the district shortly. The State Authority is expected to meet by month-end. A joint session of the State Authority and the district coastal zone management committee has also been planned. The State Authority will issue guidelines and directions to the district authority to step up vigil against the CRZ violations. However, the Authority is yet to make up its mind on whether to receive complaints from general public on CRZ violations at the Ernakulam meeting. A decision on this aspect will be taken shortly, Authority sources said. Largest number of CRZ violations in the State are reported from Kochi, said A. Ramachandran, a KCZMA member. Several instances of CRZ violations have been reported from areas like Kadavanthra, Kundannoor and Mulavukad. The high land value and the development of large number of apartment complexes may be contributing to the high number of violations, he said. Incidentally, Dr. Ramachandran himself had highlighted several CRZ violations along the backwaters of Kochi including illegal reclamation of the inter-tidal zones along the Vallarpadom container terminal road. The Comptroller and Auditor General had highlighted 19 cases of gross CRZ violations by apartment complexes and individuals at Chilavannur. The sub-committees appointed by the authority had confirmed some instances of CRZ violations too. At the same time, local residents and traditional communities living in coastal villages including Mulavukad had been demanding relaxation in CRZ norms after experiencing difficulties in getting their applications for repair, renovation and construction of their residential buildings. Besides the highest number of violations, the largest number of applications seeking CRZ clearances is also received from Kochi. Around 600 applications seeking CRZ clearance, which have been processed, are pending with the Authorities.