Belagavi: Minister for youth affairs and sports, Pramod Madhwaraj, blamed the union government for delay in allowing relaxations in Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules. He said that this delay is adversely affecting beach tourism plans in coastal districts of the state.

The minister pointed out that these relaxations have been extended to Goa and Kerala states, which had approached the centre with similar requests. He rued the fact that the department of environment and forests has not responded to the request favourably so far.

Madhwaraj, who was replying to a query raised by N A Harris during the question hour about the failure to develop beaches in the state in tune with Goa and Kerala, concurred with Lobo's view that visit by foreign tourists to New Mangalore Port has fallen on account of the failure to develop the area as it falls under the jurisdiction of the central government.