INTRODUCTION

• India, with over 7,000 kilometres of coastline, ranks 20th globally in terms of coastline length. To safeguard coastal ecology and conserve the environment, the Indian government introduced the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) in 1991.

• Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) in India are designated areas along the coastline with specific rules to protect the environment, promote sustainable development, and manage activities like construction and tourism to safeguard coastal ecosystems.

COASTAL REGULATION ZONE

• The coastal areas of seas, bays, creeks, rivers, and backwaters which get influenced by tides up to 500 m from the high tide line (HTL) and the land between the low tide line (LTL) and the high tide line have been declared as coastal regulation zone (CRZ) in 1991.

• The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change declared the Coastal Regulation Zones under the Environment Protection Act 1986 section 3. 

• CRZ Rules are formulated by the Union Environment Ministry, with their enforcement entrusted to state governments through Coastal Zone Management Authorities.

• Classification:

• CRZ-I: 

• Includes ecologically sensitive areas, where no construction is allowed except activities for atomic power plants, defence.

• Between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line in areas which are not ecologically sensitive, the following may be permitted:

• Exploration and extraction of natural gas

• Construction of basic amenities like schools, roads, etc. for traditional inhabitants living within the biosphere reserves

• Salt harvesting by solar evaporation of seawater

• Desalination plants

• Storage of non-hazardous cargo such as edible oil, fertilisers within notified ports

• 2019 Notification further divided CRZ-I into CRZ- I A and CRZ- I B. (See below)

• CRZ-II: 

• Includes designated urban areas that are substantially built up. Construction activities are allowed on the landward side only.

• CRZ-III: 

• Includes relatively undisturbed areas, mainly rural areas. No new construction of buildings is allowed in this zone except repairing of the existing ones. 

• However, constructions of dwelling units in the plot area lying between 200-500 m of the high tide line is allowed.

• CRZ 2018 Notification further classified it into CRZ-III A and CRZ-III B.

• CRZ-IV: 

• Includes the water area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 nautical miles seaward. 

• Except for fishing and related activities, all actions impugning on the sea and tidal water will be regulated in this zone.

• NDZ:

• It is the No Development Zone where no new construction is allowed except for the repairs of existing authorised structures. 

• Activities like agriculture, horticulture, gardens, pastures, parks, play fields, forestry and salt manufacture from sea water are permitted.

• It extends upto 200m from the HTL towards land in the CRZ III area. Here there is restriction 

• In the 2018 notification, NDZ was altered to 50m from HTL towards land in CRZ III A areas and 200m from HTL towards land in CRZ III B areas.

TIMELINE OF CRZ REGULATIONS: 

• First issued in 1991 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 with the mandate to take measures to protect and conserve our coastal environment.

• Shortcomings of CRZ 1991:

• Uniform regulations for the entire Indian coastline without taking into account the diversity in terms of biodiversity, demographic patterns, natural resources, etc.

• Laid no clear procedure for obtaining CRZ clearance.

• Post clearance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms were not laid out.

• Measures/rules to check pollution emanating from land-based activities were not included.

• Caused hardships to traditional communities living in ecologically sensitive coastal stretches (fishermen, slum dwellers, etc.).

• CRZ 2011 notification

• The CRZ 2011 notification took into account the issues of CRZ 1991.

• Objectives of CRZ 2011:

• To conserve and protect coastal stretches;

• To ensure livelihood security to the fishing & local communities living in the coastal areas;

• To promote development in a sustainable manner based on scientific principles, taking into account natural hazards and sea-level rise.

• CRZ 2018 notification 

• Based on the Shailesh Nayak committee's recommendations and feedback from coastal states and union territories, the CRZ 2018 notifications were issued.

• Provisions:

• Floor Space Index Norms Eased: The CRZ 2011 Notification froze the Floor Space Index (FSI) for CRZ-II (Urban) areas at 1991 levels. The CRZ 2018 Notification has lifted this freeze, allowing FSI adjustments for redevelopment to meet current needs.

• New Categories for densely populated rural areas: For CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have now been stipulated as below:

• CRZ-III A – These are densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometre as per the 2011 Census.

• Such areas will have a No Development Zone (NDZ) of 50 metres from the High Tide Line as against 200 metres from the High Tide Line stipulated in the CRZ Notification, 2011.

• CRZ-III B – Rural areas with a population density of below 2161 per square kilometre as per the 2011 Census. 

• Such areas shall continue to have an NDZ of 200 metres from the HTL.

• Tourism infrastructure in coastal areas: 

• Temporary tourism facilities such as toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water facilities, etc. have now been permitted in Beaches. However, a minimum distance of 10 m from HTL should be maintained for setting up of such facilities.

• CRZ Clearances streamlined: 

• Only such projects/activities, which are located in the CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) and CRZ IV (area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 Nautical Miles seaward) will be required to be cleared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.

• For the CRZ-II (urban) or CRZ III (rural) areas, the CRZ clearance will be considered at the state level by the Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA).

• No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 metres for Islands: 

• For islands close to the mainland coast and for all Backwater Islands in the mainland, an NDZ of 20 m has been stipulated.

• Pollution abatement: To address coastal pollution, treatment facilities are now permitted in CRZ-I B areas (between the Low Tide Line and High Tide Line), provided necessary safeguards are in place.

• Defence and strategic projects are exempted from regulations.

• CRZ 2019 Notification:

• CRZ 1 is further divided into:

• CRZ-I A: 

• It shall constitute the following ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) and the geomorphological features which play a role in maintaining the integrity of the coast viz.: 

• Mangroves (in case mangrove area is more than 1000 square metres, a buffer of 50 metres along the mangroves shall be provided and such area shall also constitute CRZ–I A)

• Corals and coral reefs, Sand dunes, Biologically active mudflats; 

• National parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats and other protected areas under the provisions of WildLife (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972), Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (69 of 1980) or Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 0f 1986), including Biosphere Reserves; 

• Salt marshes, Turtle nesting grounds, Horseshoe crabs’ habitats, Seagrass beds, Nesting grounds of birds; 

• Areas or structures of archaeological importance and heritage sites. 

• It allows “eco-tourism activities such as mangrove walks, tree huts, nature trails, etc” in eco-sensitive areas, demarcated as CRZ-IA. 

• Sea links, salt harvesting and desalination plants and roads on stilts are also allowed in CRZ-IA.

• CRZ-I B: The intertidal zone i.e. the area between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line shall constitute the CRZ-I B.  

• The controversial practice of land reclamation, which involves creating new land from oceans or lake beds and has significant impacts on coastal ecology, has been permitted in intertidal or CRZ-IB areas for the development of ports and sea links.

What is currently making headlines?

• Kerala ask for relaxation in norms:

• Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced that 66 grama panchayats in Kerala have been granted CRZ-II benefits, which have fewer restrictions and include areas within municipal limits. 

• The Department of Atomic Energy recommended restrictions in some areas. 

• Kerala designated 175 panchayats as Legally Designated Urban Areas and requested CRZ-II benefits for all. 

• The final draft of Kerala's Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for 10 coastal districts will be submitted to the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change after approval by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, Chennai.

Issues with CRZ Notifications

1. Complex and Ambiguous Regulations:

• CRZ regulations are often seen as complex and difficult to interpret, leading to confusion and non-compliance.

• Frequent amendments and overlapping jurisdictions between various authorities can create uncertainty.

2. Enforcement Challenges:

• Weak enforcement mechanisms and inadequate resources hinder effective implementation.

• Corruption and lack of accountability in regulatory bodies can exacerbate enforcement issues.

3. Conflict of Interest:

• There is often a conflict between development interests (such as tourism, real estate, and infrastructure projects) and environmental conservation.

• Pressure from commercial interests can lead to dilution of regulations.

4. Displacement of Local Communities:

• Strict regulations can affect the livelihoods of coastal communities, such as fishermen, by restricting their access to resources and traditional practices.

• Rehabilitation and compensation for displaced communities are often inadequate.

5. Environmental Degradation:

• Despite regulations, coastal areas continue to face issues like erosion, pollution, and habitat destruction due to illegal construction and non-compliance.

• Climate change and rising sea levels pose additional threats that are not fully addressed by existing CRZ norms.

6. Lack of Public Awareness and Participation:

• Local communities are often unaware of CRZ regulations and their implications.

• Limited public participation in the decision-making process can result in regulations that do not adequately reflect the needs and concerns of stakeholders.

Way Forward

1. Simplification and Clarification of Regulations:

• Simplify and clarify the CRZ rules to make them more understandable and accessible.

• Ensure that amendments are well-publicised and that stakeholders are adequately informed.

2. Strengthening Enforcement Mechanisms:

• Increase funding and resources for regulatory bodies to enhance enforcement capabilities.

• Implement stricter penalties for violations to deter non-compliance.

3. Balancing Development and Conservation:

• Adopt an integrated coastal zone management approach that balances development needs with environmental protection.

• Encourage sustainable tourism and eco-friendly development practices.

4. Protecting Local Communities:

• Ensure that CRZ regulations account for the socio-economic needs of local communities.

• Provide adequate compensation, rehabilitation, and alternative livelihood options for affected communities.

5. Enhancing Environmental Protection:

• Implement measures to address coastal erosion, pollution, and habitat destruction.

• Incorporate climate change adaptation strategies into CRZ regulations.

6. Increasing Public Awareness and Participation:

• Conduct awareness campaigns to educate local communities and stakeholders about CRZ regulations.

• Foster greater public participation in the regulatory process through consultations and community engagement initiatives.

  
  

  SHORT TAKE

  • Floor Space Index (FSI):

  • It refers to the ratio of the total built-up area (floor area) to the size of the plot of land on which a building stands. 

  • It is a critical parameter used to regulate construction density and intensity within CRZ areas, particularly in CRZ-II (Urban) zones.

  
  

CONCLUSION

Addressing these criticisms through effective strategies and collaboration with state governments can enhance CRZ regulations in India, promoting sustainable development and protecting coastal ecosystems and communities.

Tags:
Polity

Keywords:
COASTAL REGULATION ZONE ENVIRONMENT OCEAN LAND DEGRADATION