Coastal Regulation Zone - Burning Issues

Table of Contents

The news

Four residential complexes in the Maradu neighbourhood of Kochi in Kerala were razed through controlled implosion on 11 and 12 January 2020.
The Supreme Court had ordered the demolition of these illegal waterfront apartment complexes for violating Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.

What exactly is a ‘coast’?

The coastal zone is a transitionarea between marine and territorial zones.
It includes shore ecosystems, wetland ecosystems, mangrove ecosystems, mudflat ecosystems, sea grass ecosystems, salt marsh ecosystems and seaweed ecosystems.
India has a coast line of 7516 km.

Threats to the coastal zones

Due to continuous onslaught on the coastal areas, the extent of mangroves, coral reefs and fish breeding gets diminished adversely.
This has been impacting the livelihood of 200 million people who live along the 7,516 kilometre-long coastline of our country.
4,800 billion tonnes domestic waste and 65 million tonnes solid waste are dumped annually in the sea.

What did the Govt do to protect coastal zones?

Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification was issued in 1991 under the Environmental Protection Act, 1986, by the Ministry of Environment and Forest to regulate activities in coastal areas of India.
CRZ Rules govern human and industrial activity close to the coastline, in order to protect the fragile ecosystems near the sea

Definition of CRZ

CRZ consists of coastal land up to 500 metres from the High Tide Line (HTL) and a stage of 100 metres along the banks of creeks, estuaries, backwater and rivers where tidal fluctuations occur.

CRZ rules were brought in 1991 but multiple changes were initiated in 20 years
Major changes brought again in 2011 and 2018
They sought to restrict certain kinds of activities, like large constructions, setting up of new industries, storage or disposal of hazardous material, mining, or reclamation and bunding, within a certain distance from the coastline

The Committees

The new notification was issued in 2011 based on the recommendations made by the committee chaired by Dr M S Swaminathan on coastal regulation.
2018 Rules – Shailesh Nayak Committee held wide ranging consultations with State Governments and other stakeholders and submitted its recommendations in 2015

Classification of coastal zones

CRZ-I (ecologically sensitive areas likes mangroves, coral reefs, biosphere reserves etc.),
CRZ-II (built-up area – villages and towns are that are already well established),
CRZ-III (Rural and urban areas that are not substantially developed), and
CRZ-IV (water areas up to the territorial waters and the tidal influenced water bodies).
A separate draft Island Protection Zone Notification has been issued for protection of the islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The CRZ notification 2011 enshrines that concept of a Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP).
It will be prepared with the fullest involvement and participation of local communities.

CRZ-I

Ecologically sensitive areas and the morphological features that play a primary role in maintaining the integrity of the coast.

Mangroves, Corals and coral reefs;
Sand Dunes, Mudflats which are biologically active;
National parks and other protected areas including Biosphere Reserves encompassing;
Salt Marshes;
Turtle nesting grounds;
Sea grass beds;
Nesting grounds of birds;
Areas or structures of archaeological importance and heritage sites.
The area between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line.

Activities permissible in CRZ-I

No new construction shall be permitted in CRZ-I except
Projects relating to the Department of Atomic Energy;
• Construction of trans-harbour sea link and roads without affecting
the tidal flow of water, between LTL and HTL. Etc.
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.

CRZ-II

Areas which are developed up to the shoreline and falling within municipal limits.
Activities permissible in CRZ-II
Buildings are permissible on the landward side of the hazardous line.
• Some construction is permitted only as per guidelines specified by the notification.

CRZ-III

Areas that are relatively undisturbed and do not fall under either in Category I or II and also include rural and urban areas that are not substantially developed.
Between 0-200 meters from HTL is a No Development Zone where no construction shall be
permitted.
Only certain activities relating to agriculture, forestry, projects of Department of Atomic Energy, mining of rare minerals, salt manufacture, reclassification of petroleum products, non-conventional.
energy sources and certain public facilities may be permitted in this zone.
Between 200-500 meters of HTL, those permitted in 0-200 metres zone, construction of houses for local communities and tourism projects are permissible

CRZ-IV

The aquatic area from low tide line up to territorial limits is classified as CRZ-IV
including the area of the tidal influenced water body.
Activities permissible in CRZ-IV
There is no restriction on the traditional fishing undertaken by local
communities.
• No untreated sewage or solid waste shall be let off or dumped in these areas.

Changes in CRZ 2018

Tourism infrastructure for basic amenities to be promoted:
Temporary tourism facilities such as shacks, toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water facilities etc. have now been permitted on Beaches.
Such temporary tourism facilities are also now permissible in the “No Development Zone” (NDZ) of the CRZ-III areas
However, a minimum distance of 10 m from HTL should be maintained for setting up of such facilities.
For the so-called CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have been stipulated.
CRZ-IIIA – In the densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2,161 per sq km as per the 2011 Census, the no-development zone is now 50 m from the high-tide level, as against the 200 m stipulated earlier.
CRZ-IIIB – In the rural areas with population density below 2,161 per sq km a no-development zone extending up to 200 m from the high-tide line.
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) shall be dealt with for CRZ clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
The powers for clearances with respect to CRZ-II and III have been delegated at the State level with necessary guidance.
A No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters has been stipulated for all Islands
For islands close to the main land coast and for all Backwater Islands in the main land, in wake of space limitations and unique geography of such regions, bringing uniformity in treatment of such regions, NDZ of 20 m has been stipulated.
All Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded special importance –
Specific guidelines related to their conservation and management plans have been drawn up as a part of the CRZ Notification.
Pollution abatement has been accorded special focus –
In order to address pollution in Coastal areas treatment facilities have been made permissible activities in CRZ-I B area subject to necessary safeguards.
Defence and strategic projects have been accorded necessary dispensation.