CRZ Rule Eased For Blue Flag Beaches – Economics – Free PDF Download

CURRENT AFFAIR

• Recently, the Ministry of Environment and Forest has relaxed Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules.
• CRZ rules restrict construction near beaches.
• Relaxation in the rules will allow States to construct infrastructure and enable the beaches to receive ‘Blue  Flag’ certification.

EXAM PERSPECTIVE

• GS Paper 2

1. Government policies and interventions
2. Issues relating to development

• GS Paper 3

1. Infrastructure
2. Conservation

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Ministry selected 13 beaches in India for the Blue Flag certificate in 2019.
• India’s CRZ laws do not allow the construction of infrastructure on beaches and islands.
• However, the Blue Flag certification requires beaches to create infrastructures like portable toilet blocks,  greywater treatment plants, a solar power plant,  seating facilities, CCTV surveillance, etc.
• The government notified that construction activities and facilities shall be permitted in the CRZs, including  Islands, for the purpose of Blue Flag Certification in
• However, these activities are subject to maintaining a minimum distance of 10 meters from the High Tide  Line (HTL).

High Tide Line

• HTL means the line on the land up to which the highest water line reaches during the spring tide.
• Low Tide Line: Similarly, it means the line on the land up to which the lowest water line reaches during the  spring tide.

Spring tides

• When the sun, the moon and the earth are in a straight line, the height of the tide will be higher.
• These are called spring tides and they occur twice a month, one on full moon period and another during  new moon period.
• The position of both the sun and the moon in relation to the earth has direct bearing on tide height.

Blue Flag Certification

• It is an international recognition conferred on beaches that meet certain criteria of cleanliness and  environmental propriety.
• The Blue Flag Programme was started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987  and in areas outside Europe since 2001 when South  Africa joined.
• The Blue Flag Programme is run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) which is an  international, non-governmental, non-profit

CRITERIA

• The certification is accorded by the Denmark-based Foundation for Environment Education, with 33  stringent criteria under four major heads for the  beaches,
• Environmental Education and Information
• Bathing Water Quality
• Environment Management and Conservation
• Safety and Services
• Spain tops the list with 566 such beaches; Greece and France follow with 515 and 395 Blue Flag beaches,

Foundation for Environmental  Education (FEE)

• FEE is a non-profit non-governmental organisation with member organisations in 48 countries as of June
• FEE aims to promote sustainable development through environmental education. The education can  be in the form of formal school education, training of  staff and general awareness raising.
• It is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

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