COASTAL REGULATION ZONE - ENVIRONMENT
News:
Union Environment Ministry to decide on final approval for Kalaignar Pen
Monument on April 17
What's in the news?
● The
final clearance for the proposed pen memorial for former Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi
will be decided by the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on Monday.
Key takeaways:
● The
14-member EAC is to convene for its 325th meeting to discuss projects requiring
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance.
● The
agenda includes the proposal for the construction of ‘Muthamizh Arignar
Dr.Kalaignar Pen Monument’ in the Bay of Bengal, off the Marina coast, submitted
by the State’s Public Works Department (PWD).
● The
2.11-acre monument, comprising a pen pedestal, a pedestrian walkway, a lattice
bridge and an underground museum, requires CRZ clearance as it falls in the CRZ
IV(A), CRZ I(A) and CRZ II areas.
● The
PWD recently sent a proposal for environmental clearance for the pen memorial
after it was approved by the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority
(TNSCZMA).
Coastal Regulation Zone:
● Under
the section 3 of Environment Protection
Act, 1986 of India, Coastal Regulation Zone notification was issued in 1991
for the first time.
● The
coastal land up to 500 m from the High
Tide Line (HTL) and a stage of 100 m along banks of creeks, lagoons, estuaries,
backwater and rivers subject to tidal fluctuations, is called the Coastal
Regulation Zone (CRZ).
CRZ
along the country has been placed in four categories:
● CRZ-I:
These are ecologically sensitive areas, these are essential in maintaining the
ecosystem of the coast. They lie between
low and high tide lines. Exploration of natural gas and extraction of salt
are permitted.
● CRZ-II:
These areas are urban areas located in
the coastal areas.
● CRZ-III:
Rural and urban localities which fall outside the 1 and 2. Only certain
activities related to agriculture and even some public facilities are allowed
in this zone.
○ CRZ-III A
– These are densely populated rural
areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometer as per 2011
Census. Such areas shall have a No Development Zone (NDZ) of 50 meters from the
High-tide level (HTL) as against 200 meters from the High Tide Line stipulated
in the CRZ Notification, 2011 since such areas have similar characteristics as
urban areas.
○ CRZ-III B
– Rural areas with population density of
below 2161 per square kilometer as per 2011 Census. Such areas shall
continue to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the High-tide level (HTL).
● CRZ-IV:
This lies in the aquatic area up to
territorial limits. Fishing and allied activities are permitted in this
zone. No Solid waste should be let off in this zone.
No Development Zone:
● 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.
Permitted activities:
● Tourism infrastructure
like shacks, toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water facilities, etc.
permitted in coastal areas.
● The
new norms permit temporary tourism
facilities such in beaches.
● To
address pollution in Coastal areas, the treatment facilities have been made
permissible in CRZ-I B area subject to necessary safeguards.
● Defense
and strategic projects are exempted from regulations.
Implementation:
The
three institutions responsible for
the implementation of the CRZ are:
● The
National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) at the Centre.
● The
State/Union Territory Coastal Zone Management Authorities (SCZMAs/UTCZMAs) in
every coastal State and Union Territory.
● The
District Level Committees (DLCs) in every district that has a coastal stretch
and where the CRZ notification is applicable.