Lion Census, EIA Draft 2020,CRZ Rules,CVCA, Blue Flag Beaches

Coastal Regulation Zones- CRZ

Why in News-The four high-rise luxury apartment complexes in Maradu municipality in Kochi, which violated Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notifications, were demolished on January 11 and 12 following a Supreme Court order.

• 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. ( Remember 500 m )
• The coastal regulation zones have been declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change under the Environment Protection Act 1986.

(UPSC has asked  questions such as ‘Ecologically sensitive areas  is related to which Act in Prelims exam,so remember the related Acts)

• CRZ Rules are made by the Union Environment ministry, implementation is to be ensured by state governments through their Coastal Zone Management Authorities.
• Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification was first issued in 1991 by 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.
• Shailesh Nayak Committee– related to CRZ

Classifications of Coastal Zones under CRZ Notification 2011

• CRZ-I (ecologically sensitive areas like mangroves, coral reefs, biosphere reserves etc.).
  • 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;
    • Desalination plants;
    • Storage of non-hazardous cargo such as edible oil, fertilizers within notified ports;
• CRZ-II (Areas which are developed up to the shoreline and falling within the municipal limits; includes built-up area – villages and towns are that are already well established),
  • Buildings are permissible on the landward side of the hazardous line.
  • Other activities such as desalination plants are also permissible.
  • 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 metres 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, regasification of petroleum products, non-conventional energy sources and certain public facilities may be permitted in this zone.
  • Between 200-500 metres 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.
  • 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.
• 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.

CRZ Norms- 2019

The new CRZ norms, issued under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, aim to promote sustainable development based on scientific principles taking into account the natural hazards such as increasing sea levels due to global warming.

Two separate categories for CRZ-III (Rural) areas

CRZ-III A: The A category of CRZ-III areas are densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. Such areas have a No Development Zone (NDZ) of 50 meters from the High Tide Line (HTL) as against 200 meters from the High Tide Line stipulated in the CRZ Notification, 2011.

CRZ-III B – The B category of CRZ-III rural areas have population density of below 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. Such areas have a No Development Zone of 200 meters from the HTL.

Other Features of CRZ,2019 :

• Floor Space Index norms have been eased
• Tourism infrastructure permitted in coastal areas
• Coastal Regulation Zone clearances streamlined
• No Development Zone of 20 meters for all Islands close to the mainland coast, and for all backwater islands in the mainland.
  

Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCA)

Sundarban region of West Bengal and other ecologically sensitive areas identified as under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 such as Gulf of Khambat and Gulf of Kutchh in Gujarat, Achra-Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, Karwar and Coondapur in Karnataka, Vembanad in Kerala, Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu, Bhaitarkanika in Odisha and Krishna in Andhra Pradesh are treated as Critical Vulnerable Coastal Areas.

These Critical Vulnerable Coastal Areas will be managed with the involvement of coastal communities including fisher folk.