Prepare zone management plans soon, NGT tells coastal States, Union Territories

  • January 13, 2024
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Prepare zone management plans soon, NGT tells coastal States, Union Territories

Subject : Environment

Section: Environmental laws

Context:

  • The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to ensure that coastal States and Union Territories prepare a Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) or the Island Coastal Regulation Zone Plan (ICRZP) as per the Coastal Regulation Zone notification, 2019, within a time­bound period.
  • Only three States – Odisha, Karnataka and Maharashtra – have formulated the CZMP/ ICRZP as per the notification. The  only Great Nicobar and Little Andaman Islands have approved the ICRZP.

About Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 

  • Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, issued the Coastal Regulation Zone notification for regulation of activities in the coastal area.
  • As per the notification, the coastal land up to 500m from the High Tide Line (HTL) and a stage of 100m along banks of creeks, 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, which are as follows:
    • CRZ I – Ecologically Sensitive Areas.
      • They lie between low and high tide line.
      • Exploration of natural gas and extraction of salt are permitted
    • CRZ II  – Shore Line Areas
      • The areas that have been developed up to or close to the shoreline.
      • Unauthorized structures are not allowed to construct in this zone.
    • CRZ III – Undisturbed Area
      • Rural and Urban localities which fall outside I and II.
      • Only certain activities related to agriculture even some public facilities are allowed in this zone.
    • CRZ IV – Territorial Area
      • An area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 Nautical Miles seaward.
      • Fishing and allied activities are permitted in this zone.
      • Solid waste should be let off in this zone.
National Green Tribunal

  • The National Green Tribunal has been established under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.
  • New Delhi is the Principal Place of Sitting of the Tribunal and Bhopal, Pune, Kolkata and Chennai shall be the other four places of sitting of the Tribunal.
  • NGT is mandated to make disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of the filing of the same.

What is the composition of NGT?

  • The Tribunal comprises the Chairperson, the Judicial Members, and Expert Members.
  • They shall hold office for a term of 5 years and are not eligible for reappointment.
  • The Chairperson is appointed by the Central Government in consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
  • A Selection Committee shall be formed by the central government to appoint the Judicial Members and Expert Members.
  • There are to be at least 10 and a maximum of 20 full-time Judicial members and Expert Members in the tribunal.

Powers & Jurisdiction 

  • Established for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources.
  • It has appellate jurisdiction to hear appeals as a Court.
  • The Tribunal is not bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
Environment Prepare zone management plans soon