COASTAL ZONE REGULATIONS

Subject: Environment

Context: Central government has allowed various exemptions for beaches from CRZ Norms to ease blue flag certification for Indian Beaches.

Concept:

• 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.
• The coastal regulation zones have been declared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate change under the Environment Protection Act 1986.
• While the CRZ Rules are made by the Union environment ministry, implementation is to be ensured by state governments through their Coastal Zone Management Authorities.

HTL and LTL

• 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.

Classifications of Coastal Zones under CRZ Notification 2011

• CRZ-I (ecologically sensitive areas like mangroves, coral reefs, biosphere reserves etc.).
• 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).
• 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.
• 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.

Based on the recommendations of Shailesh Nayak committee, the suggestions were given by the coastal states and union territories, and the CRZ 2019 rules were notified.

• CRZ 3 areas (land areas that are relatively undisturbed and those which do not fall under CRZ 2) are divided into CRZ 3A and 3B based on the density of population.
• Areas with a population density of 2,161 persons or more per sq km (2011 census), will become CRZ 3A.
• All other CRZ 3 areas with population density of less than 2,161 persons per sq km will be designated as CRZ 3B.
• A No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20m has been stipulated for all Islands.
• Temporary tourism facilities such as shacks, toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water facilities etc.. Are permitted in the beaches.
• The powers for clearances with respect to CRZ 2 and 3 have been delegated at the State level.