With more than 7000 kilometres of coastline, India ranks 20 in the world among the countries with the longest coastline. In order to protect coastal ecology and conserve the coastal environment, the Government of India issued the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) in 1991. In the article, we will discuss all the relevant topics and issues of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) concerning the IAS Exam.
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Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) is an important topic with respect to the Environment & Ecology section of General Studies paper 3. The reforms from the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification make it relevant to Government Policies/Indian Polity from the General Studies paper-2.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)
In 1991, the Government of India issued a notification under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 administered by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to protect and conserve the environment and ecosystem on the coastline of the country.
Accordingly to the notification, the coastal land up to 500m from the High Tide Line (HTL) and a stage of 100m along banks of creeks, estuaries, backwaters and rivers subject to tidal fluctuations, is called the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).
Tides and Tide Lines
Understanding Tide Lines is important in order to learn about the Coastal Regulation Zone. First let us understand Spring Tides.
- Spring Tide: It is an exceptionally high tide generated by the complementary factor played by the Sun with respect to the Moon.
- It should be noted that when Sun, Moon and Earth are in the same line, the position is known as a Syzygy.
- They occur twice a month, one on the full moon period and another during the new moon period.
| High Tide Lines (HTL) | Low Tide Lines (LTL) |
| HTL is defined as the line on the land up to which the highest water line reaches during the Spring Tides. | LTL is defined as the line on the land up to which the lowest water line reaches during the Spring Tides. |
Classification of Coastal Regulation Zone
Coastal Regulation Zone along the country has been placed in four categories as per the CRZ Notification of 1991 until 2003. They are listed and described in the table below:
| Category | Description |
| CRZ 1 | Areas that are ecologically sensitive and essential for maintaining the ecosystem on the coast.
Permissions:
|
| CRZ 2 | Areas that are developed up to the shoreline of the coast.
Permissions:
|
| CRZ 3 | Urban and Rural Areas that don’t fall under CRZ- 1 and CRZ- 2 come under CRZ- 3. They are areas allocated to the municipality but are not substantially built up.
Permission:
|
| CRZ 4 | Coastal stretches in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and small islands, except those designated as CRZ I, CRZ II and CRZ III. Solid waste should be let off in this zone.
Permissions:
|
Coastal Regulation Zone Notifications
With the objective of conservation and protection of the coastal environment, the Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change notified the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification in 1991, which was subsequently revised in 2011. The notification has been amended from time to time based on representations received.
Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011
The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011 considered the issues of the 1991 notification and recommended amendments accordingly. The reforms of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011 are as follows:
| Category | Reforms |
| CRZ 1 |
|
| CRZ 2 |
|
| CRZ 3 |
|
| CRZ 4 |
|
In June 2014, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change constituted a Committee under the Chairmanship of Dr Shailesh Nayak to examine the various issues and concerns of Coastal States/UTs and other stakeholders for recommending appropriate changes in the CRZ Notification, 2011.
The Shailesh Nayak Committee held wide-ranging consultations with State Governments and other stakeholders and submitted its recommendations in 2015.
In December 2018, the Union Cabinet accorded approval to that draft notification. The MoEFCC then notified new CRZ norms in January 2019.
Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2018 & 2019
The new CRZ Notification, issued under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, seeks
“to promote sustainable development based on scientific principles taking into account the dangers of natural hazards, sea-level rise due to global warming” and
“to conserve and protect the unique environment of coastal stretches and marine areas, besides livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities in the coastal area”.
New reforms under Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2018 & 2019 are as follows:
- Development Projects
- No Development Zones (NDZ) reduced.
- New CRZ Categories
-
- For CRZ-III(Rural) areas, two separate categories have now been stipulated as below:
| CRZ-III A | CRZ-III B |
| Rural Areas that are densely populated with a population density of 2161/km2.
They will have NDZ of 50 meters from HTL. Earlier it was 200m from HTL according to CRZ Notification of 2011. |
Rural Areas that are densely populated with a population density of 2161/km2.
They will have NDZ of 200m from HTL. |
- Tourism Infrastructure
- FSI Norms Eased
-
- As per CRZ, 2011 Notification, for CRZ-II (Urban) areas, Floor Space Index (FSI) or the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) had been frozen as per 1991 Development Control Regulation (DCR) levels.
- In the CRZ, 2019 Notification, it has been decided to de-freeze the same and permit FSI for construction projects, as prevailing on the date of the new Notification.
- Pollution Abatement
- Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCA):
-
- Sundarban region of West Bengal and other ecologically sensitive areas identified as under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- They are managed with the involvement of coastal communities including fisherfolk who depend on coastal resources for their sustainable livelihood.
CRZ related Issues in News
- Supreme Court backs order to demolish 59 villas constructed in the Vembanad backwaters on Kerala island for violating CRZ norms. It is a Ramsar Site of international importance and is protected by Ramsar Convention.
- The Supreme Court has ordered the demolition of five apartments in Ernakulam’s Maradu municipality for violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules.
Read more about the issue here: CNA 9th May 2019.
Blue Flag Programme
The ‘Blue Flag’ beach is an ‘eco-tourism model’ and marks out beaches for providing tourists and beach-goers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities/amenities, a safe and healthy environment, and involves sustainable development of the area.
The Environment Ministry has relaxed Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules that restrict construction near beaches to help States construct infrastructure and enable them to receive
‘Blue Flag’ certification.
- 13 beaches were selected by the Ministry for the certification.
- If a beach meets thirty-three criteria classified under four major heads, the certification is given.
- Environmental Education And Information
- Bathing Water Quality
- Environmental Management Conservation
- Safety And Services.
Click here to know more about Blue Flag Certification.
Shailesh Nayak Committee Report on CRZ
The six-member committee was formed in June 2014 and had submitted the report to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEF&CC) in January 2015. As per the report, it proposes the decentralization of powers to state and union territory governments along with local authorities as required by several states.
- The Shailesh Nayak Committee report has planned for permitting housing infrastructure and slum redevelopment activities, tourism, ports and harbour and fisheries-related activities in coastal regulation zones as a way to relax the present restrictions on expansion in coastal areas.
- Based on the recommendations of Shailesh Nayak committee, the suggestions were given by the coastal states and union territories, and the CRZ 2018 notifications were issued.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) – Recent Developments related to Violations / Clearances
- The construction of the livelihood support centre for fishermen by Kumbalam panchayat on the banks of Vembanad lake, Kerala is in the eye of the storm. People have approached Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) pointing out that the construction is in outright violation of the CRZ and Ramsar site norms.
- Maharashtra has granted coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearances to the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) to cut 1,001 mangrove trees for the eight-lane Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway, which will pass through the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The maximum mangrove losses would occur at Navghar and Vadiv villages in Palghar, falling under the Safale forest range. As per NHAI, they are ready for compensatory afforestation as much as 10 times the mangroves lost.
- In a gross violation of environmental norms, tonnes of construction waste has been dumped in a notified turtle nesting area on Marina beach, Chennai. The area where the debris is being dumped falls under CRZ 1(A) of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, which is an ecologically sensitive area and activities like the dumping of construction waste are strictly prohibited. The concerned authorities had assured to rectify the problem.
Candidates can find the general pattern of the UPSC Civil Service Exam by visiting the IAS Syllabus page.
Frequently asked Questions about Coastal Regulation Zone
What are Coastal Regulation Zones in India?
What are the objectives of a Coastal Regulation Zone?
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