Restriction on mining of limestone and other minerals in CRZ Areas

Rajya Sabha

The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991 prohibits mining of sands, rocks, and other substrata material except rare minerals like, monazite, rutile etc., and exploitation of oil and natural gas. All activities which are permissible under the CRZ Notification, 1991 are required to obtain clearance under the said notification.

The Government has initiated steps to implement the recommendations made by Prof. M. S. Swaminathan Committee in its report “Final Frontier” dated 16.7.2009 for strengthening of the CRZ Notification, 1991. The steps include drafting of a Sustainable Coastal Zone Protection Notification with an objective to protect the livelihood of local communities and promoting sustainable development in the coast.

A proposal has been received from Government of Gujarat requesting amendment to the CRZ Notification, 1991 for permitting mining of limestone and other minerals in the CRZ area.

The amendment to the CRZ Notification, 1991 will be based on the recommendations made by the Prof. M. S. Swaminathan Committee Report dated 16.7.2009 including the activities relating to mining and the outcome of the consultation process that the Ministry has been holding with the local communities of the coastal areas for the last four months.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shri Jairam Ramesh in a written reply to a question by S/Shri Parshottam Khodabhai Rupala,Bharatsinh Prabhatsinh Parmar and Kanjibhai Patel in Rajya Sabha today.

KP