Question : Coastal Regulation Zone Management Plan

(a) whether the Government proposesto comprehensively review and examinevarious issues/concerns of coastal regionsand stakeholders relating to Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) management plan;
(b) if so, the details of the proposedchanges to the CRZ plan;
(c) whether the Government has comeout with a new draft CRZ notification withthe underlying objective of boosting beachtourism and promoting developmentalactivities along the coast and if so, thedetails thereof; and
(d) whether the Government proposesto relax CRZ rules in Udupi district,Karnataka, at par with Goa and Kerala andif so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO)

(a) to (d) In supersession of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change have notified a new Coastal Regulations vide G.S.R 37(E), dated 18th January, 2019. The new CRZ Notification, 2019 has removed special provisions for Goa and Kerala and have been made uniform throughout the coastal states. Thesalient features of the new notification are:

• Allowing FSI as per current norms in CRZ areas.
• Densely populated rural areas to be afforded greater opportunity for development. Accordingly, for CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have now been stipulated as: (a) CRZ-III A – These are densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. Such areas shall have a No Development Zone (NDZ) of 50 meters from the HTL as against 200 meters from the High Tide Line stipulated in the CRZ Notification, 2011; and (b) CRZ-III B – Rural areas with population density of below 2161 per square kilometre as per 2011 Census. Such areas shall continue to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the HTL;
• Tourism infrastructure for basic amenities promoted: Temporary tourism facilities such as shacks, toilet blocks, change rooms, drinking water facilities etc. have now been permitted in Beaches. Such temporary tourism facilities are also now permissible in the “No Development Zone” (NDZ) of the CRZ-III areas as per the Notification. However, a minimum distance of 10 m from HTL should be maintained for setting up of such facilities. Eco-tourism shall be promoted in CRZ-I areas as well with adequate safeguards.
• CRZ Clearances streamlined: The procedure for CRZ clearances has been streamlined. Only such projects/activities, which are located in the CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas) and CRZ IV (area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 Nautical Miles seaward) shall be dealt with for CRZ clearance by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The powers for clearances with respect to CRZ-II and III have been delegated at the State level with necessary guidance.
• Restrictions in Mainland Islands streamlined:A No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters has been stipulated for all Islands, for islands close to the main land coast and for all Backwater Islands in the mainland.
• All Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded special importance: Specific guidelines related to their conservation and management plans have been drawn up as a part of the CRZ Notification.
• Pollution abatement has been accorded special focus: In order to address pollution in Coastal areas treatment facilities have been made permissible activities in CRZ-I B area subject to necessary safeguards.
• Defence and strategic projects have been accorded necessary dispensation.

***