(a) whether certain districts in Gujarat have been notified as having eroding coastline;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government of Gujarat has requested the Union Government for modification in the environment clearance policy for low and medium erosion areas; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Union Government thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)
(a)& (b) Ministry of Environment and Forests through the National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management, Chennai in association with the Institute of Ocean Management, Anna University, Chennai has conducted a study regarding “assessment of shore line change for the entire coast of mainland India, extending from Gujarat in the West coast to West Bengal in the East coast”. The shoreline change was assessed for a period of 38 years from 1972 – 2010. Accordingly, the coastline of India has been classified into high, medium and low erosion stretches as well as stable coastline stretch. The study has revealed that, on an average, around 40% of the Indian coast is subjected to coastal erosion (either high, medium or low). According to the study, erosion occurred in 46.30 percent of the coastal length in the State of Gujarat.
(c) & (d) The Government of Gujarat requested to consider projects for CRZ clearance in low and medium eroding coastal stretches based on rapid EIA instead of comprehensive EIA Report. As rapid EIA may not address all the environmental concerns, to conserve and protect coastal stretches and promote development through sustainable manner based on scientific principles, comprehensive EIA studies are essential before considering proposals in low and medium eroding stretches and stable coastline stretches. The requirement of comprehensive EIA studies in such stretches is uniformly applicable throughout the country.