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The MoEFCC has notified the 2019 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms, replacing the existing CRZ norms of 2011. Most of the recommendations of an expert committee headed by Shailesh Nayak, which looked into the concerns relating to the CRZ, 2011 notification has been incorporated.
- CRZ rules, 2019:
- 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.
- Here construction activities could be undertaken towards the landward side from the 50-metre point of the High Tide Line (HTL).
- All other CRZ 3 areas with population density of less than 2,161 persons per sq km will be designated as CRZ 3B.
- Here development activities will be permitted beyond the 200-metre-mark from the HTL towards the landward side.
- 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.
- Such temporary tourism facilities are also now permissible in the “No Development Zone ” (NDZ) of the CRZ 3 But a minimum distance of 10 m from HTL should be maintained for setting up of such facilities.
- Now, only such projects which are located in the CRZ 1(Ecologically Sensitive Areas) and CRZ 4 (area covered between Low Tide Line and 12 Nautical Miles seaward) will be dealt with for CRZ clearance by the Ministry.
- The powers for clearances with respect to CRZ 2 and 3 have been delegated at the State level.
- All Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded special importance and are treated as Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCA).
- To address pollution in Coastal areas, the treatment facilities have been made permissible in CRZ-1 B area subject to necessary safeguards.
