Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notifications, 2018

The CRZ Notification, 2018 was touted to enhance activities in the coastal regions thereby promoting economic growth while also respecting the conservation principles of coastal regions. It also not only aimed at employment generation but also to better life, adding value to the economy of India.

Important Changes Made were as Following:

• Change in FSI (Floor Space Index): 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, 2018 Notification, it has been de-frozen, allowing FSI for construction projects, as prevailing on the date of the new Notification.
• Densely Populated Rural Areas: For CRZ-III (Rural) areas, two separate categories have now been stipulated as below-
  1. CRZ-III A - These are densely populated rural areas with a population density of 2161 per sq.uare kilometer 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 since such areas have similar characteristics as urban areas.
  2. CRZ-III B - Rural areas with population density of below 2161 per square kilometer as per 2011 Census. Such areas shall continue to have an NDZ of 200 meters from the HTL.
• Promoting Tourism: 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.
• 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.
• No Development Zone: A No Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 meters has been stipulated for all Islands irrespective of their topography.
• All Ecologically Sensitive Areas have been accorded special importance.
• In order to address pollution in Coastal areas, treatment facilities have been made permissible activities in CRZ-I B area subject to necessary safeguards.

Issues with the Notification

• Flagship Projects Exempted: The government has declared Sagarmala, Bharatmala, and CEZs as “strategic projects”, which have a blanket exemption from CRZ provisions.
• Enhanced Risk to Inhabitants: Providing housing facilities just 50 m from the coastline would expose the inhabitants to severe weather events, that too without any buffer.
• Increased Coastal Erosion: While coastal erosion is a natural phenomenon carried out by waves, tidal and littoral currents and deflation, the report says these factors get exacerbated by activities like land reclamation and other structures on the coast.
• Disregard to Fragile Coastal Ecology: The controversial land reclamation, in which new land is created from oceans or lake beds and is known to have strong impacts on coastal ecology, has been allowed in intertidal or CRZ-IB areas, for ports and sea links.
• Unscientific Approach: Government has relied on satellite imagery to demarcate CRZ categories with little or no corroboration on the ground.
• Local Communities Further Distanced: New notification brings clearance in CRZ-IV areas under the purview of the Centre. Earlier, the area was under the state government. Now, it will be difficult for communities to get their voices heard in Delhi.
• Non-Empirical Approach: No study is available to show the carrying capacity of coastal areas to accommodate such increased development or the projected impact of such a change on the coastal communities.

Way Forward

The government must address the above concerns via coming up with a more comprehensive legislation formed via participation of involved parties. Instances like Maradu demolition (Kerala) would test the durability of CRZ, 2018.