Costal Regulation Zone – A Hurdle in Development
Indian embraces a total coast line of 7, 517 which adds dynamism to the rich demographics and geography of the country. But many a time this rich coast line is considered to as a hurdle in the development of the areas lying in the areas surrounded/ near the coast. These areas are termed as Coastal regulation zone.
The journey of coastal development zone started in the year 1991, when ministry of environment issued a notification 19.2.1991 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, with the aim to provide comprehensive measures for the protection and conservation of our coastal environment. But the notification had many drawbacks and was altered in the last two decades. The 1991 notification lacked clarity on issues like clearances, No concrete steps were indicated in the 1991 Notification with regard to the pollution emanating from land-based activities.
Due to various drawbacks the 1991 location was further amended 25 times keeping in mind the views of various State Governments, Central Ministries, NGO’s etc. Finally in 2011, a comprehensive costal regulation zone notification was issued taking into considerations the recommendations of the made in the “Final Frontier” Report by the Committee chaired by Dr. M.S. Swaminathan on Coastal Regulation and the findings of the various consultations held in various coastal States and Union territories.
The 2011 notification was based on the objectives of security to the fisher communities and other living in the coastal areas, protection to the coastal stretches and facilitates sustainable development without harming the environment. The notification bifurcated the coastal regulation zone into four categories –
1. CRZ I – ecologically sensitive.
2. CRZ II – built up area.
3. CRZ III – Rural area.
4. CRZ IV – water area.
CRZ I being the most sensitive area had very minimum scope of development, CRZ II was playing field for developers as it was open to sustainable redevelopment and felled under the Municipal limits. The current permissible limit for development in the coastal regulation zone is 500m. The earlier restriction was 100m which was debated and criticized by the developers as it posed as a hurdle in the development as a large area of land was protected under the gamut of CRZ. The newly amended restriction of 500m gives the developers carte blanche to develop taller buildings.
Many are of the opinion and have their own versions on the limit of CRZ and believe that CRZ norms should be completely abolished which itself is an unpractical and unrealistic demand. The sector has to strike an ecological balance put forward realistic demands for amending the CRZ norms. Abolishing the CRZ norms completely will lead to environmental catastrophes as the cities nearer to the coast are ecologically sensitive.
Real estate market in Mumbai, Goa, Kerala, Chennai, Sunderban are always on the defensive and need a lot of clarity and modifications on the CRZ norms. The Central government and the environment ministry need to come up with a robust plan and take into consideration the view points of the local bodies, NGOS, developers to sail smoothly.
Sandeep Ahuja, CEO, Richa Realtors
The views expressed in this article are author´s own
