Environmental Management> Chapter- 4 > Topic - Global Warming > Subtopic- Restrictions for development in coastal zone as per CRZ

What is CRZ ? Classification of CRZ , Restrictions for development in coastal zone as per CRZ 

Introduction-

India, with a coastline of about 7516 kms, is one among the 12 mega biodiversity countries and 25 hotspots of the richest and highly endangered eco regions of the world. Coastal regions of India provide home to 13.36% of the people of the country and thus place tremendous pressure on the resources along the coast. There are 9 coastal states in the country, namely, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal. 

Coastal areas comprise some of the most dynamic natural ecosystems of our planet, where three main components—the hydrosphere, the lithosphere, and the atmosphere—meet and interact, forming interconnected systems. Coastal ecosystems including marshes, mangroves, near-shore coral reefs, seagrass beds, sandy beaches and dunes provide numerous benefits like livelihood through fisheries, protection from sea surges/cyclones. 

So what is CRZ? 

Coastal Regulation Zone: 

Under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 a notification was issued in February, 1991, for regulation of activities in the coastal area by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

the coastal land up to 500m from the High Tide Line (HTL) and a stage of 100m along banks of creeks, estuaries, backwater and rivers subject to tidal fluctuations, is called the Coastal Regulation Zone(CRZ). 

The above notification includes only the inter-tidal zone and land part of the coastal area and does not include the ocean part. The notification imposed restriction on the setting up and expansion of industries or processing plaits etc. in the said CRZ.

Classification of CRZ - 

• Category I (CRZ-I)
• Category II (CRZ - II)
• Category III (CRZ-III)
• Category IV (CRZ-IV) 

CRZ I - 

• Areas which are ecologically sensitive, form the geomorphological features which play a role in the maintaining the integrity of the coast.
• Includes-mangroves and 50 m buffer area for mangroves exceeding 1000 sqm.; corals, coral reefs and associated biodiversity; sand dunes; biologically active mudflats
• National parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitat and other protected areas notified as biosphere reserves. 
• Salt marshes; turtle nesting grounds; horse shoe crab habitats; sea grass beds; nesting grounds of birds. 
• Areas or structures of archaeological importance/heritage sites/area lying between the Low Tide Line and High Tide Line. 

CRZ II -

•  Areas within the existing municipal limits/other urban areas which are substantially built-up and drainage, approach roads and other infrastructural facilities

CRZ III - 

• Relatively undisturbed /do not belong to either CRZ-I or II; This includes coastal zone in the rural areas, areas within the existing municipal limits or other urban areas which are not substantially built up. 

CRZ IV - 

• Designated to the water area from the Low Tide Line to twelve nautical miles on the seaward side and inland waters influenced by tide. 

Areas requiring special consideration in the CRZ- 

• For the purpose of protecting critical coastal environment/difficulties faced by local communities; consist of -CRZ area falling within municipal limits of Greater Mumbai
• The CRZ areas of Kerala including the backwaters and backwater islands
• CRZ areas of Goa and Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas like Sundarbans
• Other ecologically sensitive areas identified as under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and managed with the involvement of coastal communities including fisherfolk

Restrictions for development in coastal zone as per CRZ - 

The following activities are declared as prohibited within the CRZ 

1. Setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries, except those directly related to water front or directly needing foreshore facilities.
2. Manufacture or handling or disposal of hazardous substances.
3. Setting up and expansion of fish processing units including warehousing ( excluding hatchery and natural fish drying in permitted areas)
4. Setting up and expansion of units/mechanism for disposal of waste and effluents into the water course.
5. Discharging of city untreated waters and effluents from industries, cities or towns and other human settlements.
6. Dumping of city or town waste for the purposes of land filling ,the existing practice, if any, shall be phased out within a reasonable time not exceeding three years from the date of notification.
7. Dumping of ash or any wastes form the date of notification.
8. Land reclamation, building or disturbing the natural course of sea water with similar observations, except those required for control of coastal erosion and maintenance or sandbars except tidal regulators, storm water recharge.
9. Mining of sand, rocks and other substrata materials not available outside CRZ areas.
10. Harvesting or drawl of groundwater and construction of transfer within 200m of HTL; in the 200m to 500m zone it shall be permitted only when done manually through ordinary wells for drinking, horticulture, agriculture and fisheries.
11. Construction activities in ecologically sensitive areas. 
12. Any construction between LTL and HTL except facilities for carrying treated effluents and waste discharges, oil, gas and similar pipelines and dressing or altering of sand dunes, hills natural features including landscape changes for beautification, recreational and other such purposes. 

Reference: 

• ilearncana.com
• CRZ Notification by  Ministry of Environment and Forest
• Verdict by Supreme court on The Kerala State State Coastal  vs The State Of Kerala Maradu  on 8 May, 2019 
• Coastal Regulation Zone of Tamilnadu state