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- The Supreme Court has highlighted that rampant construction activities in eco-sensitive areas with natural water flow have a devastating effect and can lead to natural calamities such as those seen in the recent floods in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Uttarakhand.
- The observations are a part of a recent judgement where the SC has directed the Kerala government to demolish five high-rise apartments in Ernakulam’s Maradu municipality near Kochi for violating the provisions of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules.
- The Indian government issued Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification in 1991 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The main aim of the Rules is to protect the coastal environment. In 2018, the government approved Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2018 which has been widely criticised.
- According to the notification, all the coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which are influenced by tidal action (in the landward side) up to 500 metres from the High Tide Line (HTL) and the land between the Low Tide Line (LTL) and the HTL are defined as Coastal Regulation Zone.
- Further, coastal areas are classified into four categories depending on the importance of the area. Category I covers areas that are ecologically sensitive and important, such as national parks marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats, mangroves, corals/coral reefs, etc. No new construction is permitted within 500 metres of the HTL in this area.
- Category II deals with areas that have already been developed up to or close to the shore-line. No building is permitted on the seaward side of the existing road.
- Areas that are relatively undisturbed and those that do not belong to either Category-I or II are classified as Category III. The areas up to 200 metres from the High Tide Line are earmarked as ‘No Development Zone’.
- Coastal stretches in the Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep and small islands except those designated as CRZ-I, CRZ-II or CRZ-III are designated as Category IV.
- Further, Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP) are prepared to check developmental/construction activities of all types in the notified areas. Under Section 3 of the Environment Protection Act, 1986, the authority is empowered to deal with environmental issues relating to the notified CRZ areas. Any developmental activities in the notified CRZ areas can be permitted only in consultation with and concurrence of the authority.




