What the new Coastal Regulation Zone draft says, how it differs from the earlier version

What the new Coastal Regulation Zone draft says, how it differs from the earlier version

What has happened?

The new draft if implemented will not only have an effect on how common areas used by fisherfolk are managed, but also bifurcate coastal zones along rural areas based on population density

Changes in the new draft

The new draft aims to conserve and protect the unique environment of coastal stretches and marine areas, besides livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities in the coastal areas and to promote sustainable development based on scientific principles taking into account the dangers of natural hazards, sea level rise due to global warming

CRZ limits on land

• A major change in the new draft pertains to the CRZ limits on land along “tidal influenced water bodies”
• The proposed limit has been reduced from 100 metres to 50 metres or the width of the creek, whichever is less

Mapping of high tide and hazard lines

• The draft makes the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) the final authority to lay down standards for High Tide Line (HTL)
• Earlier the demarcation was carried out by one of the agencies authorised by MoEF, on recommendations of the NCSCM
• The hazard line, which was demarcated by the Survey of India (SOI), has been delinked from the CRZ regulatory regime, and will now be used as a “tool” for disaster management and planning of “adaptive and mitigation measures.”
  • This means that one can build in these areas after preparing an environment assessment report stating that certain precautions have been considered

Bifurcation of CRZ-III areas

CRZ-III areas — land that is relatively undisturbed such as in rural areas, and do not fall in areas considered close to shoreline within existing municipal limits — have been divided into two categories:

• CRZ-III A refers to rural areas with a population density of 2,161 people per square kilometre or more as per the 2011 Census. Such areas shall have a “No Development Zone” (NDZ) of 50m from the HTL, the draft notes.
• CRZ-III B refers to rural areas with a population density lesser than 2,161 people per square kilometre. Such areas shall continue to have an NDZ of 200m from the HTL

Projects that require MoEF’s approval

• Only those projects located in CRZ-I (environmentally most critical) and CRZ-IV (water and seabed areas) shall require MoEF clearance
• All other projects shall be considered by Coastal Zone Management Authorities (CZMAs) in the states and union territories.

Floor space index for CRZ-II

While the 2011 notification had frozen the floor space index or floor area ratio for CRZ-II areas at 1991 Development Control Regulation (DCR) levels, the new draft proposes to de-freeze the same and permit FSI for construction projects as prevailing on the date of the new notification.

Criticism

• The draft empowers CZMAs at the state-level, which is responsible for the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs)
  • The idea is to complete the process of drawing up plans in consultation with coastal dwellers
• The MoEF has said that the “relaxations/ amendment” proposed in the CRZ notification, 2018, shall come into effect only after respective CZMPs that were to be framed under the previous CRZ notification, have been revised or updated by states/UTs and approved by the ministry
  • The National Green Tribunal has noted that it has been seven years since the deadline set by the 2011 notification to submit CZMPs to the MoEF has passed
• The dilutions introduced by the new draft will affect customary land use and traditional land rights