Coastal Regulation Zone And Its Importance For The Ecosystem

The Ministry of Environment and Forests issued the first Coastal Regulation Zone notification in February 1991, under section 3 of India's Environment Protection Act, 1986, to regulate activities in the coastal area. What is a Coastal Regulation Zone? Coastal Regulation Zones Act (CRZ) includes creeks, bays, oceans, rivers, and backwaters that are impacted by tidal waves and forces and are up to 500 metres from the High Tide Line, as well as the land between the Low Tide Line and the High Tide Line. They have been in the news recently because a 4 high-rise luxury apartment complex in Kochi's Maradu municipality was demolished on January 11 and 12, following the Supreme Court of India's order. They had violated the CRZ guidelines. To know further about CR,Z read ahead. 

Important Terms to Understand CRZ Zones

To clearly understand the coastal regulation zone, there are a few terms that the CRZ Act takes into consideration. They are explained below -

• High Tide Line - The line on the land where the highest tide of water touches during a spring tide.
• Low Tide Line - The line on the land where the lowest tide of water touches during a spring tide.
• Spring tides - The sun's and moon's positions with respect to the earth have a direct impact on tidal height. The height of the tide will be higher when the sun, the moon, and Earth are all in a straight line. These are known as spring tides and occur twice a month, once during the full moon and once during the new moon.

What Is the CRZ Zone?

Coastal Regulation Zone notification was first brought to attention in 1986 by the Government of India. The CRZ Zone stands for Coastal Regulation Zone. The meaning of CRZ is an area along India's coastline that the government has designated for special protection due to its ecological importance and vulnerability. CRZ rules aim to balance development needs with protecting India's sensitive coastal ecosystems.

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Classification of Coastal Regulation Zone 

According to this notification, CRZ zone classification is done as mentioned below:

• CRZ-1 - These are ecologically sensitive places that are critical to the preservation of the coast's ecosystem. National parks/marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats, mangroves, and corals/coral reefs are examples of these. Region - Between the low and high tide lines.
• CRZ - 2 – According to the CRZ 2 rules this zone includes all of the places that have already developed up to the coast's shoreline. This zone prohibits the construction of unlicensed/unregulated constructions. CRZ building rules apply strictly in this area. Images of coastal regulation zones can vary depending on the specific CRZ category. For instance, CRZ-I zones would typically depict pristine natural areas like mangroves, coral reefs, or sand dunes.
• CRZ - 3 - This CRZ zone includes rural and urban areas that are reasonably untouched and do not fall into the previous two categories. CRZ 3 rule states that only agriculture-related activities and limited public facilities are permitted in this zone. It comprises areas that are not extensively constructed inside city limits or in legally designated metropolitan areas.
• CRZ - 4 - Except for those designated as CRZ-1, CRZ-2, or CRZ-3, these areas comprise coastline lengths in Lakshadweep, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and a few other smaller islands. Up to the territorial limits, these regions are located in the aquatic region. Activities such as fishing and other related services are permitted in CRZ - 4. The CRZ rules state that it is illegal to release solid debris in this zone.

CRZ Notification or Rules

• The CRZ Rules in India regulate industrial activity along with human activity near the coast for the conservation of ecosystems near the coast.
• Coastal Regulation Zone limits some types of operations within a specific distance from the coast, such as big constructions, the establishment of new businesses, the storage or dumping of hazardous materials, mining, reclamation, and bunding.
• The first CRZ Rules were drafted in the CRZ notification 1991, following the passage of the Environment Protection Act in 1986.
• After they were determined to be overly restrictive, the Centre issued amended Rules in CRZ notification 2011, which contained exclusions for the development of the Navi Mumbai airport and Department of Atomic Energy projects.
• The latest CRZ notification i.e., CRZ rule 2018-19 or CRZ notification 2018-19 was released to remove certain development limitations, streamline the clearance procedure, so as to boost tourism in coastal areas.CRZ rules for construction vary depending on the specific CRZ zone your land falls under.
• While the Union Environment Ministry creates the Coastal Regulation Zone Rules, state governments must ensure that they are implemented through their Coastal Zone Management Authorities.

Importance Of Regulation of Coastal Regulation Zone

• Environmentally sensitive areas such as mangroves and coral reefs, which act as a barrier against tsunamis and cyclones, should be protected.
• To strike a balance between development and coastal environmental protection/conservation.
• Improving the lives of coastal communities, such as fishermen and tribals.
• Climate change and high-intensity cyclones can be mitigated using resilient measures.The relevance of CRZ norms lies in their ability to safeguard India's fragile coastal ecosystems while allowing for sustainable development in these areas.

Shailesh Nayak Committee Report on Coastal Regulation Zone

• The Shailesh Nayak committee was established in June 2014, and its report was released in January 2015.
• The committee suggested that the provisions of the CRZ 2011 notification be relaxed. The recommendations' main goal was to enhance tourism, real estate and port construction.
• The committee recommended that the Central Government's regulatory authority in coastal areas be curtailed. Except for projects that involve environmental permits, all other activities should be governed by state and municipal planning authorities.
• The coastal states and union territories made suggestions based on the Shailesh Nayak committee's recommendations, and the CRZ 2018 notifications were announced.

The Coastal Regulation Zone has been making rounds in the news lately. The people whose houses were demolished were paid compensation but following CRZ rules would have resulted in no loss, for both humans and the environment. Do you wish to own a home near the coastline? Then check out NoBroker to find the right home that follows all government regulations. 

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