Coastal Erosion In India

 

Coastal Regulation Zone

Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) are the areas along the 7,500 km-long coastal stretch of India. As per the official notification, 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. The development of buildings, tourism infrastructure and other facilities is regulated in these areas by the Government of India.

The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules govern human and industrial activity close to the coastline, in order to protect the fragile ecosystems near the sea. This includes restricting certain kinds of activities — like large constructions, setting up of new industries, storage or disposal of hazardous material, mining, reclamation and bunding — within a certain distance from the coastline. 

Coastal Stretches of creeks, bays, seas, rivers and backwaters that are affected by the tidal actions of up to 500 metres from the High Tide Line and the land between the Low Tide Line and the High Tide line are Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ). A notification was issued in February 1991, under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 for the regulation of coastal area activities by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). This was when the Government of India notified Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) for the first time. As per the notification, coastal areas are of four categories as CRZ-1, CRZ-2, CRZ-3 and CRZ-4.

Different types of Coastal Regulation Zones:

CRZ-1:

These are ecologically sensitive areas which are essential in maintaining the ecosystem of the coasts. These include national parks/marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats, mangroves and corals/coral reefs. These areas are situated between the high and low tide lines.

CRZ-2:

The areas that have already developed up till the shoreline of the coast are included in this zone. Construction of unauthorised structures is prohibited in this zone.

CRZ-3:

Rural and urban localities that are relatively undisturbed and do not belong to the first two categories are included under CRZ-3. Only specific activities related to agriculture or some public facilities are allowed in this zone. It includes areas within municipal limits or in legally designated urban areas that are not substantially built-up.

CRZ-4:

These areas include the coastal stretches in Lakshadweep, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and some other small islands, except those termed as CRZ-I, CRZ-II, or CRZ-III. These areas reside in the aquatic region up to the territorial limits. Activities such as fishing and other allied services are permitted in this zone. Releasing solid waste is prohibited on such land.

Coastal Regulation Zones Notification 2019:

The Coastal regulation zone notification 2019 was issued to replace the 2011 notification. According to the latest notification, the development of the coastal region of the country should be done in a sustainable manner, keeping climate change and sea-level rise issues.

The 2019 notification divided CRZ-III areas(rural areas) into two categories namely CRZ-IIIA and CRZ-IIIB of which the former denotes an area with population density more than 2161 persons per square km while the later denotes rural areas with population density less than 2161 persons per square km.

As per the latest notification the CRZ-IIIA areas will have no development zone (NDZ) of 50 metres from the high tide line (HTL) as compared to the 200 metres as stipulated in the notification of 2011.

The CRZ-IIIB areas however will have a no development zone of 200 metres from the HTL. The population density of respective areas will be measured on the basis of Census 2011.