New norms to free up more area for coastal housing

The Centre’s notification on coastal regulation zones seeks to give a reprieve to fishermen and other communities living in coastal areas. It is a departure from the 1991 rules as the no-development zone has been halved from 200 metres from the high tide line to 100 metres in order to meet the housing demand of fishing and other traditional coastal communities.

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said the CRZ Notification, 2011, was important for generating economic activity in coastal areas “because there are some economic activities that are pumped to be located in coastal areas.” He said the notification demonstrated a balance between environment and development.

“India must get used to having power plants in coastal areas. The requirement of water, the requirement of imported coal or imported gas or even imported uranium fuel will necessitate location of power plants in our coastal locations,” he said.

The ministry of environment and forests has also issued an island protection zone notification for the Andaman and Nicobar islands and the Lakshadweep islands.

One important difference from the earlier notification is that the new coastal regulation has special provisions for Greater Mumbai, Goa, Kerala and critically vulnerable coastal areas such as Sunderbans, Chilka, Bhitarkanika, Gulf of Khambhat, Gulf of Kutch, Malwan, Karwar, Kundapur, Vembanad, East Godavari and Krishna Delta and the Gulf of Munnar.

The notification has also allowed construction work at the Navi Mumbai Airport, which is an exception made for greenfield airports not allowed otherwise. Special provisions have also been made for Mumbai to allow slum redevelopment and refurbishment of old and dilapidated buildings.

The ministry may appoint statutory auditors empanelled by the Comptroller and Auditor General to undertake performance and fiscal audit of projects related to redevelopment of dilapidated and unsafe buildings as well as projects related to the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme.

The rules restrict the setting up and expansion of any industry, operations or processes and manufacture or handling or storage or disposal of hazardous substances specified in the Hazardous Substances Rules, 2009.

The pollution impact on marine life has been integrated into the regulations. The regulation gives powers to state authorities to regulate the flow of sewage from towns, a major source of marine pollution, into the sea.