Special status to areas in CRZ notice comes with a rider

The Ministry of Environment and Forests’ decision to give special dispensation to ecologically sensitive areas like Greater Mumbai, Kerala, Goa and the Sunderbans in the Coastal Zone Regulations (CRZ) notification of 2010 comes with a rider.

The special dispensation would lead to redevelopment of 19,000 old and dilapidated buildings and rehabilitation of slums situated in the coastal area in Greater Mumbai. The reduction of the no-development zone in Kerala’s 300 islands in the backwaters would pave way for construction or reconstruction of the dwelling units of local communities.

In Goa, the fishing communities require basic infrastructure facilities for their livelihood which are being provided under the new notification. The Sunderbans, the largest mangrove forests in the world with an approximate population of 500,000 living within the biosphere, would be declared as critical vulnerable coastal areas (CVCA) for which an integrated management plan would be prepared after consultation with local communities.

“To ensure transparency in the redeveloment of slums and dilapidated structures in Greater Mumbai, the Right to Information Act, 2005, has been made applicable to all redevelopment or reconstruction projects granted clearance by the Competent Authorities. Besides, performance and fiscal auditing would be done by the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. A high-level oversight committee would be set up for periodic review for periodic review by the government of Maharashtra,” sources in the ministry told Business Standard.

A Maharashtra government official, who did not want to be quoted, said these measures would be implemented thoroughly. “We are happy that the Ministry of Environment and Forests has upheld our argument that Greater Mumbai needs some relief from the CRZ notification due to its peculiar position. The redevelopment of old and dilapidated buildings and rehabilitation of slums situated on coast would provide decent living,” the official added.

With regard to Kerala, the ministry has made it clear that though the ‘no development zone’ has been reduced, no new construction would be carried out. Further, foreshore facilities such as fishing jetty, fish drying yards, net mending yard, fishing processing by traditional methods, boat building yards and boat repairs can be taken up within 50 metres of the backwater islands.

In case of the Sunderbans and other ecologically sensitive areas, participation of local communities would be essential to prepare an integrated management plan, the ministry sources said.

The plan would regulate development in such areas and take up conservation and protection of these areas for the benefit of local people.