The Environment Ministry has exempted companies, registered prior to 2002, from the requirement of coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance for renewal of salt land.
The norms have been changed after the Department of Industrial Promotion and Policy (DIPP), Salt Commission and and Gujarat-based Salt Workers Association made a representation in this regard.
"...Any parcel of land which was under salt works prior to May 5, 2002 would not require CRZ clearance. Further, CRZ clearance cannot be insisted for the renewal of lease of land," the Ministry said in a recent office memorandum.
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The CRZ Notification was first issued in February 1991 for regulation of development activities along the coastal areas. The salt harvesting by sea water was later permitted within CRZ in May 2002.
"Since the CRZ notification will be prospective and therefore CRZ clearance should be insisted only for the new or expansion of salt works and not for the salt works established prior to 2002," the ministry said.
The key bodies sought exemption from the Ministry as small salt works were not able to afford the process cost involved in getting the fresh CRZ clearance after expiry of lease period of 10 years, it added.
About six lakh acres of land in the country is on lease for salt production. About 90 per cent are in small scale.
