100,000 Leagues Under the Sea

Explanation.- For the purposes of the expression “developed area” is referred to as that area within the existing municipal limits or in other existing legally designated urban areas which are substantially built-up and has been provided with drainage and approach roads and other infrastructural facilities, such as water supply and sewerage mains;

(iii) CRZ-III,-

Areas that are relatively undisturbed and those do not belong to either CRZ-I or II which include coastal zone in the rural areas (developed and undeveloped) and also areas within municipal limits or in other legally designated urban areas, which are not substantially built up.

(iv) CRZ-IV,-

A. the water area from the Low Tide Line to twelve nautical miles on the seaward side;
B. shall include the water area of the tidal influenced water body from the mouth of the water body at the sea upto the influence of tide which is measured as five parts per thousand during the driest season of the year.

I. CRZ-I,-

(i) no new construction shall be permitted in CRZ-I except,-

(a) projects relating to Department of Atomic Energy;

(b) pipelines, conveying systems including transmission lines;

(c) facilities that are essential for activities permissible under CRZ-I;

(d) installation of weather radar for monitoring of cyclones movement and prediction by Indian Meteorological Department;

(e) construction of trans harbour sea link and without affecting the tidal flow of water, between LTL and HTL.

(f) development of green field airport already approved at only Navi Mumbai;

(ii) Areas between LTL and HTL which are not ecologically sensitive, necessary safety measures will be incorporated while permitting the following, namely:-

(a) exploration and extraction of natural gas;

(b) construction of dispensaries, schools, public rainshelter, community toilets, bridges, roads, jetties, water supply, drainage, sewerage which are required for traditional inhabitants living within the biosphere reserves after obtaining approval from concerned CZMA.

(c) necessary safety measure shall be incorporated while permitting such developmental activities in the area falling in the hazard zone;

(d) salt harvesting by solar evaporation of seawater;

(e) desalination plants;

(f) storage of non-hazardous cargo such as edible oil, fertilizers and food grain within notified ports;

(g) construction of trans harbour sea links, roads on stilts or pillars without affecting the tidal flow of water.

II. CRZ-II,-

(i) buildings shall be permitted only on the landward side of the existing road, or on the

landward side of existing authorized structures;

(ii) b uildings permitted on the landward side of the existing and proposed roads or existing authorized structures shall be subject to the existing local town and country planning regulations including the ‘existing’ norms of Floor Space Index or Floor Area Ratio: Provided that no permission for construction of buildings shall be given on landward side of any new roads which are constructed on the seaward side of an existing road:

(iii) reconstruction of authorized building to be permitted subject with the existing Floor Space Index or Floor Area Ratio Norms and without change in present use;

(iv) facilities for receipt and storage of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas as specified in Annexure-II appended to this notification and facilities for regasification of Liquefied Natural Gas subject to the conditions as mentioned in sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph 3;

(v) desalination plants and associated facilities;

(vi) storage of non-hazardous cargo, such as edible oil, fertilizers and food grain in notified ports;

(vii) facilities for generating power by non-conventional power sources and associated facilities;

III. CRZ-III,-

A. Area upto 200mts from HTL on the landward side in case of seafront and 100mts along tidal influenced water bodies or width of the creek whichever is less is to be earmarked as “No Development Zone (NDZ)”,-

(i) the NDZ shall not be applicable in such area falling within any notified port limits;

(ii) No construction shall be permitted within NDZ except for repairs or reconstruction of existing authorized structure not exceeding existing Floor Space Index, existing plinth area and existing density and for permissible activities under the notification including facilities essential for activities; Construction/reconstruction of dwelling units of traditional coastal communities including fisherfolk may be permitted between 100 and 200 metres from the HTL along the seafront in accordance with a comprehensive plan prepared by the State Government or the Union territory in consultation with the traditional coastal communities including fisherfolk and incorporating the necessary disaster management provision, sanitation and recommended by the concerned State or the Union territory CZMA to NCZMA for approval by MoEF;

(iii) however, the following activities may be permitted in NDZ –

(a) agriculture, horticulture, gardens, pasture, parks, play field, and forestry;

(b) projects relating to Department of Atomic Energy;

(c) mining of rare minerals;

(d) salt manufacture from seawater;

(e) facilities for receipt and storage of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas as specified in Annexure-II;

(f) facilities for regasification of liquefied natural gas subject to conditions as mentioned in subparagraph (ii) of paragraph 3;

(g) facilities for generating power by non conventional energy sources;

(h) Foreshore facilities for desalination plants and associated facilities;

(i) weather radars;

(j) construction of dispensaries, schools, public rain shelter, community toilets, bridges, roads, provision of facilities for water supply, drainage, sewerage, crematoria, cemeteries and electric sub-station which are required for the local inhabitants may be permitted on a case to case basis by CZMA;

(k) construction of units or auxiliary thereto for domestic sewage, treatment and disposal with the prior approval of the concerned Pollution Control Board or Committee;

(l) facilities required for local fishing communities such as fish drying yards, auction halls, net mending yards, traditional boat building yards, ice plant, ice crushing units, fish curing facilities and the like;

(m) development of green field airport already permitted only at Navi Mumbai.

B. Area between 200mts to 500mts,-

The following activities shall be permissible in the above areas;

(i) development of vacant plot in designated areas for construction of hotels or beach resorts for tourists or visitors subject to the conditions as specified in the guidelines at Annexure-III ;

(ii) facilities for receipt and storage of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas as specified in Annexure-II;

(iii) facilities for regasification of liquefied natural gas subject to conditions as mentioned in sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph 3;

(iv) storage of non-hazardous cargo such as, edible oil, fertilizers, food grain in notified ports;

(v) foreshore facilities for desalination plants and associated facilities;

(vi) facilities for generating power by non-conventional energy sources;

(vii) construction or reconstruction of dwelling units so long it is within the ambit of traditional rights and customary uses such as existing fishing villages and goathans. Building permission for such construction or reconstruction will be subject to local town and country planning rules with overall height of construction not exceeding 9mts with two floors (ground + one floor);

(viii) Construction of public rain shelters, community toilets, water supply drainage, sewerage, roads and bridges by CZMA who ma y a l s o permit construction of schools and dispensaries for local inhabitants of the area for those panchayats, the major part of which falls within CRZ if no other area is available for construction of such facilities;

(ix) reconstruction or alteration of existing authorised building subject to sub-paragraph (vii), (viii);

(x) development of green field airport already permitted only at Navi Mumbai.

(IV) In CRZ-IV areas,-

The activities impugning on the sea and tidal influenced water bodies will be regulated except for traditional fishing and related activities undertaken by local communities as follows:-

(a)No untreated sewage, effluents, ballast water, ship washes, fly ash or solid waste from all activities including from aquaculture operations shall be let off or dumped. A comprehensive plan for treatment of sewage generating from the coastal towns and cities shall be formulated within a period of one year in consultation with stakeholders including traditional coastal communities, traditional fisherfolk and implemented;

(b) Pollution from oil and gas exploration and drilling, mining, boat house and shipping;

(c) There shall be no restriction on the traditional fishing and allied activities undertaken by local communities. What are the coastal areas that qualify as falling within the CRZ-I category ?

The CRZ Notification, 2011 clearly lists out the areas that fall within the category of CRZ-I. It includes:-

(i) Ecologically sensitive areas and the geomorphological features that play a primary role in maintaining the integrity of the coast.

(ii) The area between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line.

2. What are the activities permissible in CRZ-I ?

The activities permitted in CRZ-I under the 2011 Notification are the activities that were permissible under the 1991 Notification as amended from time to time. These relate to the following:-

(i) No new construction shall be permitted in CRZ-I except;

(ii) Between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line in areas which are not ecologically sensitive, the following may be permitted;

Above are excerpts from the Draft Executive Summary of Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, Ministry of Environment and Forests by the Department of Environment, Forests and Wildlife. Download the full text here: Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2011 - Portable Document Format (PDF)

References
http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/reports-documents/coastal-regulation-zone-crz-notification-2011

http://indiancoastguard.nic.in/Indiancoastguard/CG%20Act%201978/cg%20act%201978.html

http://www.downtoearth.org.in/content/new-rules-coasts

http://www.lawisgreek.com/coastal-regulations-in-india

http://www.marinebuzz.com/2011/01/25/india-faq-on-coastal-regulation-zone-crz-notification-2011/