CRZ - Coastal Regulation Zone for Buildings in India

CRZ - Coastal Regulation Zone for Buildings in India

CRZ:

Coastal regulation zones are areas along the coastline of India, where development, infrastructure, construction, tourism and other activities are regulated by the government of India.

Under the Environmental regulation Act 1896, the government issued the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2018 to remove restrictions on building, streamlining the clearance process and increasing tourism in the coastal areas.

As per the 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(CRZ).

Classification of Coastal Regulation Zone

CRZ-1:

• It constitutes ecologically-sensitive areas, such as mangroves, corals/coral reefs, sand dunes, national parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats, etc. The coastal regulation zone areas in CRZ 1 are situated between high tide lines and low tide lines.

• Permitted to exploration of Natural Gas.

• Permitted to extraction of Salt.

CRZ-2

• It constitutes the developed areas up to the shoreline, which fall within the existing municipal limits. The development of unauthorized structures is not allowed in this zone.

• Some construction as per the guidelines only.

• Reconstruction of the authorized building without a change in the existing use.

CRZ-3:

• Urban and Rural Areas that don’t come under CRZ- 1 and CRZ- 2. It come under CRZ- 3. Only specific activities related to agriculture or certain public facilities are permitted under this coastal regulation zone.

• Only certain activities related to agriculture, horticulture, gardens, pastures, parks, playfields, forestry and salt manufacture from seawater.

CRZ-4:

• Coastal stretches in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep and small islands, except those designated as CRZ I, CRZ II and CRZ III.

• Corals and sand from the beaches and coastal waters shall not be used for construction and purposes.

Importance of Coastal Regulation Zone

• To conserve and protect coastal stretches.

• To ensure livelihood security to the fishing & local communities living in the coastal areas.

• The CRZ rules and regulations have been formulated with the objective of protecting coastal ecosystems, by regulating human and industrial activities near the coastline.

According to Coastal regulation Zone notification 2018, implementation of the CRZ rules would lead to enhanced activities in the coastal areas and protect the unique environment of coastal stretches and marine areas, besides livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities in the coastal area.