Context:
MoEFCC approved Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMPs) of 10 coastal districts of Kerala.
Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP):
- Designed to manage and regulate human activities in coastal areas.
- Key Components –
- Zoning – Coastal areas are divided into zones like No Development Zones (NDZ) and Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ).
- Public Participation – Involves discussions with local communities to consider their opinions and concerns.
- States must have approved CZMPs to apply the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2019 and benefit from its relaxed norms.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ):
- Central Government declares coastal stretches and water areas up to the territorial water limit as CRZ, excluding the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, and their surrounding marine areas.
- Declaredunder the Environment Protection Act, 1986.
- A separate draft Island Protection Zone Notification has been issued for protection of the islands of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- Implementation is to be ensured by state governments through their Coastal Zone Management Authorities.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Categories:
- CRZ-I – Ecologically Sensitive Areas that includes mangroves, coral reefs, biosphere reserves, etc.
- No new construction allowed except for Projects by the Department of Atomic Energy and Trans-harbour sea links and roads that do not affect tidal water flow between Low Tide Line (LTL) and High Tide Line (HTL).
- Permitted Activities Between LTL and HTL (Non-Ecologically Sensitive Areas) –
- Natural gas exploration and extraction.
- Basic amenities like schools and roads for traditional inhabitants in biosphere reserves.
- Salt harvesting via solar evaporation.
- Desalination plants.
- Storage of non-hazardous cargo (e.g., edible oil, fertilizers) within notified ports.
- CRZ-II – Includes areas up to the shoreline within municipal limits, such as well-established villages and towns.
- Permissible Activities – Buildings on the landward side of the hazardous line, Desalination plants and other activities as per specified guidelines.
- CRZ-III – Relatively Undisturbed Areas that includes rural and urban areas not substantially developed, and not falling under CRZ-I or CRZ-II.
- 0-200 meters from HTL is a No Development Zone where no construction allowed.
- In 200-500 meters from HTL, activities permitted in the 0-200 meters zone and construction of houses for local communities and tourism projects are allowed
- CRZ-IV – Aquatic Areas from low tide line up to territorial limits, including tidal influenced water bodies.
- Traditional fishing by local communities is unrestricted.
- No untreated sewage or solid waste dumping allowed.
HTL and LTL:
- High Tide Line – The line on the land up to which the highest water line reaches during the spring tide.
- Low Tide Line – The line on the land up to which the lowest water line reaches during the spring tide.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
With reference to the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea, consider the following statements:
1. A coastal state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles, measured from baseline determined in accordance with the convention.
2. Ships of all states, whether coastal or land-locked, enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea.
3. The Exclusive Economic Zone shall not extend beyond 200 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
