Lok Sabha Question No. 1713 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-27
Subject: Protection of Coastal Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1713

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27.07.2018

## Protection of Coastal Areas

## 1713.  SHRI SATISH CHANDRA DUBEY:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) the  details  of  the  changes  noticed  in  water  level  of  sea  due  to  increase  in  temperature across the world during the last five decades;
- (b) the  way  in  which  the  coastal  areas  of  the  country  have  been  adversely  affected  due  to indifferent attitude towards laws related to unauthorized development, decrease in green areas, uncontrolled tourism and coastal protection in the said areas; and
- (c) the way in which the Government proposes to save the coastal areas from rising water level of sea?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) According  to  the  fifth  Assessment  Report  of  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate Change, the global mean rate of sea level rise was 1.7 mm per year between 1901 and 2010, a total rise of 0.19 meter. Further, as per the studies carried out by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), the sea level are changing at different rates along the Indian coast. On an average, the sea level along the Indian coast is rising at the rate of 0.33 to 5.16 mm/year and the trend is expected to continue.
- (b) With a view to conserve and protect the unique environment of the marine areas of the country  and  to  promote  development in a sustainable manner, the Central Government issued  the  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  Notification  in  1991.  This  was  followed  up  with suitable amendments from time to time and a comprehensive revision in 2011. All the activities in the Coastal Regulation Zone are regulated through various provisions of the Notification including measures for conservation of natural resources, protection of green areas, scientific regulation of developmental activities and tourism etc. The regulations stipulate adequate safeguards for controlling unauthorized tourism and development. The mangroves, which are green areas, have seen an increase over the years.
- (c) The Central Government has constituted Coastal Zone Management Authorities (CZMAs)  for  the  Coastal  States  /  Union  Territories  (UTs)  for  implementing  and enforcing  the  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  Notification  in  respective  States  /  UTs.  The CZMAs are empowered for taking action against the violations.

The  Government  of  India,  supplements  the  efforts  of  the  coastal  States  by providing  technical  advice  and  promotional  financial  assistance  for  management  of coastal erosion in critical areas. Further, Government has made amendments to the CRZ Notification, 2011 from time to time.

The  Government,  under  the  Integrated  Coastal  Zone  Management  (ICZM) project, have demarcated the hazard line along the entire coastal belt of the Country. The hazard  line  is  indicative  of  the  shoreline  changes,  including  the  sea  level  rise  due  to climate change.

The ICZM project also envisages large-scale assessment of the risks  associated with shoreline changes and preparation of a framework for development of management solutions  to  combat  these  risks.  Under  this  Project,  shoreline  management  plans  have been prepared for five identified coastal stretches in Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal on a pilot basis.

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