Lok Sabha Question No. 4000 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-18
Subject: CRZ Guidelines
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Krishna Prasad Tenneti

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4000

TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.08.2025

## CRZ Guidelines

## 4000.   SHRI KRISHNA PRASAD TENNETI:

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

- (a)  whether the Government has undertaken any study/survey regarding the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines;
- (b)   if so, the details of the differences in the guidelines as mandated for the East Coast vis a vis the West Coast of the country and the reasons therefor;
- (c) the  details  of  the  list  of  actions  and  penal  provisions  against  those  who  violate  the  CRZ guidelines, especially in Ecologically Sensitive Areas across the country including Andhra Pradesh and especially in Bapatla Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (d)   the details of the total number of cases of CRZ violations were booked during the last ten years in the State of Andhra Pradesh, including said constituency; and
- (e)   whether  any  of  the  culprits  involved  were  found  repeat  offenders,  if  so,  the  severe  action undertaken against them?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE

CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) & (b) The Ministry has been implementing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification since 1991 to protect coastal areas, conserve ecosystems, and ensure the livelihood security of fishing and other local communities, while allowing development based on scientific principles. The  1991  Notification  was  replaced  by  the  CRZ/  Island  Potection  zone  (IPZ)  Notification  in 2011,  and  later  updated  by  the  CRZ/Island  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  (ICRZ)  Notification  in 2019. Under the 2019 Notification, all coastal States and Union Territories have to update their Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs), Island Coastal Regulation Zone Plans (ICRZPs), or Integrated Island Management Plans (IIMPs) and submit them to the Ministry for approval. Until these updated plans are approved, the provisions of CRZ / IPZ Notification, 2011 continue to apply. So far, updated CZMPs for Odisha, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Kerala, and ICRZPs for Great Nicobar and Little Andaman have been approved. The updation of CZMP under the CRZ Notification, 2019 is in accordance with the guidelines stipulated in Annexure-IV of the CRZ Notification, 2019, which are applicable to the entire country without any difference between the East  and  West  coasts.  The  required  studies  and  surveys  for  updating  the  Coastal  Zone

Management Plan (CZMP), in line with the guidelines, are being carried out by the concerned State/UT CZMAs through institutes authorized by the Ministry.

(c) to (e) Violations of the CRZ Notifications, 2011 and 2019, are liable to penal action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. To ensure this, the Ministry has delegated  powers to the State/UT Coastal Zone Management Authorities (CZMAs) under Sections 5, 10, and 19 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, for addressing violations and enforcing CRZ regulations in the  country.  As  informed  by  the  Andhra  Pradesh  Coastal  Zone  Management  Authority (APCZMA), a total of 53 violation cases have been reported in Andhra Pradesh during the last ten  years,  none  of  which  involves  repeat  offenders.  District-wise  details,  including  those  for Bapatla district, are given below:

| District                              |   Number of Cases |
|---------------------------------------|-------------------|
| Visakhapatnam                         |                24 |
| Anakapalli                            |                02 |
| Kakinada                              |                02 |
| Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema District |                02 |
| West Godavari District                |                06 |
| Krishna District                      |                01 |
| Bapatla District                      |                15 |
| SPSR Nellore District                 |                01 |
| Total                                 |                53 |