Lok Sabha Question No. 1161 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: Implementation of Integrated Islands Management Plan
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1161

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## Implementation of Integrated Islands Management Plan

## 1161. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  the  implementation  of  the  Integrated  Islands Management Plan (IIMP) to meet the unique environmental and infrastructure needs of island  communities  in  Ernakulam,  Kerala  thereby  enhancing  their  quality  of  life  and safeguarding their ecosystems, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the  Government  also  proposes to consider reassessing the 13 excluded panchayats in Ernakulam for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-II classification, (Alangad, Chendamangalam,  Chittattukara,  Ezhikkara, Kadungalloor, Karumaloor,  Kottuvally, Kunnukara,  Puthenvelikkara,  Udayamperoor,  Vadakkekkara,  Kuzhippilly,  Pallippuram) given  their  urban-like  characteristics  and  the  essential  development  needs  of  their residents, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  a  plan  to  address  the  inconsistent  classification of panchayats  like  Edavanakkad,  which  shares  characteristics  with  neighbouring  CRZ-II areas,  to  ensure  fair  development  opportunities  and  regulatory  clarity,  if  so,  the  details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) As per the CRZ Notification, 2019, the Ministry approved the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) for all coastal districts including Ernakulam Kerala, vide letter dated 16/10/2024. Integrated  Island  Management  Plans  (IIMPs)  are  prepared  as  per  the  provision  of  CRZ Notification  2019  and  are  approved  based  on  proposal  received  from  State  Government.  The Government  of  Kerala  is  yet  to  submit  IIMPs  proposal  as  per  the  provisions  of  the  CRZ Notification 2019.

(b)&(c)  A  proposal  was  received  from  the  State  Government  of  Kerala  requesting  for consideration  of  certain  panchayats  as  'Legally  designated  Urban  Areas'  as  per  provisions  of CRZ  Notification,  2019.  In  the  National  Coastal  Zone  Management  Authority  (NCZMA) meeting held on 01/09/2022 in which Government of Kerala was also present, it was decided to recommend 66 panchayats that meet the criteria of 'other existing legally designated urban areas' in  accordance  with  CRZ  Notification  2019.  Accordingly,  the  Government  of  Kerala  was informed by the Ministry on 07/09/ 2022.

Government of Kerala was informed that it shall provide all the infrastructure  facilities in the proposed area as per the norms of Municipality and shall prepare detailed Disaster Management and Mitigation Plans for the proposed area comprising 66 Category-I Coastal Gram Panchayats as  mentioned  above.  The  areas  specified  by  the  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  in  the aforementioned 66 Coastal Panchayats shall not be categorized as CRZ-II and shall be classified as  CRZ-IIIA  or  CRZ-IIIB,  as  per  the  norms  and  such  areas  shall  be  contiguous  in  nature. Accordingly, CZMP of Kerala has been approved by the Ministry vide letter dated 16/10/2024 based on the recommendation of Technical Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 01/03/2024 and recommendation of NCZMA in its 47 th  meeting held on 23/09/2024.

Thereafter,  the  Ministry  has  not  received  any  further  proposal  till  date  for  the  inclusion  of remaining panchayats in Category-II of the CRZ classification.

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