Lok Sabha Question No. 224 (STARRED), answered on 2015-12-15
Subject: Coastal Management
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE, BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB

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

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.224

TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2015

## Coastal Management

- *224.   SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE: SHRI BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB:

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

- (a) whether  the  existing  policy  on  Coastal  Management  envisages  security  to  coastal communities,  conservation and protection of the coastal stretches and promotion of sustainable development in the coastal areas and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  review  this  policy  in  the  light  of  various suggestions/representations  received  from  various  quarters  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  demarcated  hazard  line  in  the  coastal  areas  of  the country and if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (d) the time by which hazard line is likely to be demarcated across the country; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government for coastal management in the country?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

(a) to (e) A statement is laid on the table of the House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No.224 to be answered on Tuesday, the 15 th December, 2015 on 'Coastal Management' raised by Shri Sanjay Dhotre and Shri Bhartruhari Mahtab

(a) The  existing  policy  on  coastal  management  as  laid  down  in  the  Coastal Regulation Zone  (CRZ)  Notification,  2011 and Island Protection Zone  (IPZ) Notification, 2011 issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 envisages to ensure  livelihood  security  to  the  coastal  communities,  to  conserve  and  protect coastal stretches and its marine area and to promote sustainable development on scientific principles taking in to account the dangers of natural hazards in the coastal areas and sea level rise.  These Notifications demarcate Coastal regulation zones and island protection zones in coastal stretches; and regulate and restrict  setting up and  expansion  of  any  industry,  operations  or  processes    and    manufacture    or handling    or    storage    or    disposal    of    hazardous    substances    in  the  aforesaid zones.

CRZ Notification, 2011 provides for special dispensation to the local coastal community including permission for reconstruction and repair works of dwelling units in  accordance with local town and country planning norms. The notification further provides for  ex-post  facto  approval  to  construction  and  repair  activities  of  dwelling units  of  traditional  coastal  communities  which  were  undertaken  after  1991  without any approval. The construction/reconstruction of dwelling units of traditional coastal communities including fisher folk is permitted between 100 and 200 metres from the HTL along the seafront in accordance with a comprehensive plan prepared by the State Government or the Union Territory in consultation with the traditional coastal communities including fisher folk.

The special dispensation in CRZ regulation for local communities include the delegated  authority  to  local  governments  including  Panchayats  for  approval  of housing and fishing activities in designated CRZs. In Greater Mumbai, reconstruction and repair works of the dwelling units, belonging to fisher communities and other local communities as identified by the State Government, can be  considered  and  granted  permission  by  the  Competent  Authorities  on  a  priority basis, in accordance with the applicable Town and Country Planning Regulations. In Kerala,  beyond  50mts  from  the  High  Tide  Line  (HTL)  on  the  landward  side  of backwater islands, dwelling units of local communities can be constructed with the prior permission of the Gram Panchayat.  In the CRZ of Goa, the Government can notify the fishing villages wherein all foreshore facilities  required  for  fishing  and fishery  allied  activities  such  as  traditional  fish processing yards, boat building or repair yards, net mending yards, ice plants, ice storage, auction hall, jetties can be permitted by Grama Panchayat in the CRZ area. Further, the reconstruction, repair works  of  the  structures  of  local  communities  including  fishermen  community  is permissible in CRZ.

As  per  the  IPZ  Notification,  2011,  integrated  islands  protection  zones  of Andaman  &  Nicobar  and  Lakshadweep  Islands  are  required  to  be  managed  in accordance  with  the  Integrated  Islands  Management  Plan  and  Integrated  Coastal Regulation Zone Plans by their respective UT Administrations.

(b) The  Government  has  initiated  the  process  to  review  the  CRZ  Notification, 2011  in  the  backdrop  of  issues  raised  by  the  certain  Coastal  States.    An  Expert Committee has examined these issues and submitted its report to this Ministry.

(c) & (d) The hazard line demarcation is mandatory under the CRZ Notification, 2011. The Government has started demarcation of hazard line taking into account, tide, waves, sea level rise and shoreline changes all along the mainland coastline of the  country  through  Survey  of  India.  The  aerial  photography  of  the  mainland coastline  and  photogrammetry  for  the  west  coast  has  been  completed,  and  the remaining works are scheduled for completion by 31.12.2017.

(e) The  Ministry  has  commissioned  a  World  Bank  assisted  Integrated  Coastal Zone Management Project, which is aimed at preparation of integrated coastal zone management  plans for selected coastline stretches of these states through community participation, capacity building and institutional development in the area of coastal management. The phase-I of the project covers Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal. The Government of India in July, 2015 have approved the Phase-II of the project to cover remaining coastal States and Union Territories.

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