- The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has approved the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for 10 coastal districts of Kerala under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019.
| The CRZ Notification, 2019 To protect coastal and marine ecosystems, while facilitating sustainable development. CRZ Classification: CRZ-IA: Ecologically sensitive areas, e.g., mangroves, coral reefs. CRZ-I B: Intertidal zones (area between High Tide Line and Low Tide Line). CRZ-II: Urban areas close to shorelines with infrastructure development. CRZ-III A: Densely populated rural areas, relatively undisturbed areas with designated No Development Zones (NDZ). CRZ-III B: Less densely populated rural areas. 200 meters from High Tide Line. CRZ-IV A: Water areas up to 12 nautical miles on the seaward side. CRZ-IV B: Water areas along tidal-influenced water bodies like creeks and rivers. Prohibits new industries, oil storage, and hazardous waste handling in sensitive areas. Allows regulated eco-tourism, public utilities, and essential infrastructure with environmental safeguards. States and Union territories must prepare CZMPs to manage and protect CRZs with public consultation. Plans must be updated every five years. Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCAs) are high ecological value regions managed with local community involvement. Backwater and Inland Islands: CRZ applied with a 20m NDZ to protect unique ecosystems. Mandates periodic monitoring, public access to compliance reports, and district-level enforcement by authorities. |
- This approval enables Kerala to utilize relaxed CRZ rules for development activities while maintaining ecological considerations.
- The CZMP covers 10 districts: Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
- The plan allows construction activities towards the seaward side, subject to CRZ 2019 guidelines.
- It mandates the State to publish approved CZMPs online for public access.
- The plan introduces a reduced No Development Zone (NDZ), decreasing from 100 meters to 50 meters in many areas, particularly affecting 122 local bodies.
- CRZ-III A areas, with high population density, will see NDZ reduced to 50 meters, allowing more development in these regions.
Dig Deeper: Read it in the context of Eco-Sensitive Zones.
