the goan I network
PANAJI
The Central Government’s Ministry of Environment and Forests has drafted a new Coastal Regulation Zone Notification bringing in sweeping changes in the environmental regime that governs ‘development’ along the coasts reducing distances and relaxing criteria for others in a bid to streamline the regulation.
Unlike earlier notifications, the new 2018 notification which has been kept open for suggestions for a period of 60 days, has no special provisions for Goa but has provisions to help promote tourism facilities within the CRZ areas.
Among the additions is a special provision allowing “local communities” including fishermen being allowed to “facilitate tourism through ‘homestay’ without changing the plinth area/design or facade of the existing houses.”
“Temporary tourism facilities shall be permissible on the beaches. Such facilities shall include shacks, toilets/washrooms, change rooms, shower panels; walkways with interlocking paver blocks etc., drinking water facilities, seating arrangements etc.,” the notification reads.
The notification also permits eco-tourism activities such as mangrove walks, tree huts, nature trails, etc., in identified stretches of eco-sensitive CRZ I areas in areas subject to such eco-tourism plan featuring in approved CZMPs.
“On the landward side of roads (built in CRZ areas) in the NDZ, resorts/hotels and associated tourism facilities shall be permitted. Such facilities shall, however, be permitted only subject to the incorporation of tourism plan in the approved Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs),” the new notification states.
The notification also includes further classifications from traditional CRZ I, II, III and IV with CRZ I now being divided into CRZ I A and CRZ I B, and CRZ III being divided into CRZ III-A & CRZ III-B.
CRZ I A will include the traditional eco-sensitive zones like mangroves, sand dunes, coral reefs, mudflats, salt marshes, turtle and bird nesting grounds, etc. while CRZ I B will include the zone between the low tide line (LTL) and the high tide line (HTL).
CRZ III has been divided into high population density CRZ III-A and low population density CRZ III-B. A population density of 2161 per square kilometre or above as per the 2011 census will be considered as CRZ III-A. Goa’s population density is around 394 per sq km and hence will not benefit in terms of reduced CRZ line.
In CRZ-III A, the notification reduces the NDZ from 200 metres to 50 meters from the HTL on the landward side while in CRZ-III B, the area up to 200 meters from the HTL on the landward side shall be earmarked as the NDZ.
CRZ IV which covers water bodies has also been divided into CRZ IV-A which is the area from the coast to 12 nautical miles offshore while landward CRZ will apply on creeks and rivers right up to where tidal influence runs.
The list of permitted activities in the CRZ areas has also been expanded with now roads on stilts being allowed even in the intertidal zone provided that such roads shall not be built with the purpose of permitting development on the landward side of such roads, till the existing High Tide Line and only if they are for public purpose projects like mass transit systems and public utilities.
NEW RULES: KEY TAKEAWAYS
Special provision allows ‘local communities’ including fishermen to facilitate tourism through ‘homestay’ without changing the plinth area/design or facade of existing houses
Temporary tourism facilities like shacks, toilets/washrooms, change rooms, shower panels; walkways constructed using interlocking paver blocks etc., drinking water facilities etc permitted on beaches
Permits eco-tourism activities such as mangrove walks, tree huts, nature trails, etc., in identified stretches of eco-sensitive CRZ I areas in areas subject to such eco-tourism plan featuring in the approved CZMPs
Activities permitted in CRZ areas also expanded with roads on stilts being allowed even in the intertidal zone
NEW CLASSIFICATION
CRZ I, II, III and IV with CRZ I now divided into CRZ I A and CRZ I B, and CRZ III being divided into CRZ III-A and CRZ III-B
CRZ I A: Includes traditional eco-sensitive zones like mangroves, sand dunes, coral reefs, mudflats, salt marshes, turtle and bird nesting grounds, etc
CRZ I B: Includes zone between low tide line (LTL) and the high tide line (HTL).
CRZ III-A: No development zone reduced from 200 to 50 meters from HTL on the landward side
CRZ-III B: Area up to 200 meters from the HTL on the landward side shall be earmarked as the NDZ.
CRZ IV-A: Area from coast to 12 nautical miles offshore while landward CRZ will apply on creeks and rivers right up to where tidal influence runs
