PANAJI
In a major development, the Union Ministry for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has allowed the setting up of temporary structures in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) area and to carry out manual sand extraction from sandbars in rivers.
The Ministry amended the CRZ notification, 2019, to allow the two activities within permissible limitations while also emphasising that beach structures, such as shacks in CRZ will be allowed provided they do not operate during the monsoon season.
The MoEF&CC further imposed another condition that sandbars in the intertidal areas should be removed by traditional coastal communities through non-mechanised manual methods only. The annual renewal of registration has also been made mandatory.
The amendment will apply to those states where Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) 2019 is notified. The governments and Union Territory administration can permit the removal of sand in the specified quantity and within a specific time period.
The Goa Government, in an official communiqué to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav in September, urged to amend the notification to allow manual extraction of sand in coastal areas where sand is not available in other sources which is prohibited in CRZ.
The Centre has reserved rights to deal with all development activities or projects in CRZ-I and CRZ-IV regions that are governed by or permitted by the CRZ Notification 2019, based on the proposal of the relevant coastal zone management body whereas the local coastal authorities have been granted powers to clear all other projects.
“All development activities or projects in CRZ-I and CRZ-IV areas, which are regulated or permissible as per this notification, shall be dealt with by the Central Government for Coastal Regulation Zone clearance, based on the recommendation of the concerned Coastal Zone Management Authority with the following exceptions, namely: ” Stand-alone jetties, Salt works, Slipways, Temporary structures and Erosion Control Measures (like Bunds, Seawall, Groynes, Breakwaters, Submerged reef, Sand nourishment, etc.) which shall be dealt by concerned Coastal Zone Management Authority,” reads an order issued by the Ministry.
The Centre has also laid emphasis that no mechanised means are used for sand extraction allowed in the CRZ areas and that illegality will be dealt with an iron hand.
