COASTAL REGULATION ZONE

NOTIFICATION 2011

Dr. Kamalakshan Kokkal

Chief Scientist, KSCSTE
 OBJECTIVES
 To ensure livelihood security to the
fishing communities and other local
communities living in the coastal
areas;

 To conserve and protect coastal

stretches and; To promote
development in a sustainable manner
based on scientific principles, taking
into account the dangers of natural
hazards in the coastal areas and sea
level rise due to global warming
 2011 NOTIFICATION

 Clear procedure for obtaining CRZ

clearance was laid down and time lines
stipulated. Format given for the submission
of clearance applications.
 A post clearance monitoring mechanism or
a clear cut enforcement mechanism to
check violations
 Special provisions for communities living
in islands in the backwaters of Kerala
 COASTAL REGULATION ZONE
• Intertidal zone- area between HTL & LTL

• 500 m along sea & estuary coast

• Land area between HTL to 100 mts or width of the

creek whichever is less on the landward side along
the tidal influenced water bodies that are connected
to the sea. The distance upto which is to be
regulated shall be governed by the distance upto
which the tidal effects are experienced -
determined based on salinity concentration of 5
parts per thousand (ppt) measured during the driest
period of the year

• The land area falling between the hazard line and

500mts from HTL on the landward side, in case of
seafront and between the hazard line and 100mts
line in case of tidal influenced water body

• The water and the bed area between the LTL to the
territorial water limit (12 Nm) in case of sea and
the water and the bed area between LTL at the bank
to the LTL on the opposite side of the bank, of tidal
influenced water body
 CRZ CLASSIFICATION

• CRZ-I (ecological sensitive)

• CRZ-II (built-up area)

• CRZ-III (Rural area) and

• CRZ-IV (water area)

 CRZ-I CATEGORY?
(i) Ecologically sensitive areas and the geomorphological features that play a
primary role in maintaining the integrity of the coast
– Mangroves, in case mangrove area is more than 1000 square metres, a buffer
area of 50 metres shall be provided;
– Corals and coral reefs and associated biodiversity;
– Sand Dunes;
– Mudflats which are biologically active;
– National parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats and
other protected areas under the provisions of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972
(53 of 1972), the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 (69 of 1980) or Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986); including Biosphere
– Reserves encompassing;
– Salt Marshes;
– Turtle nesting grounds;
– Horse shoe crabs habitats
– Sea grass beds;
– Nesting grounds of birds;
– Areas or structures of archaeological importance and heritage sites;
(ii) The area between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line.
CRZ II

 The areas that have already been developed up to or

close to the shoreline. For this purpose, "developed
area" is referred to as that area within the municipal
limits or in other legally designated urban areas which
is already substantially built up and which has been
provided with drainage and approach roads and other
infrastructural facilities, such as water supply and
sewerage main
CRZ III

 Areas that are relatively undisturbed and those which

do not belong to either Category-I or II. These will
include coastal zone in the rural areas (developed and
undeveloped) and also areas within Municipal limits or
in other legally designated urban areas which are not
substantially built up
CRZ IV

 The aquatic area from low tide line upto territorial

limits is classified as CRZ-IV including the area
of the tidal influenced water body
CRZ CRZ IV

details
 PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES

 Setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries

(except that require water front)
 Manufacture or handling or storage or disposal of hazardous
substances (except petroleum products)
 Setting up and expansion of fish processing units including
warehousing, excluding hatchery and natural fish drying in permitted
areas and expansion of existing fish processing unit for modernization
 Land reclamation, bunding or disturbing the natural course of seawater
 Setting up units for disposal of wastes and effluents
 Discharge of untreated wastes and effluents from industries, cities or
towns
PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES
 Dumping of city or town wastes including construction debris,
industrial solid wastes, flyash for the purpose of land filling
 Reclamation for commercial purposes such as shopping and
housing complexes, hotels and entertainment activities
 Mining of sands, rocks and other substantial materials
 Harvesting or withdrawal of groundwater with 200m of HTL
 Construction activities in ecologically sensitive area
 Construction activities between the LTL and HTL
 Dressing or altering of sand dunes
 Clearance from MoEF
(a) those activities not listed in the EIA notification, 2006.

(b) construction activities relating to projects of Department of Atomic Energy or Defense

requirements for which foreshore facilities are essential such as, slipways, jetties,
wharves, quays; except for classifiefd operational component of defence projects.
Residential buildings, office buildings, hospital complexes, workshops of strategic and
defence projects in terms of EIA notification, 2006.;

(c) construction, operation of lighthouses;

(d) laying of pipelines, conveying systems, transmission line;

(e) exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas and all associated activities and
facilities thereto;
 Clearance from MoEF contd…

(f) Foreshore requiring facilities for transport of raw materials, facilities for intake of
cooling water and outfall for discharge of treated wastewater or cooling water from
thermal power plants. MoEF may specify for category of projects such as at (f), (g)
and (h) of para 4;

(g) Mining of rare minerals as listed by the Department of Atomic Energy;

(h) Facilities for generating power by non-conventional energy resources, desalination

plants and weather radars;

(i) Demolition and reconstruction of (a) buildings of archaeological and historical

importance, (ii) heritage buildings; and buildings under public use which means
buildings such as for the purposes of worship, education, medical care and cultural
activities
 Activities permissible in CRZ-I

 No new construction shall be permitted in CRZ-I except;

 Projects relating to the Department of Atomic Energy;

 Pipelines, conveying systems including transmission lines;

 Facilities that are essential for activities permissible under CRZ-I;

 Installation of weather radar for monitoring of cyclones movement and prediction by the
Indian Meteorological Department;

 Construction of trans-harbour sea link and roads on stilts or pillars without affecting the tidal
fl ow of water, between LTL and HTL.
 CRZ I….
 Between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line in areas which are not
ecologically sensitive, the following may be permitted;
 Exploration and extraction of natural gas;
 Construction of dispensaries, schools, public rain shelter, community toilets, bridges,
roads, jetties, water supply, drainage, sewerage which are required to meet the needs
of traditional inhabitants living within the biosphere reserves after obtaining approval
from concerned CZMA.
 Salt harvesting by solar evaporation of seawater;
 Desalination plants;
 Storage of non-hazardous cargo such as edible oil, fertilizers and food grain within
notified ports;
 Construction of trans-harbour sea links, roads on stilts or pillars without affecting the
tidal flow of water
Activities permissible in CRZ-II areas
 Buildings are permissible on the landward side of the existing
road, authorized structure or hazardous line where there are no
authorised structures. Other activities such as desalination plants
and storage of non-hazardous cargo are also permissible.

 The Floor Space Index and Floor Area Ratio for construction
projects shall be as on 19.2.1991 except for those specified in
the CRZ Notification, 2011 which is mainly for slum
redevelopment and redevelopment of dilapidated structures.

 reconstruction of authorized building to be permitted subject with

the existing Floor Space Index or Floor Area Ratio Norms and
without change in present use
CRZ-III areas

 Area upto 200mts from HTL on the landward

side in case of seafront and 100mts along tidal
influenced water bodies or width of the creek
whichever is less is to be earmarked as “No
Development Zone (NDZ)”
Activities permissible in NDZ of CRZ-III areas
 No construction shall be permitted within NDZ except for repairs or
reconstruction of existing authorized structure not exceeding existing Floor
Space Index, existing plinth area and existing density and for permissible
activities under the notification

 Construction/reconstruction of dwelling units of traditional coastal communities

including fisherfolk may be permitted between 100 and 200 metres from the
HTL along the seafront in accordance with a comprehensive plan prepared by
the State Government in consultation with the traditional coastal communities
including fisherfolk and incorporating the necessary disaster management
provision, sanitation and recommended by the State CZMA to NCZMA for
approval by MoEF
 NDZ permissible
(a) agriculture, horticulture, gardens, pasture, parks, play field, and forestry;
(b) projects relating to Department of Atomic Energy/ weather radars
(c) mining of rare minerals;
(d) salt manufacture from seawater;
(e) facilities for receipt and storage of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas as specified in Annexure-II;
(f) facilities for regasification of liquefied natural gas subject to conditions as mentioned in subparagraph (ii) of
paragraph 3;
(g) facilities for generating power by non conventional energy sources;
(h) Foreshore facilities for desalination plants and associated facilities;
(i) construction of dispensaries, schools, public rain shelter, community toilets, bridges, roads, provision of
facilities for water supply, drainage, sewerage, crematoria, cemeteries and electric sub-station which are
required for the local inhabitants may be permitted on a case to case basis by CZMA;
(j) construction of units or auxiliary thereto for domestic sewage, treatment and disposal with the prior approval of
the concerned Pollution Control Board or Committee;
(k) facilities required for local fishing communities such as fish drying yards, auction halls, net mending
yards, traditional boat building yards, ice plant, ice crushing units, fish curing facilities and the like;
 Area between 200mts to 500mts
i. Development of vacant plot in designated areas for construction of hotels or beach
resorts for tourists or visitors subject to the conditions as specified in the guidelines
at Annexure-III ;

i. facilities for receipt and storage of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas as
specified in Annexure-II;

i. facilities for regasification of liquefied natural gas subject to conditions as mentioned

in sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph 3;

i. Storage of non-hazardous cargo such as, edible oil, fertilizers, food grain in notified
ports;

i. foreshore facilities for desalination plants and associated facilities;

i. facilities for generating power by non-conventional energy sources

 Area between 200mts to 500mts………
vii. construction or reconstruction of dwelling units so long it is within the
ambit of traditional rights and customary uses such as existing fishing
villages and goathans.
Building permission for such construction or reconstruction will be subject to local
town and country planning rules with overall height of construction not exceeding
9mts with two floors (ground + one floor);
viii. Construction of public rain shelters, community toilets, water supply
drainage, sewerage, roads and bridges by CZMA who may also permit
construction of schools and dispensaries for local inhabitants of the
area for those panchayats, the major part of which falls within CRZ if
no other area is available for construction of such facilities;
ix. reconstruction or alteration of existing authorised building subject to
sub-paragraph (vii), (viii)
CRZ IV Areas
 No untreated sewage, effluents, ballast water, ship
washes, fly ash or solid waste from all activities
including from aquaculture operations shall be let off
or dumped. A comprehensive plan for treatment of
sewage generating from the coastal towns and cities
shall be formulated within a period of one year in
consultation with stakeholders including traditional
coastal communities, traditional fisherfolk and
implemented;
 Pollution from oil and gas exploration and drilling,
mining, boat house and shipping;
 There shall be no restriction on the traditional fishing
and allied activities undertaken by local communities.
 CRZ for Islands of Kerala
 The CRZ area is reduced to 50 metres from High Tide Line (HTL) on
the landward side. This area is a ‘No Development Zone’ where no
new constructions can be carried out. However, dwelling units of local
communities within this area may be repaired and reconstructed.
 Necessary foreshore facilities such as fishing jetty, fish drying yards,
net mending yard, fishing processing by traditional methods, boat
building yards, ice plant, boat repairs etc. can also be constructed
within the 0-50 metres area.
 Beyond 50 metres from HTL on the landward side, dwelling units of
local communities may be constructed with the permission of the local
panchayat.
Vembanad
 In order to regulate development in ecologically
sensitive areas, and to take up conservation and
protection of these areas for the benefit of local
communities an integrated management plan
(IMP) is required to be prepared in consultation
with the communities. The housing needs of the
local communities including fisher folk who are
living in such ecologically sensitive areas shall
be also addressed in the IMP.
 clearance procedure
 submit the proposal to the concerned State CZMA along with the following documents.
 Form-1
 Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report including marine and terrestrial EIA.
Comprehensive EIA and cumulative studies for port and foreshore requiring projects as per
guidelines issued by MoEF from time to time;
 Disaster Management Report and Risk Management Report;
 CRZ map indicating HTL and LTL demarcated by an authorized agency (1:4000 scale);
 Project layout superimposed on the above mentioned map;
 The CRZ map shall normally indicate a 7km radius around the project site.
 The CRZ map shall indicate the CRZ-I, II, III and IV areas;
 No Objection Certificate from the concerned Pollution Control Boards or Committees for
the projects which envisage discharge of effluents, solid wastes, sewage etc. (NOC from
the Pollution Control Boards or Committees has been made mandatory in view to minimize
pollution in the coastal waters)
 179
191 CRZ MAP
174
181 180 178
Subramanya Swami Temple
O
183
175
192
©
VALIYAZHIKKAL182
177
193
U P School

176

194 195

0 45
. 90 180

Meters
Scale 1:5,000
)

Legend
n
erio
autct

196 High Tide Line (HTL)

kswtr

500m CRZ line

ean
Br rco

200m CRZ line

de

Regulation line for the backwater/Kayal

n
(u

Low Tide Line (LTL)

Mangroves (CRZ I (i))
Kayamkulam Kayal Inter-tidal zone (CRZ I (ii))

Mangrove buffer zone

CRZ III
CRZ map with survey plot information in cadastral scale
 post-clearance monitoring mechanism
 It shall be mandatory for the project management to submit half-yearly
compliance reports in respect of the terms and conditions stipulated
for granting environmental clearance in hard and soft copies to the
concerned regulatory authority, on 1st June and 31st December of
each calendar year;
 All such compliance reports submitted by the project management
shall be public documents;
 Copies of the same shall be given to any person on application to the
concerned regulatory authority;
 The latest compliance report shall also be displayed on the website of
the concerned regulatory authority and shall be valid for the period of
five years from the date of issue of clearance
to ensure transparency
 Agendas, minutes, decision taken,
clearance letters, violations, action
taken, court cases etc. including the
CZMPs will be displayed in the
dedicated website
Will the coming into force of the 2011
Notification mean that existing violations of the
CRZ Notification, 1991 are condoned?

 No.
Specific guidelines provided to all
CZMAs on the process to be adopted
using latest appropriate maps, satellite
imagery and information technology
within a specified time frame for action
 Guidelines for beach resorts/hotels in
CRZ-III and CRZ-II with prior approval of
the MoEF
 The proposed constructions shall be beyond the hazard line or
200mts from the High Tide Line whichever is more
 live fencing and barbed wire fencing with vegetative cover may
be allowed around private properties subject to the condition
that such fencing shall in no way hamper public access to the
beach
 no flattening of sand dunes shall be carried out
 no permanent structures for sports facilities
 the total plot size shall not be less than 0.4 hectares and the
total covered area on all floors shall not exceed 33 percent of
the plot size
Resort….
 the overall height of construction upto the highest ridge of the
roof, shall not exceed 9metres and the construction shall not be
more than two floors
 groundwater shall not be tapped within 200metre of the High
Tide Line
 extraction of sand, leveling or digging of sandy stretches will not
be permitted
 to allow public access to the beach, at least a gap of 20metres
width shall be provided between any two hotels or beach resorts
 Waste treatment system
 approval of the State Tourism Department shall be obtained
High Tide Line (HTL)
 Line on the land upto which the highest
water line reaches during the spring tide

 To be demarcated uniformly by
authorised authorities in accordance with
the general guidelines issued in this
regard
 state specific provisions made in the 2011
Notification for the Fisherfolk Community

 Special provisions have also been incorporated for the fishermen

communities living along the coastal areas in Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala,
Sunderban and other ecologically sensitive areas

 The CRZ area in Kerala is reduced to 50 metres from High Tide Line (HTL)
on the landward side of backwater islands. This area is a ‘No Development
Zone’ where no new constructions can be carried out. However, dwelling
units of local communities within this area may be repaired and
reconstructed. Necessary foreshore facilities such as fishing jetty, fish drying
yards, net mending yard, fishing processing by traditional methods, boat
building yards, ice plant, boat repairs etc. can also be constructed within the
0-50 metres area. Beyond 50 metres from HTL on the landward side,
dwelling units of local communities may be constructed with the permission
of the local panchayat.
 new provisions contained in the 2011
Notification to benefit the fisher-folk
community

 One of the stated objectives of the Notification

is “to ensure livelihood security to the fisher
communities and other local communities, living
in the coastal areas… and to promote
development through sustainable manner based
on scientific principles taking into account the
dangers of natural hazards in the coastal areas,
sea level rise due to global warming
 Water area up to 12 nautical miles and the tidal
influenced water bodies have been included under
the Coastal Regulation Zone areas in order to:
 control the discharge of untreated sewage, effluents and the
disposal of solid wastes as such activities endanger the fish
and their ecosystem;
 Conserve and protect habitats in the marine area such as
corals and coral reefs and associated biodiversity, marine
sanctuaries and biosphere reserves, sea grass beds etc.
which act as spawning, nursery and rearing grounds for fish
and fisheries
 Regulate activities in the marine and coastal waters such as
dredging, sand mining, discharge of waste from ships,
construction like groynes, breakwaters, etc. including
reclamation which have serious impacts on fishing and allied
activities;
 Enable studies of the coastal and marine waters with regard to
the impact of climate change and the occurrence of disasters
which have serious impacts on the livelihood and property of
the fisher-folk communities
 It may be noted that no restrictions are being imposed on
any fishing activities and allied activities of the
traditional fishing communities in this area
(i) At several coastal stretches of the country the fishermen and
their dwelling units are in danger due to erosion which is
occurring primarily due to manmade activities. The development
of such manmade foreshore activities shall be regulated after
identifying and demarcating the coast as falling in the high
eroding category, the medium eroding category or the stable
sites category.
(ii) While preparing the Coastal Zone Management Plans the
infrastructures essential for fishing communities must be clearly
demarcated and fishing Zones in the water bodies and the fish
breeding areas shall also be clearly marked
(iii) The 2011 Notification requires the Coastal Zone Management
Authorities to invite comments on the draft Coastal Zone
Management Plan from stakeholders. This will ensure that for
the first time, local communities including fishermen
communities, will have a say in the preparation of the CZMPs.
(iv) The Notification allows infrastructural facilities for the local
fishing communities to be constructed in the CRZ-III area.
(v) Reconstruction, repair works of dwelling units of local
communities including fisheries in accordance with local Town
and Country Planning Regulations has been made permissible.
(vi) In CRZ-III areas where 0-200 metres is a No
Development Zone (NDZ), to meet the
demands of dwelling units of traditional
coastal communities including fisher-folk, the
NDZ has been reduced to 100 metres. Hence,
dwelling units of such communities can be
constructed 100-200 metres from High Tide
Line along the seafront with the approval of
the State Government and the MoEF.