National
Coastal zone regulations to be amended
By J. Venkatesan
NEW DELHI, JAN. 23. The Centre has taken a major policy decision to relax the restrictions in construction activities in the coastal zone areas and has called for suggestions from the public and environmentalists for amending the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification.
The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (UMEF) has issued a draft amendment notification to permit infrastructural facilities and dwelling units for local inhabitants of the coastal zone areas considering the difficulties being faced by them.
The amendment notification has also taken into consideration the deliberations the Ministry had with the Ministries concerned and the State Governments. The UMEF is of the opinion that the CRZ notification requires amendment to permit housing schemes of the urban development authorities which had been approved prior to February 19, 1991, (when the restrictions were imposed) facilities and activities, including setting up of non-polluting industries in the field of Information Technology and other service industries in the special economic zones and salt harvesting by solar evaporation of sea water in the CRZ notification of 1991.The proposed amendment details the norms for development of construction activities in different categories of CRZ areas. Guidelines for the development of tourist resorts and hotels in the designated areas of CRZ have also been notified.
Objections and suggestions from the public on the draft notification, which is available from the UMEF, CGO complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003 and which can also be seen on the website: www.envfor.nic.in, can be sent in writing for the consideration of the Government within 60 days. Based on the feedback, a final notification would be issued.
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