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A move to save heritage buildings

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI MAY 6. The notification on Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, that has become a bone of contention between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu Government, bans the demolition or reconstruction of buildings of archaeological or historical importance, heritage buildings and buildings under public use.

The notification, issued on April 22, states that the buildings being used for the purpose of worship, education, medical care and cultural activities were included in the list of structures that could neither be demolished nor reconstructed.

The notification points out that the amendments were necessitated following reports of destruction of mangroves, depletion of ground water and certain other activities involving severe ecological damages caused as a result of large-sized projects being implemented without clearance from the Ministry.

Besides, all building where activities with an investment of Rs. 5 crores or more were being carried out would not be pulled down or rebuilt.

Those with an investment of less than Rs. 5 crores would have to be regulated by the authorities concerned at the State or Centre in accordance with the Coastal Regulation Zone guidelines.

The latest notification is an amendment to the February 19, 1991 notification declaring coastal stretches as Coastal Regulation Zones and regulating activities in the region under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986, aiming to protect coastal environments from indiscriminate development activities and safeguard the interest of local fishing communities and other traditional coastal communities from land alienation by industrial development.

The notification lays down restrictions on activities on the land lying 500 metres from the high tide line — the line on the land upto which the highest water line reaches during the spring tide.

Restrictions are also imposed on setting up and expansion of industries and operations in the zone, including manufacture and handling of hazardous substances, disposal of wastes, mining and harvesting or drawal of water from the sea, rivers, creeks and back waters.

Several activities are allowed in the coastal region after due permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests but only if it requires water front and foreshore facilities such as Defence requirements, operational construction for ports and harbours, thermal power plants and other activities with investment exceeding Rs. 5 crores.

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