Coastal Regulation Zone notification 2011

Apart from codifying the 25 amendments that were made to CRZ notification between 1991-2009,
the CRZ notification (2011) has several new features –

 It has special provisions for Goa, Kerala, Greater Mumbai and critically vulnerable coastal areas
(CVCAs) like Sunderban mangrove area, Chilka and Bhitarkanika (Orissa), Gulf of Khambat and
Gulf of Kutch (Gujarat), Malwan (Maharashtra), Karwar and Kundapur (Karnataka), Vembanad
(Kerala), Coringa, East Godavari and Krishna Delta (Andhra Pradesh), Gulf of Mannar (Tamil
Nadu).
 Clear procedures for obtaining CRZ approval with time-lines have been stipulated along with
post-clearance monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
 Water area up to 12 nautical miles in the sea and the entire water area of a tidal water body such as
creek, river, estuary etc., would now be included in the CRZ areas, without imposing any
restrictions of fishing activities.
 The concept of a Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), to be prepared with the fullest
involvement and participation of local communities, has been introduced.
 The concept of a hazard line to be demarcated over the next five years has been introduced to
protect life and property of local communities and infrastructure along coastal areas.

Some of the prohibited activities within the CRZ as per the present notification include -

 Setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries except -

o Those directly related to waterfront or directly needing foreshore facilities;
o Projects of Department of Atomic Energy;
o Facilities for generating power by non-conventional energy sources and setting up of
desalination plants in the areas not classified as CRZ-I(i) based on an impact assessment
study including social impacts.;
o Development of green field airport already permitted at Navi Mumbai;
o Reconstruction, repair works of dwelling units of local communities including fishers in
accordance with local town and country planning regulations.
 Setting up and expansion of fish processing units including warehousing except hatchery and
natural fish drying in permitted areas:
 Land reclamation, bunding or disturbing the natural course of seawater.
 Setting up and expansion of units or mechanism for disposal of wastes and effluents
 Discharge of untreated waste and effluents from industries, cities or towns and other human
settlements. The concerned authorities shall implement schemes for phasing out existing discharge
of this nature, if any, within a time period not exceeding two years from the date of issue of this
notification.
 Dumping of city or town wastes including construction debris, industrial solid wastes, fly ash for
the purpose of land filling. The concerned authority shall implement schemes for phasing out any
existing practice, if any, shall be phased out within a period of one year from date of
commencement of this notification.

The notification includes the following annexures –

 Guidelines for preparation of Coastal Zone Management Plans

 List of petroleum and chemical products permitted for storage in [CRZ except CRZ-I(A)]
 Guidelines for development of beach resorts or hotels in the designated areas of CRZ-III and
CRZ-II for occupation of tourist or visitors with prior approval of the Ministry of Environment
and Forests.

The salient points of the draft Coastal Regulation Zone notification circulated in 2010 as well its critique
by the Kerala Swathantra Malsya Thozhilali Federation can be viewed at the India Water Portal
Coastal Erosion
The power of the sea has shaped Ireland’s coast into what we can see today. Two main
processes are responsible for this; erosion and deposition. Coastal erosion is the breaking down
and carrying away of materials by the sea. Deposition is when material carried by the sea is
deposited or left behind on the coast.

Destructive Waves
Coastal erosion takes place with destructive waves. These destructive waves are very high in
energy and are most powerful in stormy conditions. The swash is when a wave washes up onto
the shoreline and the backwash is when the water from a wave retreats back into the sea.
Destructive waves have stronger backwashes than swashes. This strong backwash pulls
material away from the shoreline and into the sea resulting in erosion.

Constructive Waves
Constructive waves, on the other hand, are low energy waves that result in the build-up of
material on the shoreline. Constructive waves are low energy and have stronger swashes than
backwashes. This means that any material being carried by the sea is washed up and begins to
build up along the coastline. The material that is deposited by constructive waves can most often
be seen by the creation of beaches.

How Waves Erode

Destructive waves erode through four main processes; Hydraulic Action, Compression, Abrasion
and Attrition.

Image credit: Jeff Hansen, U.S. Geological Survey.

Hydraulic Action
Hydraulic Action is the sheer force of water crashing against the coastline causing material to be
dislodged and carried away by the sea.

Compression
Compression occurs in rocky areas when air enters into crack in rock. This air is trapped in
cracks by the rising tide, as waves crash against the rock the air inside the crack is rapidly
compressed and decompressed causing cracks to spread and pieces of rock to break off.
Compression is one of the main processes that result in the creation of caves.

Abrasion
Abrasion is when rocks and other materials carried by the sea are picked up by strong waves
and thrown against the coastline causing more material to be broken off and carried away by the
sea.

Attrition
Attrition is when material such as rocks and stones carried by waves hit and knock against each
other wearing them down. As these materials are worn down sand and rounded beach pebbles
are formed.

Cliffs
Sea cliffs are one of the clearest examples of sea erosion that we can see. Sea cliffs are steep
faces of rock and soil that are formed by destructive waves. Waves crashing against the
coastline erode until a notch is formed. The erosion of this notch undercuts the ground above it
until it becomes unstable and collapses. This process repeats itself and the sea cliff will continue
to retreat. Overtime a wave-cut platform will be formed in the sea just beneath the cliffs. This
wave-cut platform will form at the low-tide level and is evidence of where the cliff face once stood
before erosion caused the cliff face to retreat.

Sea Caves
Sea Caves form when cracks in rock at the base of cliffs are eroded and expanded by the sea.
The processes of compression and hydraulic are key to the creation of sea caves.
 Sea
Arch
Sea Arches are formed when a cave continues to be eroded and expanded until it cuts right
through a headland.
Sea Stack
A sea Stack forms when a sea arch continues to be eroded and widened until the rock becomes
too weak to support the roof of the sea arch and collapses into the sea. The remaining pillar of
rock is known as a sea stack.

Sea Stump
A sea stump is formed when a tall sea stack is eroded and worn down until it juts just above the
surface of the sea.