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Coastal Zone Management

Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Plan

Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority

District Coastal Zone Management Committees

Coastal Zone Management

About the Law

Central Government have declared the coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and back waters which are influenced by tidal action (in the landward side) up to 500 mts. from the High Tide Line (HTL) and the land between the Low Tide Line (LTL) and the HTL as “Coastal Regulation Zone” (CRZ), on 19.2.1991.

Classification Criteria and Regulatory Norms:

The coastal regulation zone has been classified as CRZ-I, CRZ-II and CRZ-II in the State for the purpose of regulation of the permitted activities.

CRZ-I : Ecological sensitive area and the area between High Tide Line (HTL) and Low Tide Line (LTL). No new construction is permitted except for a few specified most essential activities like support activities for Atomic Energy Plants and Defense requirements, facilities required for disposal of treated effluents and other port related water front activities.

CRZ-II : The area that have been developed up to or close to the shore line which includes the designated urban areas that are substantially built up. Buildings permitted only on the landward side of the existing road (or roads approved in the coastal zone Management Plan of the area) or on the landward side of the existing authorized structures as defined in the notification. Reconstruction of the authorized buildings permitted subject to existing FSI/FAR norms without change in the use.

CRZ-III : The areas that are relatively undisturbed and those which do not belong to either CRZ-I or CRZ-II which includes mainly the rural area and those not substantially built up within designated urban areas. The area up to 200 mts. from HTL is earmarked as “No Development Zone”. No construction is permitted within this zone except for repairs to the existing authorized structures without exceeding existing FSI, plinth area and density. Development of vacant plots between 200 and 500 mts. of HTL is permitted in CRZ III for the purpose of construction of dwelling units and hotels/beach resorts subject to certain conditions.

Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Plan

Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) of the state was prepared and was approved by Ministry of Environment and Forest in the year 1996. According to this areas covered under CRZ-I, CRZ-II and CRZ-III were identified using satellite imagery and prepared maps in the scale 1:25,000. As the enforcement of the law and the management of the zone from the point of view of protection of environment using this maps was difficult the following steps are taken.

• Demarcation of High Tide Line (HTL) and Low Tide Line (LTL) on the ground and fixing reference pillars all along the coast and rivers.
• Preparation of local level Coastal Regulation Zone Maps on the cadastral maps indicating HTL, LTL, 200 mt line, 100 mt line and other lines required for the purpose of enforcement of the law, the reference pillars and different zones of regulation.

The above task has been entrusted to National Hydrographic Office, Dehradun which is an organization under the Ministry of Defence of Government of India and an agency authorized by Ministry of Environment of Forest for this purpose at an estimated cost of Rs.2.34 crores. This project is funded by KUIDFC under KUDCEMP.

Demarcation and fixing of reference pillars is completed in Dakshina Kannada District and the work is under progress in the other two districts.

Preparation of local level maps for Dakshina Kannada District is in the final stage and mapping of other two districts has begun.

Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority

Karnataka State Coastal Zone Management Authority, has been constituted vide notification No. S.O.21 (E), dated 04.01.2002 by MOEF, GOI as per sub section (1) and (3) of section 3 of Environment (protection) Act, 1986 for a period of three years. the Authority consists of the following persons for a period of three years.

The Authority has the following the functions;-

1) The Authority has the power to take the following measures for protecting and improving the quality of the coastal environment and preventing, abating and controlling environmental pollution in the coastal areas of the State of Karnataka namely:-
I. Examination of proposals for changes or modifications in classification of Coastal Regulation Zone areas and in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) received from the Karnataka State Government and making specific recommendations to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority therefor.

II. (a) Inquire into cases of alleged violations of the provisions of the said Act or the rules made thereunder, or under any other law which is related to the objects of the said Act and, if found necessary in a specific case, issuing directions under Section 5 of the said Act, insofar as such directions are not inconsistent with any direction issued in that specific case by the National Coastal Zone Management Authority or by the Central Government;
(b) Review of cases involving violations of the provisions of the said Act, and the rules made thereunder, or under any other law which is related to the objects of the said Act, and if found necessary referring such cases, with comments, for review to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority:
Provided that the cases under subclauses (a) and (b) of this sub-paragraph may either be taken up suo-moto or on the basis of complaint made by an individual or a representative body or an organisation.

III. Filing complaints under Section 19 of the said Act in cases of non-compliance of the directions issued by it under sub-clause (a) of sub-paragraph (ii) of paragraph 11 of the Order.

IV. To take action under Section 10 of the said Act to verify the facts concerning the issues arising from sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of paragraph 11 of this Order.

V. The Authority deal with environmental issues relating to Coastal Regulation Zone, which may be referred to it by the Karnataka State Government, the National Coastal Zone Management Authority or the Central Government.

VI. The Authority identifies ecologically sensitive areas in the Coastal Regulation Zone and formulates area-specific management plans for such identified areas.

VII. The Authority identifies coastal areas highly vulnerable to erosion or degradation and formulates area specific management plans for such identified areas.

VIII. The Authority identifies economically important stretches in Coastal Regulation Zone and prepares Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans for the same.

IX. The Authority submits the plans prepared by it under paragraphs IV, V and VI above and modifications thereof to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority for examination and its approval.

X. The Authority examines all projects proposed in Coastal Regulation Zone areas and give their recommendations before the, project proposals are referred to the Central Government or the agencies who have been entrusted to clear such projects under the notification, of the Government of India in the Ministry of Environment and Forests vide number S.O.144(E) dated 19th February, 1991.

XI. The Authority ensures compliance of all specific conditions that are stipulated and laid down in the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan of Karnataka.

XII. The Authority ensures that at least two-third members of the Authority are present during the meetings.

XIII. The Authority furnishes report of its activities at least once in six months to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority.

XIV. The foregoing powers and functions of the Authority shall be subject to the supervision and control of the Central Government.

XV. The Authority has its headquarters at Bangalore.

XVI. Any matter specifically not falling within the scope and jurisdiction of the Authority will be dealt with by the statutory authorities concerned.

District Coastal Zone Management Committees

State Government has constituted district Coastal Zone Management Committee (DCZMC) in each of the coastal districts under the chairmanship the concerned Deputy Commissioner. A local Non-Government Agency and Chief Executive officers of the concerned Zilla Panchayath are the members of DCZMC and the concerned DCF, CRZ is the Member Secretary. The DCZMC assists the State Coastal Zone Management Authority in discharging the expected duties apart from attending to the local issues concerned with the Coastal Regulation Zones.