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In Kochi, India, the demolition of four high-rise buildings in 2019 brought the lack of clarity regarding the coastal zone category of the apartments into focus. The Supreme Court ruled that the buildings violated coastal regulation zone (CRZ) rules, leading to their destruction. However, the controversy surrounding the demolition arose because there was no clear definition of the precise coastal zone category in which these apartments fell.
A new set of CRZ rules was introduced in January 2019 that superseded the 2011 CRZ notification, which reduced the "no development" zone requirement by a factor of ten. What used to be 500 meters in a particular zone is now only 50 meters, and 200 meters has become 20 meters. Environmentalists have raised concerns over the dilution of CRZ rules, and it has become difficult for the citizens of Kerala to navigate the varying regulations that apply to both urban and rural areas.
To address these concerns, the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) was established to create a coastal zone management plan (CZMP) with detailed maps outlining which areas fell under which CRZ category and the associated restrictions. The CZMP was created based on the 2019 notification, and the expert committee, headed by the then additional chief secretary (environment) V Venu, studied the plan, and submitted a report to the government in February 2022. The government accepted the panel's recommendations, but CZMP maps have yet to be published even after a year.
Furthermore, KCZMA's term expired in October 2022, and it has not been reconstituted. This has left the people seeking clarity on the subject. However, the latest edition of PB Sahasranaman's book "The Law Relating to Protection of Coastal Areas" provides some help. Sahasranaman, a senior high court advocate and environmental specialist, was a member of the expert committee and has documented CRZ laws for years. The book includes the full text of central laws related to coastal zones and wetlands from 1991 to the latest ones, as well as all Kerala government rules and notifications on the subject. It also compiles all important state and Supreme Court judgments on coastal regulation.
The book is expected to help people understand the complex and varied regulations surrounding CRZ, and it could potentially pave the way for the construction of new buildings in previously prohibited areas. However, environmentalists remain concerned about the dilution of CRZ rules and the impact this could have on coastal areas' ecology and biodiversity. The government's failure to publish CZMP maps has only added to the confusion and uncertainty surrounding CRZ regulations.
In conclusion, the lack of clarity surrounding CRZ regulations has caused controversy in Kochi, with the demolition of four high-rise buildings. While the new set of CRZ rules introduced in 2019 may allow new buildings to be constructed in previously prohibited areas, this has raised concerns among environmentalists about the impact on coastal areas' ecology and biodiversity. The publication of PB Sahasranaman's book provides some clarity on the subject, but the government's failure to publish CZMP maps only adds to the confusion and uncertainty surrounding CRZ regulations.
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