Report on Conservation of Coastal Ecosystem

Report on Conservation of Coastal Ecosystem

Recently the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has presented the report on the conservation of coastal ecosystem.

The report highlights whether the steps taken by the Union Environment Ministry to conserve India’s coastal ecosystem have been successful.

Key findings of report-

• The National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) is yet to be notified as a permanent body. It is still functioning as an ad-hoc (temporary) body.
• State/UT Coastal Zone Management Authorities (SCZMAs/UTCZMAs) have not been reconstituted (e.g.- Karnataka). In some states it has been reorganized with delay (Goa, Odisha and West Bengal).
• The projects were approved despite objections to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report.
• Integrated Management Plans for critically vulnerable coastal areas are yet to be prepared by the coastal states.

Key Recommendations

• SCZMA and NCZMA should be made permanent institutions.
• A thorough ecological assessment should be done before a project is sanctioned.
• A management plan should be prepared for the preparation of maps of coral reefs, nesting sites of turtles, etc.

Protection of Coastal Areas in India

• Notifications have been issued under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 to regulate activities on the coast.
• The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification (CRZ), 2019 classifies the coastal zone into different zones to manage and regulate infrastructure activities.

There are three institutions responsible for the implementation of CRZ:

1. National Coastal Zone Management Authority -NCZMA at the Centre,
2. SCZMA/UTCZMA in each Coastal State and Union Territory, and
3. District Level Committees in Coastal Zone Districts.

Coastal Ecological Zone –

• CRZ-I: It covers ecologically sensitive areas.
• CRZ-II: Areas within existing municipal limits/other urban areas which are adequately built up.
• CRZ-III: This usually includes undisturbed areas or areas that do not belong to CRZ-I or II. This includes coastal areas of rural areas, areas within existing municipal limits or other urban areas that are not adequately built up.
• CRZ-IV: This includes the area up to twelve nautical miles from the low tide line to the sea and the inland waters affected by tides.

Source – The Hindu

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