CAG Report on Tamil Nadu’s Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has recently raised serious concerns about how Tamil Nadu is managing its coastal areas under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2011. The CAG report, tabled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, highlights several delays, violations, and lapses in the enforcement of the CRZ rules, particularly between 2015 and 2022.

Major Issues Highlighted in the CAG Report:

• Delays in Preparing Maps:
  • In 2017, the state government approved the preparation of maps that would help local authorities enforce CRZ regulations.
  • However, this project faced a 30-month delay, and the maps were only completed by mid-2022. This delay meant that local authorities couldn’t properly monitor or enforce the CRZ rules, leading to several violations.
• Unauthorised Approvals:
  • Between 2015 and 2022, the Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNSCZMA) approved 114 out of 175 projects without sending them for proper review by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) or the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA).
  • This bypassing of the scrutiny process meant that projects were approved without proper environmental checks, violating the rules set under the CRZ Notification.
• Unauthorised Constructions and Violations: The report identified several instances of illegal construction and violations of CRZ regulations, including:
  • Bridge construction at Nemmeli in Chengalpattu.
  • A beach resort at Koovathur in Chengalpattu.
  • Cold storage units in Kanniyakumari.
• There was also the issue of chemical waste dumping at Marakkanam, and an illegal housing layout in the same area.

• Failure in Monitoring and Surveillance:
  • The CAG noted that TNSCZMA did not have adequate monitoring mechanisms in place to track violations, which is a requirement under the CRZ rules.
  • Despite multiple requests, the TNSCZMA failed to provide the necessary CZMP maps, which led the CAG to use Google Earth imagery to identify 90 unauthorised constructions in the No Development Zone in areas like Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Thoothukudi.
  • The TNSCZMA, relying on the Department of Environment’s staff, lacked dedicated resources for effective monitoring, which allowed several violations, like construction of beach houses, to go undetected.
• Lack of Local Community Representation: The CAG also flagged the lack of local community representatives in the District Coastal Zone Management Authorities (DCZMAs). The CRZ Notification mandates that these authorities should include local community members, but only four districts complied with this requirement as of May 2023.

What is a Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)?

• The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) refers to specific areas along the coastline that are regulated to protect coastal ecosystems from harmful activities.
• The CRZ rules were first established under the Environment Protection Act of 1986 and officially notified in February 1991 by the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• These regulations are aimed at conserving the environment, preventing over-exploitation of natural resources, and protecting the livelihoods of coastal communities.
• The rules have been updated several times, with the 2011 CRZ Notification and the 2018 CRZ Notification being the most recent changes.
• Coastal Areas Defined: The CRZ regulations apply to the land and water between the low tide line (LTL) and high tide line (HTL), as well as the areas subject to tidal influence, such as creeks, rivers, seas, bays, and backwaters, extending up to 500 meters from the HTL.
• Purpose:
  • To protect fragile coastal ecosystems (such as mangroves, coral reefs, sand dunes, etc.).
  • To manage development along the coast in a sustainable manner, ensuring it does not harm the environment or communities dependent on it.
• Key Features of the 2018 CRZ Notification:
• Floor Space Index (FSI) in CRZ-II (Urban Areas): The 2018 notification allows increased floor space index (FSI) or floor area ratio in urban coastal zones (CRZ-II), enabling taller buildings and more intensive use of land.
• CRZ-III (Rural Areas): CRZ-III areas (rural, undeveloped regions) are now divided into two categories, giving more room for development while still protecting the environment.
• Promotion of Tourism: The 2018 rules encourage the development of tourism infrastructure along coastal areas, including eco-tourism and resorts, in certain zones.
• Streamlined CRZ Clearance Process: The clearance process for development projects in coastal areas has been simplified to speed up approvals, making it easier for developers to undertake projects like roads, ports, and tourism facilities.
• No-Development Zone (NDZ) for Islands: A 20-meter NDZ has been mandated for all islands, protecting them from overdevelopment and ensuring that development is controlled.
• Pollution Control: The 2018 notification allows the creation of treatment facilities in certain areas (CRZ-I B) to deal with pollution, especially in eco-sensitive zones.
• Exemptions for Defense and Strategic Projects: The notification provides exemptions for defense and strategic infrastructure development, allowing them to bypass some of the restrictions for national security reasons.

Four Types of Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ):

• CRZ-I (Ecologically Sensitive Areas): This zone includes mangrove swamps, coral reefs, sand dunes, maritime parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and reserve forests. These areas are highly sensitive and have the highest level of protection. No construction is allowed except for defense, strategic, or public utility projects.
• CRZ-II (Urban Areas): These are built-up areas within municipal boundaries that are already developed. This zone permits construction but only authorized projects. Unauthorized construction is strictly prohibited in this zone.
• CRZ-III (Rural Areas): These are undeveloped rural areas, including agricultural and natural spaces. Limited development is allowed, primarily for agriculture and essential public utilities (e.g., schools, hospitals).
• CRZ-IV (Water Bodies): This zone includes the tidally-influenced areas of water bodies such as rivers, lakes, and seas extending up to the territorial waters. It is important for fishing and marine life and is subject to regulations regarding pollution and development activities.