Defence projects exempted from coastal regulation norms

New Delhi, July 4 (IANS) The Union Environment Ministry on Tuesday relaxed the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules, clearing way for the defence projects and development of important infrastructure in the ecologically-critical areas.

However, apart from defence projects, the Ministry has also relaxed the norms in favour of Industries, making it easier for the industrial expansions in the sensitive coastal zones, at a time when industrial and real estate lobbies have been seeking exemptions in CRZ.

In a notification, the Ministry has amended the earlier “Coastal Regulation Zone Notification-2011” by inserting a clause specific to defence projects.

It has also deleted another rule that put restrictions on the setting up and expansion of industries, operations or processes in CRZ.

The amendment has inserted the special clause, “projects relating to defence organisations which are of strategic requirement and national importance and cannot be located elsewhere, subject to strict environmental safeguards”.

The CRZ-I pertains to the ecologically-sensitive areas up to 100 meter from the shorelines.

At the same time, it has completely omitted another clause which restricts setting up and expansion of industries with respect to the specific distance from the hazard line and high tide line (HTL).

The old CRZ rules allowed no construction or industrial expansion on the land falling between the hazard line and 500 meter from HTL on the landward side in case of seafront. It also restricted activities between the hazard line and 100 meter line in case of tidal-influenced water body.

Hazard line denotes the line demarcated by the Union Environment Ministry through the Survey of India taking into account tides, waves, sea level rise and shoreline changes.

The notification states that the changes were made following report of a special committee it has constituted following representations and concerns from the defence organisations, various state governments, union territories and stakeholders

First International Day of Zero Waste bolsters actions to address crisis

New Delhi: In response to the worsening impacts of waste on human health, the economy and the environment, the world on Thursday marked the inaugural International Day of Zero Waste,...

Bangladesh to ban single-use plastic items in Sundarbans

Dhaka: Bangladesh will ban single-use plastic items in the Sundarbans, one of the world's largest mangrove forests. Sundarbans' environment and biodiversity are being severely affected due to the haphazard use...

Ailment of Namibian cheetah Sasha who died in MP first detected in January

Bhopal: Five-year-old female Namibian cheetah 'Sasha', who reportedly died due to serious renal (kidney related) on Monday, her ailment was first detected in the last week of January, three month...

Guterres asking G20 for pact to hold down global warming; UN experts warn of food crisis for India

United Nations: As a panel of UN experts warned that India's food production could see a massive fall if global warming went unchecked, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that he...

Coastal erosion in Goa a threat to sunshine state’s tourism economy

Panaji: Fearing sea erosion could become a major threat to the Tourism Industry of Goa, Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao has moved a Private Member Resolution recommending the government to...

400,000 gallons of radioactive water leaked from US nuclear power plant

Washington: About 400,000 gallons of radioactive water has leaked from a nuclear power plant in Monticello, the midwestern US state of Minnesota, regulators revealed recently. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency...

39 of World’s 50 most polluted cities in India: Report

India dropped from fifth to eighth place in terms of the world’s most polluted countries in 2022 India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are the top three most polluted countries An estimated...

Biomass emissions cause high pollution in Delhi during night: IIT-K study

Kanpur (UP): A collaborative study led by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur has found that the high amount of particulate pollution in Delhi during nightly hours was caused by...

Sea level rise a key risk for Asian megacities including Chennai, Kolkata

New Delhi: Sea level rise this century may disproportionately affect certain Asian megacities, including Chennai and Kolkata, as well as western tropical Pacific islands and the western Indian Ocean, according...

Oil spill forms off TN coast after crack in underwater pipeline

Chennai: An oil spill has been reported in the sea off the Tamil Nadu coast near Nagapattinam. Sources claimed the oil spill was caused after a crack developed in an...

Fukushima’s nuclear wastewater capable of producing cancers after release

Wellington: Treated nuclear wastewater from Japan's damaged Fukushima power plant, which, if released into the Pacific Ocean as planned will ultimately reach the High Seas, is "capable of producing cancers",...

Heat-related deaths hit 20-year high in Texas last year: Report

Houston: Heat-related deaths in Texas last year hit a two-decade new high amid a sharp rise in migrant deaths and soaring temperatures enhanced by climate change, according to a media...

Read Previous

Trump reverses Obama-era affirmative action in school

Read Next

LG bound to act on advice of elected Delhi government: SC

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com