The environment ministry issued an extraordinary gazette notification on January 9 declaring a list of activities and facilities that would be permissible in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) areas of certain beaches, which have been identified for obtaining the ‘Blue Flag’ certification.

The ministry has listed 18 infrastructural facilities that can come up “maintaining a minimum distance of 10 metres from the high tide line (HTL)”.

What is Blue Flag?

The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised voluntary eco-labels awarded to beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators. The programme is operated under the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. The FEE is a not-for-profit NGO consisting of 65 organisations in 60 member countries.

The Blue Flag programme started in France in 1985 and has been implemented in Europe since 1987, and in areas outside Europe since 2001, when South Africa joined.

In order to qualify for the Blue Flag, a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety and accessibility criteria must be met and maintained.

The mission is to promote sustainability in the tourism sector, through environmental education, environmental protection and other sustainable development practices.

More than 4,500 beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats are concretely contributing to the sustainable development goals.

13 beaches selected in India

The environment ministry has embarked upon a programme for Blue Flag certification for select beaches in the country.

This certification is accorded by FEE based on 33 stringent criteria in four major heads…

1. Environmental education and information

2. Bathing water quality

3. Environment management and conservation

4. Safety and services in beaches

The Blue Flag beach is an eco-tourism model endeavouring to provide to the tourists / beach goers clean and hygienic bathing water, facilities / amenities, safe and healthy environment and sustainable development of the area.

The ministry identified 13 pilot beaches for the certification in consultation with concerned coastal states / UTs.

The beaches are Ghoghla (Diu), Shivrajpur (Gujarat), Bhogave (Maharashtra), Padubidri and Kasarkod (Karnataka), Kappad (Kerala), Kovalam (Tamil Nadu), Eden (Puducherry), Rushikonda (Andhra Pradesh), Miramar (Goa), Golden beach (Odisha), Radhanagar (Andaman & Nicobar Islands) and Bangaram (Lakshadweep).

What is CRZ?

With the objective of conservation and protection of the coastal environment, the environment ministry issued the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification in 1991, which was subsequently revised.

As per the notification, the coastal land up to 500 m from the high tide line (HTL) and a stage of 10 0m along the banks of creeks, estuaries, backwaters and rivers subject to tidal fluctuations, is called the CRZ.

Coastal areas have been classified as CRZ-1, CRZ-2, CRZ-3, CRZ-4.

CRZ-1: These areas are ecologically sensitive and essential in maintaining the coastal ecosystem. They lie between low and high tide line.

CRZ-2: These are urban areas located in the coastal areas. Under the 2018 CRZ, the floor space index norms has been de-freezed.

CRZ-3: Rural and urban localities which fall outside the 1 and 2 zones. Only certain activities related to agriculture and some public facilities are allowed in this zone.

CRZ-4: Coastal stretches in the Andaman and Nicobar islands, Lakshadweep and small islands, except those designated as CRZ 1, 2 and 3. Fishing and allied activities are permitted in this zone.

The notification was amended from time to time. A need was felt to undertake a comprehensive revision of the notification on the basis of number of representations from various coastal states / UTs, besides other stakeholders, particularly related to the management and conservation of marine and coastal ecosystems, development in coastal areas, eco-tourism, livelihood options and sustainable development of coastal communities, etc.

Therefore, the ministry constituted a committee in June 2014 under the chairmanship of Shailesh Nayak (secretary, ministry of earth sciences) to examine the issues and concerns of coastal states / UTs and other stakeholders for recommending appropriate changes in the CRZ Notification, 2011.

The Shailesh Nayak Committee held wide-ranging consultations with state governments and other stakeholders and submitted its recommendations in 2015. The recommendations were further examined in consultation with MPs of coastal states and UTs besides other concerned ministries.

In December 2018, the Centre approved the new rules governing coastlines in which it has given impetus to the promotion of tourism facilities such as shacks on beaches and stipulated a No-Development Zone (NDZ) of 20 m for all islands.

Last week, four apartment complexes in Kochi were demolished following a Supreme Court order after it found violations in CRZ norms.

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