Coastal zone regulation 2019

1. The land area from High Tide Line (hereinafter referred to as the HTL) to 500 meters on the
landward side along the sea front.

Explanation. - For the purposes of this notification, the HTL means the line on the land upto
which the highest water line reaches during the spring tide, as demarcated by the National
Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) in accordance with the laid down
procedures and made available to various coastal States and Union territories.

2. The “intertidal zone” means land area between the HTL and the Low Tide Line (hereinafter
referred to as the LTL).

3. The water and the bed area between the LTL to the territorial water limit (12 Nm) in case of sea
and the water and the bed area between LTL at the bank to the LTL on the opposite side of the
bank, of tidal influenced water bodies.
4. CRZ shall apply to the land area between HTL to 50 meters or width of the creek, whichever is less
on the landward side along the tidal influenced water bodies that are connected to the sea and
the distance up to which development along such tidal influenced water bodies is to be regulated
shall be governed by the distance up to which the tidal effects are experienced which shall be
determined based on salinity concentration of five parts per thousand (ppt) measured during the
driest period of the year and distance up to which tidal effects are experienced shall be clearly
identified and demarcated accordingly in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (hereinafter referred
to as the CZMP): Provided that the CRZ limit of 50 meters or width of the creek whichever is less,
shall be subject to revision and final approval of the respective CZMPs as per this notification,
framed with due consultative process, public hearing etc. and environmental safeguards enlisted
therein, and till such time the CZMP to this notification is approved, the limit of 100 meters or
width of the creek whichever is less, shall continue to apply.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this sub-paragraph the expression “tidal influenced water
bodies” means the water bodies influenced by tidal effects from sea in the bays, estuaries, rivers,
creeks, backwaters, lagoons, ponds that are connected to the sea.
 Classification of CRZ
CRZ-I areas are environmentally most critical and are further classified as under:
CRZ-I A: shall constitute the following ecologically sensitive areas (ESAs) and the geomorphological
features which play a role in maintaining the integrity of the coast viz.:
(i) Mangroves (in case mangrove area is more than 1000 square meters, a buffer of 50 meters along the
mangroves shall be provided and such area shall also constitute CRZ–I A);
(ii) Corals and coral reefs;
(iii) Sand dunes;
(iv) Biologically active mudflats;
(v) National parks, marine parks, sanctuaries, reserve forests, wildlife habitats and other protected areas
under the provisions of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (53 of 1972), Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
(69 of 1980) or Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 0f 1986), including Biosphere Reserves;
(vi) Salt marshes;
(vii) Turtle nesting grounds;
(viii) Horse shoe crabs’ habitats;
(ix) Sea grass beds;
(x) Nesting grounds of birds;
(xi) Areas or structures of archaeological importance and heritage sites.
(b) A detailed environment management plan shall be formulated by the states and Union
territories for such ecologically sensitive areas in respective territories, as mapped out by the
National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), Chennai based on guidelines as
contained in Annexure-I to this notification and integrated with the CZMP.

CRZ-I B: The intertidal zone i.e. the area between Low Tide Line and High Tide Line shall constitute the CRZ-I B.

CRZ-II:
CRZ-II shall constitute the developed land areas up to or close to the shoreline, within the existing municipal
limits or in other existing legally designated urban areas, which are substantially built-up with a ratio of built-up
plots to that of total plots being more than 50 per cent and have been provided with drainage and approach
roads and other infrastructural facilities, such as water supply, sewerage mains, etc.
CRZ-III: Land areas that are relatively undisturbed (viz. rural areas, etc.) and those which do not fall
under CRZ-II, shall constitute CRZ–III, and CRZ-III shall be further classified into following categories:

CRZ-III A:
Such densely populated CRZ-III areas, where the population density is more than 2161 per square
kilometre as per 2011 census base, shall be designated as CRZ–III A and in CRZ-III A, area up to 50
meters from the HTL on the landward side shall be earmarked as the ‘No Development Zone (NDZ)’,
provided the CZMP as per this notification, framed with due consultative process, have been
approved, failing which, a NDZ of 200 meters shall continue to apply.

CRZ-III B:
All other CRZ-III areas with population density of less than 2161 per square kilometre, as per 2011
census base, shall be designated as CRZ-III B and in CRZ-III B, the area up to 200 meters from the
HTL on the landward side shall be earmarked as the ‘No Development Zone (NDZ)’.

Land area up to 50 meters from the HTL, or width of the creek whichever is less, along the tidal
influenced water bodies in the CRZ III, shall also be earmarked as the NDZ in CRZ III. Note: The NDZ
shall not be applicable in the areas falling within notified Port limits.
CRZ- IV: The CRZ- IV shall constitute the water area and shall be further classified as under:

CRZ- IVA: The water area and the sea bed area between the Low Tide Line up to twelve nautical
miles on the seaward side shall constitute CRZ-IV A.

CRZ- IVB: CRZ-IV B areas shall include the water area and the bed area between LTL at the bank of
the tidal influenced water body to the LTL on the opposite side of the bank, extending from the
mouth of the water body at the sea up to the influence of tide, i.e., salinity of five parts per
thousand (ppt) during the driest season of the year.
Areas requiring special consideration in the CRZ
Following coastal areas shall be accorded special consideration for the purpose of protecting the
critical coastal environment and difficulties faced by local communities:

1. Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCA): Sundarban region of West Bengal and other
ecologically sensitive areas identified as under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 such as Gulf
of Khambat and Gulf of Kutchh in Gujarat, Malvan, Achra-Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, Karwar and
Coondapur in Karnataka, Vembanad in Kerala, Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu, Bhaitarkanika in
Odisha, Coringa, East Godavari and Krishna in Andhra Pradesh shall be treated as Critical
Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCA) and managed with the involvement of coastal communities
including fisher folk who depend on coastal resources for their sustainable livelihood.
2. CRZ for inland Backwater islands and islands along the mainland coast.
3. CRZ falling within municipal limits of Greater Mumbai.
Prohibited activities within CRZ.
The following activities shall be prohibited, in general, within the entire CRZ and exceptions to these
and other permissible and regulated activities in specific CRZ categories viz. CRZ-I, II, III and IV, shall
be governed by the provisions of paragraph 5:
i. Setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries, operations or processes.
ii. Manufacture or handling of oil, storage or disposal of hazardous substances as specified in the
notification of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change number G.S.R.395 (E),
dated the 4th April, 2016.
iii. Setting up of new fish processing units.
iv. Land reclamation, bunding or disturbing the natural course of seawater except for the activities
permissible under this notification and executed with prior permission from the competent
authority.
v. Discharge of untreated waste and effluents from industries, cities or towns and other human
settlements.
vi. Dumping of city or town wastes including construction debris, industrial solid wastes, fly ash
for the purpose of land filling.
vii. Port and harbour projects in high eroding stretches of the coast.
viii. Mining of sand, rocks and other sub-strata materials.
ix. Dressing or altering of active sand dunes.
x. In order to safeguard the aquatic system and marine life, disposal of plastic into the coastal
waters shall be prohibited and adequate measures for management and disposal of plastic
materials shall be undertaken in the CRZ.
xi. Drawal of ground water.
Regulation of permissible activities in CRZ -I
CRZ–IA:
These areas are ecologically most sensitive and generally no activities shall be permitted to be
carried out in the CRZ-I A area, with following exceptions:-
(i) Eco-tourism activities such as mangrove walks, tree huts, nature trails, etc., in identified
stretches areas subject to such eco-tourism plan featuring in the approved CZMP as per this
notification, framed with due consultative process, public hearing, etc. and further subject to
environmental safeguards and precautions related to the Ecologically Sensitive Areas, as
enlisted in the CZMP.
(ii) In the mangrove buffer, only such activities shall be permitted like laying of pipelines,
transmission lines, conveyance systems or mechanisms and construction of road on stilts, etc.
that are required for public utilities.
(iii) Construction of roads and roads on stilts, by way of reclamation in CRZ-I areas, shall be
permitted only in exceptional cases for defence, strategic purposes and public utilities, subject
to a detailed marine or terrestrial or both environment impact assessment, to be
recommended by the Coastal Zone Management Authority and approved by the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and in case construction of such roads passes
through mangrove areas or is likely to damage the mangroves, a minimum three times the
mangrove area affected or destroyed or cut during the construction process shall be taken up
for compensatory plantation of mangroves.
CRZ-I B: The inter tidal areas: Activities shall be regulated or permissible in the CRZ-I B areas as
under:-
(i) Land reclamation, bunding, etc. shall be permitted only for activities such as
a) foreshore facilities like ports, harbours, Jetties, wharves, quays, slipway, bridges, hover
ports for coast guard, sea links, etc;
b) projects for defence, strategic and security purposes;
c) road on stilts, provided that such roads shall not be authorised for permitting
development on the landward side of such roads, till the existing High Tide Line: Provided
that the use of reclaimed land may be permitted only for public utilities such as mass
rapid or multimodal transit system, construction and installation of all necessary
associated public utilities and infrastructure to operate such transit or transport system
including those for electrical or electronic signaling system, transit stopover of permitted
designs; except for any industrial operation, repair or maintenance;
d) measures for control of erosion;
e) maintenance and clearing of waterways, channels, ports and hover ports for coast guard;
f) measures to prevent sand bars, installation of tidal regulators, laying of storm water
drains or for structure for prevention of salinity ingress and freshwater recharge.
ii. Activities related to waterfront or directly needing foreshore facilities such as ports and
harbours, jetties, quays, wharves, erosion control measures, breakwaters, pipelines,
lighthouses, navigational safety facilities, coastal police stations, Indian coast guard stations
and the like.
iii. Power by non-conventional energy sources and associated facilities.
iv. Transfer of hazardous substances from ships to Ports, terminals and refineries and vice versa.
v. Facilities for receipt and storage of petroleum products and liquefied natural gas as specified
in Annexure-II to this notification, subject to implementation of safety regulations including
guidelines issued by the Oil Industry Safety Directorate in the Ministry of Petroleum and
Natural Gas and guidelines issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
provided that such facilities are for receipt and storage of fertilizers and raw materials required
for fertilizers, like ammonia, phosphoric acid, sulphur, sulphuric acid, nitric acid, etc.
vi. Storage of non-hazardous cargo i.e. edible oil, fertilizers and food grains in notified Ports.
vii. Hatchery and natural fish drying.
viii. Storm water drains.
ix. Treatment facilities for waste and effluents and conveyance of treated effluents.
x. Existing fish processing units may utilise 25% additional plinth area for modernisation
purposes (only for additional equipment and pollution control measures) subject to the
following:-
a) Floor Space Index of such reconstruction not exceeding the permissible Floor Space Index
as per prevalent town and country planning regulations;
b) additional plinth area is constructed only to the landward side.
c) approval of the concerned State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee.
xi. Projects classified as strategic, defence related projects and projects of the Department of
Atomic Energy, Government of India.
xii. Manual mining of atomic mineral(s) notified under Part-B of the First Schedule to the Mining
and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957)(67 of 1957) occurring as such or in
association with one or other minerals in the intertidal zone by such agencies as authorised by
the Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India as per mining plan approved by the
Atomic Mineral Directorate for Exploration and Research:
Provided that the manual mining operations shall be carried out only by deploying persons using baskets
and hand spades for collection of ore or mineral within the intertidal zone and as per approved mining
plan, without deploying or using drilling and blasting or Heavy Earth Moving Machinery in the intertidal
zone.
xiii. Exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas and all associated activities and facilities
thereto;
xiv. Foreshore requiring facilities for transport of raw materials, facilities for intake of cooling
water, intake water for desalination plants, etc, and outfall for discharge of treated wastewater
or cooling water from thermal power plants in conformity with the environmental standards
notified by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and relevant directions of
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) or State Pollution Control Board (SPCB) or Pollution
Control Committee (PCC), as the case may be.
xv. Pipelines, conveying systems including transmission lines.
xvi. Weather radar for monitoring of cyclones prediction, ocean observation platforms, movement
and associated activities.
xvii. Salt harvesting and associated facilities.
xviii. Desalination plants and associated facilities.
Regulation of permissible activities in CRZ -II
(i) Activities as permitted in CRZ-I B, shall also be permissible in CRZ-II, in so far as applicable.
(ii) Construction of buildings for residential purposes, schools, hospitals, institutions, offices, public
places, etc. shall be permitted only on the landward side of the existing road, or on the landward
side of existing authorised fixed structures: Provided that no permission for construction of
buildings shall be given on landward side of any new roads which are constructed on the seaward
side of an existing road.
(iii) Buildings permitted as in (ii) above, shall be subject to the local town and country planning
regulations as applicable from time to time, and the norms for the Floor Space Index (FSI) or Floor
Area Ratio (FAR) prevailing as on the date of this Notification, and in the event that there is a need
for amendment of the FSI after the date of publication of this notification in the official Gazette, the
Urban Local Body or State Government or Union territory Administration shall approach the
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change through the concerned State Coastal Zone
Management Authority (SCZMA) or Union Territory Coastal Zone Management Authority, as the
case may be and the SCZMA shall forward the proposal to the National Coastal Zone Management
Authority (NCZMA) with its views in the matter, and the NCZMA shall thereafter examine various
aspects like availability of public amenities, environmental protection measures, etc., and take a
suitable decision on the proposal and it shall be the responsibility of the concerned Town Planning
Authority to ensure that the Solid Wastes are handled as per respective Solid Waste Management
Rules and no untreated sewage is discharged on to the coast or coastal waters.
iv. Reconstruction of authorised buildings shall be permitted, without change in present land use,
subject to the local town and country planning regulations as applicable from time to time,
and the norms for the Floor Space Index or Floor Area Ratio, prevailing as on the date of
publication of this notification in the official Gazette and in the event that there is a need for
amendment of the FSI after the said date of this notification, the Urban Local Body or State
Government or Union territory Administration shall approach the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change through the concerned State Coastal Zone Management Authority
(SCZMA) or Union Territory Coastal Zone Management Authority, as the case may be and the
CZMA shall forward the proposal to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority
(NCZMA) with its views in the matter, and the NCZMA shall thereafter examine various aspects
like availability of public amenities, environmental protection measures etc,. and take a
suitable decision on the proposal and it shall be the responsibility of the concerned Town
Planning Authority to ensure that the Solid Wastes are handled as per respective Solid Waste
Management Rules and no untreated sewage is discharged on to the coast or coastal waters.
v. Development of vacant plots in designated areas for construction of beach resorts or hotels or
tourism development projects subject to the conditions or guidelines at Annexure-III to this
notification.
iv. Temporary tourism facilities shall be permissible in the beaches which shall only include
shacks, toilets or washrooms, change rooms, shower panels; walk ways constructed using
interlocking paver blocks, etc, drinking water facilities, seating arrangements, etc. and such
facilities shall however be permitted only subject to the tourism plan featuring in the approved
CZMP as per this notification, framed with due consultative process or public hearing, etc. and
further subject to environmental safeguards enlisted in the CZMP, however, a minimum
distance of 10 meter from HTL shall be maintained for setting up of such facilities.
Regulation of permissible activities in CRZ -III
i. Activities as permitted in CRZ-I B, shall also be permissible in CRZ-III, in so far as applicable.
ii. Regulation of activities in NDZ: Following shall be permissible and regulated in the NDZ:-
a) No construction shall be permitted within NDZ in CRZ III, except for repairs or
reconstruction of existing authorised structure not exceeding existing Floor Space Index,
existing plinth area and existing density and for permissible activities under this
notification including facilities essential for activities and construction or reconstruction of
dwelling units of traditional coastal communities including fisher folk, incorporating
necessary disaster management provisions and proper sanitation arrangements.
b) Agriculture, horticulture, gardens, pastures, parks, playfields and forestry.
c) Construction of dispensaries, schools, public rain shelter, community toilets, bridges,
roads, provision of facilities for water supply, drainage, sewerage, crematoria, cemeteries
and electric sub-station which are required for the local inhabitants may be permitted on
a case to case basis by Coastal Zone Management Authority (CZMA).
d) Construction of units or auxiliary thereto for domestic sewage, treatment and disposal with
the prior approval of the concerned Pollution Control Board or Committee.
e) Facilities required for local fishing communities such as fish drying yards, auction halls, net
mending yards, traditional boat building yards, ice plant, ice crushing units, fish curing
facilities and the like.
f) Wherever there is a national or State highway passing through the NDZ of CRZ-III areas,
temporary tourism facilities such as toilets, change rooms, drinking water facility and
temporary shacks can be taken up on the seaward side of the road.
On landward side of such roads in the NDZ, resorts or hotels and associated tourism facilities
shall be permitted and such facilities shall, however, be permitted only subject to the
incorporation of tourism plan in the approved CZMP as per this notification and the
conditions or guidelines at Annexure-III, to this notification as applicable.
g) Temporary tourism facilities shall be permissible in the NDZ and beaches in the CRZ-III areas
and such temporary facilities shall only include shacks, toilets or washrooms, change rooms,
shower panels, walk ways constructed using interlocking paver blocks, etc, drinking water
facilities, seating arrangements etc., and such facilities shall, however, be permitted only
subject to the tourism plan featuring in the approved CZMP as per this notification subject
to maintaining a minimum distance of 10 meters from HTL for setting up of such facilities.
 (h) Mining of atomic minerals notified under Part-B of the First Schedule to Mining and
Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) occurring as such or in
association with one or other minerals by such agencies as authorised by the Department
of Atomic Energy, Government of India, as per mining plan by the Atomic Mineral
Directorate for Exploration and Research.

iii. Regulation of activities for CRZ–III areas beyond NDZ:

a) Development of vacant plots in designated areas for construction of beach resorts or
hotels or tourism development projects subject to the conditions or guidelines at
Annexure-III to this notification.
b) Construction or reconstruction of dwelling units, so long it is within the ambit of
traditional rights and customary uses such as existing fishing villages, etc. and building
permission for such construction or reconstruction will be subject to local town and
country planning rules, with an overall height of construction not exceeding 9 meters and
with only two floors (ground + one floor).
c) The local communities including fishermen may be permitted to facilitate tourism through
‘home stay’ without changing the plinth area or design or facade of the existing houses.
d) Construction of public rain shelters, community toilets, water supply drainage, sewerage,
roads, bridges, etc.
e) Limestone mining: Selective mining of limestone minerals may be permitted in specific
identified areas under the mining plans, which are adequately above the height of HTL,
based on the recommendations of reputed National Institutes in the mining field such as
Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Central Mining Research Institute etc.,
provided that the extraction of minerals shall be carried out not below a height of 1 meter
above the HTL and an adequate barrier shall be created so as to safeguard against saline
water incursion and subject to appropriate safeguards related to pollution of coastal waters
and prevention of coastal erosion.
f) Mining of atomic minerals notified under Part-B of the First Schedule of Mining and
Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957) occurring as such or in
association with one or other minerals by such agencies as authorised by Department of
Atomic Energy, Government of India, as per mining plan by the Atomic Mineral Directorate
for Exploration and Research.
iv. Drawing of groundwater and construction related thereto shall be prohibited within 200
meters of HTL except for the use of local communities in areas inhabited by them and in the
areas between 200 to 500 meters of the HTL, groundwater withdrawal may be permitted only
through manual means from ordinary wells for drinking, horticulture, agriculture and fisheries,
etc. where no other source of water is available and restrictions for such drawal may be
imposed by the designated Authority by State Government or Union territory Administration in
the areas affected by sea water intrusion, however, for horticulture and agriculture purpose,
micro irrigation promoted by Government welfare schemes shall be permitted.
v. Development of airports in wastelands and non-arable lands in CRZ-III areas with adequate
environmental safeguards.
Regulation of permissible activities in CRZ -IV
• Activities shall be permitted and regulated in the CRZ IV areas as under:-
(i) Traditional fishing and allied activities undertaken by local communities.
(ii) Land reclamation, bunding, etc to be permitted only for activities such as.-
a) foreshore facilities like ports, harbours, Jetties, wharves, quays, slipway, bridges, sea links
and hover ports for coast guard ,etc;
b) projects for defence, strategic and security purpose including coast guard;
c) measures for control of erosion;
d) maintenance and clearing of waterways, channels and ports;
e) measures to prevent sand bars, installation of tidal regulators, laying of storm water
drains or for structure for prevention of salinity ingress and freshwater recharge.
(iii) Activities related to waterfront or directly needing foreshore facilities, such as ports and
harbours, jetties, quays, wharves, erosion control measures, breakwaters, pipelines,
navigational safety facilities and the like.
iv. Power by non-conventional energy sources and associated facilities such as offshore wind,
wave energy, ocean thermal energy conversion, etc.
v. Transfer of hazardous substances from ships to Ports.
vi. Storage of non-hazardous cargo like edible oil, fertilizers and food grains in notified Ports.
vii. Facilities for discharging treated effluents into the water course.
viii. Projects classified as strategic and defence related projects including coast guard coastal
security network.
ix. Projects of department of Atomic Energy.
x. Exploration and extraction of oil and natural gas and all associated activities and facilities
thereto.
xi. Exploration and mining of atomic minerals notified under Part-B of the First Schedule of the
Mining and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), occurring as such
or in association with other mineral(s) and of such associated mineral(s).
xii. Foreshore requiring facilities for transport of raw materials, facilities for intake of cooling
water and outfall for discharge of treated wastewater or cooling water from thermal power
plants, and foreshore requiring facilities for transport of raw materials, facilities for intake of
cooling water and outfall for discharge of treated wastewater or cooling water from thermal
power plants, in conformity with the environmental standards notified by Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change and relevant directions of the Central Pollution
Control Board or State Pollution Control Board or Pollution Control Committee.
xiii. Pipelines, conveying systems including transmission lines.
xiv. Weather radar for monitoring of cyclone prediction, ocean observation platforms, movement and associated activities.
xv. Construction of memorials or monuments and allied facilities by the concerned State Government in CRZ-IV (A) areas,
in exceptional cases, with adequate environmental safeguards, subject to the following, namely: -
(a) the concerned State Government shall submit justification for locating the project in CRZ–IVA area along with details
of alternate sites considered and weightage matrix on various parameters including environmental parameters, to
State Coastal Zone Management Authority who will examine the project and make recommendation to the Central
Government (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) for grant of Terms of Reference (ToRs) for
preparation of an environmental impact assessment report by the State Government;
(b) On grant of ToRs by the Central Government, the concerned State Government shall submit the draft Environmental
Impact Assessment report (EIA) with Environmental Management Plan (EMP), draft Risk Assessment Report with
Disaster Management Plan (DMP) including on-site and off-site emergency plan and evacuation plan during
emergency, to the State Pollution Control Board for conduct of public hearing for the proposed project in accordance
with the procedure laid down under the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification number S.O. 1533(E),
dated the 14th September, 2006;
(c) The concerned State Government shall, after addressing the relevant issues raised by the public during the public
hearing referred to in sub-item (b), submit the final EIA, EMP, Risk Assessment and DMP, to the State CZMA for their
examination and recommendation to MoEF&CC;
(d) The Central Government may, if it considers necessary so to do, dispense with the requirement of public hearing
referred to in sub-clause (b), if it is satisfied that the project will not involve rehabilitation and resettlement of the
public or the project site is located away from human habitation.