**Report on Amendment to the Notification Regarding Designated Areas in Maritime Zones**
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes an amendment to a notification concerning designated areas within India's territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, and other maritime zones. The amendment, issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, modifies the original notification S.O. 135E, dated January 13, 2009. Key changes include expanding the definition of vessels subject to the notification to include "fishing vessels," updating references to law enforcement agencies, and adding a detailed table listing specific platforms and structures with their geographical coordinates (WGS84). This amendment aims to enhance clarity and broaden the scope of the original notification, particularly concerning maritime activities and resource management within these designated areas.
**2. Introduction:**
The purpose of this report is to provide an informative overview of an amendment to a Government of India notification concerning designated areas within its maritime zones. This analysis is based solely on the provided text of the amendment and aims to clarify the changes introduced, their potential impact, and relevant implementation aspects.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* **Original Policy Being Amended:** This amendment modifies notification S.O. 135E, dated January 13, 2009, which designated certain areas within India's maritime zones.
* **Core Objective(s) (Inferred):** Based on the context and the amendments, the core objectives of the original policy appear to be:
* To regulate activities and ensure security within designated maritime areas.
* To manage and protect resources within these zones.
* To exercise sovereign rights over India's territorial waters, continental shelf, exclusive economic zone, and other maritime zones.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
The amendment likely stems from a need to update and clarify the original notification to address evolving maritime activities and security considerations. The inclusion of "fishing vessels" suggests a potential increase in oversight and regulation of fishing operations within the designated areas. The change in ministry name likely reflects an administrative reorganization, and the comprehensive table of platform coordinates suggests a desire to precisely define the geographical scope of the designated areas. The Central Government expresses that the amendment is "necessary and expedient in the public interest."
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This section details the specific changes introduced by the amendment text:
* **Change 1:**
* **Original Policy (Inferred):** The original notification likely addressed specific types of ships operating within designated areas.
* **New Rule/Provision:** In paragraph 2, the amendment inserts "including fishing vessels" after the word "ship."
* **Difference/Effect:** This broadens the scope of the notification to explicitly include fishing vessels, making them subject to the regulations and oversight applicable within designated areas. This likely affects fishing companies and individual fishermen operating in these zones.
* **Change 2:**
* **Original Policy:** The original policy referred to "the Coast Guard Ships."
* **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment substitutes "the Coast Guard Ships" with "the Coast Guard Ships, Marine and Coastal Police Vessels."
* **Difference/Effect:** This expands the list of enforcement agencies covered by the notification, acknowledging the role of Marine and Coastal Police Vessels in maritime security and regulation.
* **Change 3:**
* **Original Policy:** The original notification referred to "the Ministry of Transport"
* **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment substitutes "the Ministry of Transport" with "the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways."
* **Difference/Effect:** This change likely reflects a renaming or restructuring of the government ministry responsible for the subject matter covered by the notification.
* **Change 4:**
* **Original Policy:** The original notification lacked specific geographical coordinates for platforms and structures within the designated areas.
* **New Rule/Provision:** The amendment inserts a detailed "TABLE A" listing 172 platforms and structures, providing their names, SR. No., and WGS84 Latitude N and Longitude E coordinates.
* **Difference/Effect:** This table significantly enhances the clarity and precision of the designated areas. It allows for accurate identification and location of platforms and structures, which is crucial for regulatory compliance, security operations, and resource management.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
Based on the provided text, the directly affected parties and stakeholders include:
* **Fishing Vessel Operators:** The inclusion of "fishing vessels" directly impacts fishing companies and individual fishermen operating within designated areas, subjecting them to the notification's regulations.
* **Shipping Companies:** Shipping companies that operated under the original policy, now must also operate with fishing vessels under the new policy.
* **Oil and Gas Companies:** Companies operating platforms and structures listed in TABLE A.
* **The Coast Guard:** As an enforcing agency, the Coast Guard are key stakeholders.
* **Marine and Coastal Police:** The explicit inclusion of Marine and Coastal Police Vessels as enforcing agencies affects their operational responsibilities and jurisdiction within designated areas.
* **Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:** As the responsible ministry, they play a role in overseeing aspects related to the notification.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:**
* Ministry of External Affairs (issuing authority).
* The Coast Guard and Marine and Coastal Police Vessels (enforcement).
* Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (relevant administrative body).
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The text doesn't specify timelines or procedures directly related to the *amendments*. However, the original notification (S.O. 135E) likely contained details about compliance procedures, reporting requirements, and enforcement mechanisms, which would now apply to fishing vessels and involve the Marine and Coastal Police Vessels.
* **Amendments-Specific Implementation:** The immediate impact requires disseminating the updated list of platforms and structures (TABLE A) to relevant stakeholders. Enforcement agencies need to be aware of the inclusion of fishing vessels and the updated list of enforcement agencies (Marine and Coastal Police Vessels).
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcomes of these specific changes include:
* **Enhanced Regulation of Fishing Activities:** Greater oversight and regulation of fishing within designated areas, potentially leading to improved resource management and conservation.
* **Improved Maritime Security:** Increased effectiveness of maritime security operations due to the inclusion of Marine and Coastal Police Vessels and the precise geographical definition of designated areas.
* **Greater Clarity and Compliance:** The detailed list of platforms and structures (TABLE A) should reduce ambiguity and facilitate compliance with the notification's regulations.
* **Effective Enforcement:** A greater emphasis on enforcement through more clearly defining who must comply.
**9. Conclusion:**
The amendment to the notification concerning designated areas in India's maritime zones represents a significant update aimed at enhancing clarity, broadening scope, and strengthening enforcement. The inclusion of fishing vessels, the explicit recognition of Marine and Coastal Police Vessels, and the detailed geographical information on platforms and structures demonstrate a commitment to effective maritime governance and resource management. These changes are likely to have a notable impact on fishing companies, oil and gas operators, and enforcement agencies operating within these strategically important maritime areas.
Key Entities Referenced
INDIA: Country issuing the gazette notification.
NEW DELHI: Location of publication, likely the capital of India.
THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025: Date of publication of the Gazette of India.
JYAISTHA 22, 1947: Date of publication according to the Indian national calendar.
THE GAZETTE OF INDIA: Title of the official government publication.
PART II Section 3 Subsection ii: Section of the Gazette of India where the notification is published.
MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS: The Government Ministry responsible for the notification.
New Delhi, the 12th June, 2025: Issuance location and date of the notification by the Ministry of External Affairs.
S.O. 2565E: Number assigned to the Statutory Order (S.O.).
Central Government: The governing body issuing the notification.
Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act, 1976: Act of Parliament cited as the legal basis for the notification.
80 of 1976: Act number and year of the Territorial Waters, Continental Shelf, Exclusive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones Act.
S.O. 135E: Previous notification being amended.
13th January, 2009: Date of the original notification (S.O. 135E) being amended.
Government of India: The governing authority.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: Government ministry, formerly the Ministry of Transport.
Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi110064: The printing and publishing location.
Controller of Publications, Delhi110054: The publisher of the gazette.
UMA SEKHAR: Addl. Secy. LT L T Division signatory of the notification.
MNP: Name of Platform or Structure
MLQ: Name of Platform or Structure
MNF1: Name of Platform or Structure
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ICPR: Name of Platform or Structure
B105: Name of Platform or Structure
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ICP SBM: Name of Platform or Structure
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SPM Calm Buoy at B127 PLEM: Name of Platform or Structure
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KGB Offshore Installation KGBOI: Name of Platform or Structure
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