Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed questions regarding the implementation of the Integrated Islands Management Plan (IIMP) and Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) classifications in Ernakulam, Kerala. While the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMPs) for all coastal districts including Ernakulam, Kerala have been approved, the IIMP proposal from the Government of Kerala is still awaited. The Ministry has approved the reclassification of 66 panchayats to CRZ-II, contingent on infrastructure upgrades, disaster management planning, and adherence to specific guidelines regarding areas specified by the Department of Atomic Energy.
Key Points / Main Content:
Integrated Islands Management Plan (IIMP):
* The Ministry approves IIMPs based on proposals received from State Governments, as per the CRZ Notification 2019.
* The Government of Kerala is yet to submit an IIMP proposal.
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Classification Reassessment:
* The State Government requested consideration of certain panchayats as Legally Designated Urban Areas.
* The National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) recommended 66 panchayats for reclassification as CRZ-II.
* The Ministry informed the Government of Kerala of this decision on 07/09/2022.
Conditions for CRZ-II Reclassification:
* The Government of Kerala must provide all infrastructure facilities in the proposed area as per Municipality norms.
* The Government of Kerala must prepare detailed Disaster Management and Mitigation Plans for the 66 Category-I Coastal Gram Panchayats.
* Areas specified by the Department of Atomic Energy within these 66 panchayats will be classified as CRZ-IIIA or CRZ-IIIB, and must be contiguous.
Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) Approval:
* The Ministry approved Kerala's CZMP on 16/10/2024.
* Approval was based on the recommendation of the Technical Scrutiny Committee (01/03/2024) and NCZMA (23/09/2024).
* No further proposals for inclusion of remaining panchayats in Category-II of the CRZ classification have been received.
Impact Analysis:
Government of Kerala:
* Impact: The State Government needs to act on the approval for 66 panchayats to be reclassified as CRZ-II. The CZMP of Kerala has been approved by the Ministry.
* Action Required: Submit the IIMP proposal as per CRZ Notification 2019; provide infrastructure upgrades and disaster management plans for the 66 panchayats; adhere to CRZ-IIIA/IIIB classification for areas specified by the Department of Atomic Energy.
Island Communities in Ernakulam, Kerala:
* Impact: Potential enhancement of quality of life and safeguarding of ecosystems through IIMP implementation (upon proposal and approval) and revised CRZ classifications in specific panchayats.
* Action Required: Await actions from the State Government to realize the benefits of the reclassification.
National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA):
* Impact: NCZMA's recommendations regarding the reclassification of panchayats have been considered.
* Action Required: No immediate action, but continued oversight to ensure compliance with CRZ regulations and approved CZMP.
Key Entities Referenced
Integrated Islands Management Plan: A plan (IIMP) designed to address the unique environmental and infrastructure needs of island communities.
Ernakulam, Kerala: A coastal district in Kerala, India, which is the focus of the Integrated Islands Management Plan implementation.
Coastal Regulation Zone: CRZ; Regulations governing activities along the coastal areas to protect the environment.
Coastal Zone Management Plans: CZMPs; Plans prepared for all coastal districts as per the CRZ Notification, 2019.
CRZ Notification, 2019: A legal notification that dictates guidelines and regulations for coastal zone management.
National Coastal Zone Management Authority: NCZMA; Authority responsible for overseeing and coordinating the implementation of coastal zone management plans and regulations at the national level.
Kirti Vardhan Singh: Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.
Department of Atomic Energy: A department specifying certain areas within the 66 Coastal Panchayats that shall not be categorized as CRZII and shall be classified as CRZIIIA or CRZIIIB.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1161
TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025
Implementation of Integrated Islands Management Plan
1161. SHRI HIBI EDEN:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to the implementation of the Integrated Islands
Management Plan (IIMP) to meet the unique environmental and infrastructure needs of
island communities in Ernakulam, Kerala thereby enhancing their quality of life and
safeguarding their ecosystems, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government also proposes to consider reassessing the 13 excluded
panchayats in Ernakulam for Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ)-II classification, (Alangad,
Chendamangalam, Chittattukara, Ezhikkara, Kadungalloor, Karumaloor, Kottuvally,
Kunnukara, Puthenvelikkara, Udayamperoor, Vadakkekkara, Kuzhippilly, Pallippuram)
given their urban-like characteristics and the essential development needs of their
residents, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
(c) whether the Government has a plan to address the inconsistent classification of
panchayats like Edavanakkad, which shares characteristics with neighbouring CRZ-II
areas, to ensure fair development opportunities and regulatory clarity, if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE
CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) As per the CRZ Notification, 2019, the Ministry approved the Coastal Zone Management
Plans (CZMPs) for all coastal districts including Ernakulam Kerala, vide letter dated 16/10/2024.
Integrated Island Management Plans (IIMPs) are prepared as per the provision of CRZ
Notification 2019 and are approved based on proposal received from State Government. The
Government of Kerala is yet to submit IIMPs proposal as per the provisions of the CRZ
Notification 2019.
(b)&(c) A proposal was received from the State Government of Kerala requesting for
consideration of certain panchayats as ‘Legally designated Urban Areas’ as per provisions of
CRZ Notification, 2019. In the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA)
meeting held on 01/09/2022 in which Government of Kerala was also present, it was decided torecommend 66 panchayats that meet the criteria of ‘other existing legally designated urban areas’
in accordance with CRZ Notification 2019. Accordingly, the Government of Kerala was
informed by the Ministry on 07/09/ 2022.
Government of Kerala was informed that it shall provide all the infrastructure facilities in the
proposed area as per the norms of Municipality and shall prepare detailed Disaster Management
and Mitigation Plans for the proposed area comprising 66 Category-I Coastal Gram Panchayats
as mentioned above. The areas specified by the Department of Atomic Energy in the
aforementioned 66 Coastal Panchayats shall not be categorized as CRZ-II and shall be classified
as CRZ-IIIA or CRZ-IIIB, as per the norms and such areas shall be contiguous in nature.
Accordingly, CZMP of Kerala has been approved by the Ministry vide letter dated 16/10/2024
based on the recommendation of Technical Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 01/03/2024 and
recommendation of NCZMA in its 47th meeting held on 23/09/2024.
Thereafter, the Ministry has not received any further proposal till date for the inclusion of
remaining panchayats in Category-II of the CRZ classification.
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