**Executive Summary**
This document reports on a Parliament question regarding the monitoring of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms. It outlines the responsibilities of various authorities in enforcing CRZ regulations as per the CRZ Notification 2019. It also specifies the empowerment of State/UT CZMAs to take action against violations and mentions other relevant initiatives related to marine litter and plastic waste management. The National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) deliberated on the matter on 26/09/2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **CRZ Clearance Responsibilities:**
* MoEFCC (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change) handles CRZ clearance for development activities in CRZ-I and CRZ-IV areas based on the recommendation of the concerned Coastal Zone Management Authority.
* The concerned Coastal Zone Management Authority handles CRZ clearance for activities solely within CRZ-II and CRZ-III areas.
* MoEFCC handles clearance for projects traversing CRZ–II and CRZ–III through CRZ–I or CRZ-IV areas based on Coastal Zone Management Authority's recommendations.
* **Protection of Ecologically Sensitive Areas:**
* Strict protection is ensured for ecologically sensitive areas categorized as CRZ-I(A), including mangroves and coral reefs, where most development activities are prohibited.
* Limited regulated activities like eco-tourism, public utility roads, and pipelines are permitted.
* **Enforcement and Monitoring:**
* State Government and Union Territory (UT) CZMAs are primarily responsible for enforcement and monitoring of the CRZ Notification 2019.
* District-level Committees are constituted under the Chairmanship of the District Magistrate with representation from local coastal communities.
* State/UT CZMAs are empowered to enforce and monitor provisions of the CRZ Notification under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
* The National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) deliberated on the matter in its 48th meeting held on 26/09/2025.
* **Marine Litter and Plastic Waste Management:**
* The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) monitors marine litter through the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR).
* MoEF&CC has notified Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 and its amendments, to manage plastic waste.
* Single-use plastic items with low utility and high littering potential were banned from July 1, 2022.
* Plastic carry bags less than 120 microns in thickness were banned from December 31, 2022.
* Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) were notified vide Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, on 16th February, 2022.
* Various programs like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and National Mission for Clean Ganga are initiated to prevent marine litter.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government / Union Territory (UT) CZMAs**
* **Impact:** Primarily responsible for enforcing and monitoring the CRZ Notification 2019.
* **Action Required:** Enforce and monitor the provisions of the CRZ Notification and take action against violations.
**District-level Committees**
* **Impact:** Assist State/UT CZMAs in monitoring and enforcement.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the monitoring and enforcement of CRZ regulations.
**Coastal Communities including fisherfolk**
* **Impact:** Representatives are included in District-level Committees.
* **Action Required:** Act as representatives on District-level committees.
**Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES)**
* **Impact:** Nodal Ministry for Marine Litter Policy
* **Action Required:** Continue to monitor marine litter and map its distribution through NCCR.
**Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC)**
* **Impact:** Regulate and provide clearance for CRZ projects; Establish guidelines for plastic waste management.
* **Action Required:** Ensure clearance processes adhere to the CRZ Notification 2019 and enforce the Plastic Waste Management Rules.
Key Entities Referenced
CRZ Notification 2019: Notification governing development activities and projects in Coastal Regulation Zone areas.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): Central ministry responsible for CRZ clearance and plastic waste management.
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Act that empowers State/UT CZMAs to enforce and monitor CRZ Notification provisions.
State/UT Coastal Zone Management Authorities (CZMAs): Authorities responsible for enforcement and monitoring of CRZ Notification.
Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016: Rules providing the statutory framework for plastic waste management in the country.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: MONITORING OF CRZ
NORMS
प्रव तथ: 11 DEC 2025 5:07PM by PIB Delhi
Under the CRZ Notification 2019, all development activities or projects in CRZ-I and CRZ-IV areas,
which are regulated or permissible as per the notification, are dealt with by the Ministry of Environment,
Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) for CRZ clearance, based on the recommendation of the concerned
Coastal Zone Management Authority. The permissible and regulated activities that fall purely in CRZ–II
and CRZ-III areas are considered for CRZ clearance by the concerned Coastal Zone Management
Authority. However, projects in CRZ–II and CRZ–III that also traverse through CRZ–I or CRZ-IV areas,
or both, shall be considered by the MoEFCC, based on the recommendations of the concerned Coastal
Zone Management Authority.
The CRZ clearance procedures ensure strict protection for ecologically sensitive areas categorized as
CRZ-I(A), including mangroves, coral reefs, and other critical coastal ecosystems. In these areas, all
development activities are prohibited, except a few limited and regulated activities such as eco-tourism
facilities, construction of public utility roads, and laying of pipelines or transmission lines. Therefore,
while the clearance process is streamlined for eligible Blue Economy projects, the necessary safeguards
exist for sensitive habitats like mangroves and coral reefs.
As per the CRZ Notification, 2019, the State Government or the Union Territory (UT) CZMAs shall be
primarily responsible for enforcement and monitoring of the Notification. To assist in this task, the State
Government and the Union Territory shall constitute District-level Committees under the Chairmanship of
the concerned District Magistrate, including at least three representatives from the local traditional coastal
communities including fisherfolk.
State/UT CZMAs have been empowered under Sections 5, 10, and 19 of the Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986, to enforce and monitor the provisions of the CRZ Notification. The Ministry has also been
issuing directions to SCZMAs from time to time for identifying and taking action against violations. The
National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) in its 48th meeting held on 26/09/2025,
deliberated on the matter. State/UT CZMAs are empowered to take action against such violations in
accordance with the powers already delegated to all Coastal States/UTs under Sections 5, 10, and 19 of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) being the nodal Ministry for the formulation of the National
Marine Litter Policy, has initiated several studies through its attached office National Centre for Coastal
Research (NCCR), to monitor the temporal and spatial distribution of marine litter along the Indian coasts
and adjacent seas and map the distribution of marine litter.
Further, the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has notified Plastic Waste
Management Rules, 2016 and its amendments, which provide the statutory framework for plastic waste
management in the country. Vide Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021, the Ministry of
Environment, Forest and Climate Change has prohibited identified single use plastic items, which havelow utility and high littering potential, with effect from 1st July, 2022 and has also banned the use of
plastic carry begs less than 120 microns thickness with effect from 31st December, 2022. Further, the
Guidelines on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for plastic packaging have also been notified vide
Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2022, on 16th February, 2022.
Further, the Government of India has initiated several programmes such as Swachh Bharat Abhiyan,
National Mission for Clean Ganga, Mission LiFE and Smart Cities Mission in order to develop a clean
and sustainable environment which contributes towards the prevention of Marine Litter.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST
AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Rajya
Sabha today.
*****
VM/SK
(Rajya Sabha US Q1341)
(रलीज़ आईडी: 2202400) आगंतुक पटल : 441
इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Urdu , ही