**Executive Summary**
This document summarises the response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1321 regarding the monitoring of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations in Maharashtra, to be answered on 08.12.2025. It provides district-wise details of CRZ violations reported since 2019 and outlines measures taken by the government, including the constitution of District Coastal Zone Monitoring Committees (DCZMCs) and inspections conducted. The report also mentions the powers of SCZMAs and NCZMA in addressing CRZ violations.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **CRZ Violation Statistics:**
* District-wise details of CRZ violations reported in Maharashtra since 2019, based on information from the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA), are as follows:
* Mumbai City: 58 cases
* Mumbai Sub-urban: 249 cases
* Thane: 170 cases
* Palghar: 61 cases
* Raigad: 132 cases
* Ratnagiri: 36 cases
* Sindhudurg: 45 cases
* Total: 751 cases
* **District Coastal Zone Monitoring Committees (DCZMCs):**
* The Government of Maharashtra has constituted DCZMCs for identification and action on CRZ violation cases.
* DCZMCs are empowered to conduct inspections and field verifications regarding CRZ violations.
* **Inspections and Enforcement:**
* Site inspections were conducted by the MoEF&CC Regional Office with MCZMA officials at Ratnagiri on 12/06/2021.
* Show Cause Notices were issued to violators based on site inspection findings.
* **Responsibilities under CRZ Notification, 2019:**
* State Governments or Union Territory CZMAs are primarily responsible for enforcement and monitoring of the Notification.
* State Governments and Union Territories shall constitute District-level Committees.
* District Magistrate chairs committees including representatives from local coastal communities.
* Maharashtra State Environment & Climate Change Department issued SOPs dated 15/03/2024 for addressing CRZ violations.
* **Powers of SCZMAs and NCZMA:**
* SCZMAs are empowered to enforce and monitor CRZ Notification provisions under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
* The Ministry issues directions to SCZMAs for identifying and acting against violations.
* The National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) deliberated the matter in its 48th meeting on 26/09/2025.
* State/UT CZMAs are empowered to take action in accordance with powers delegated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Government of Maharashtra**
* **Impact:** Responsible for constituting and overseeing DCZMCs, enforcing CRZ notifications, and taking action against violations.
* **Action Required:** Ensure DCZMCs are effectively identifying and addressing CRZ violations, monitoring compliance with CRZ notifications, and taking appropriate enforcement actions.
**Stakeholder: Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA)**
* **Impact:** Plays a key role in providing information on CRZ violations, participating in inspections, and working with the Government of Maharashtra to address violations.
* **Action Required:** Continue to provide accurate data on CRZ violations, collaborate with the MoEF&CC Regional Office on inspections, and ensure effective implementation of CRZ regulations.
**Stakeholder: District Coastal Zone Monitoring Committees (DCZMCs)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for identifying and taking action on CRZ violation cases at the district level.
* **Action Required:** Conduct regular inspections and field verifications, identify CRZ violations, and take appropriate action against violators in accordance with established procedures.
**Stakeholder: State/UT Coastal Zone Management Authorities (SCZMAs)**
* **Impact:** Empowered to enforce and monitor the provisions of the CRZ Notification.
* **Action Required:** Identify violations and take action against violations in accordance with the powers already delegated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
**Stakeholder: National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA)**
* **Impact:** Responsible for overall monitoring and coordination of coastal zone management efforts.
* **Action Required:** Continue to deliberate on the matter and ensure that State/UT CZMAs are empowered to take action in accordance with powers delegated under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
**Stakeholder: Coastal Communities**
* **Impact:** Directly affected by CRZ violations and have representatives on the District-level Committees.
* **Action Required:** Participate in the District-level Committees, reporting violations.
Key Entities Referenced
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ): Regulations governing activities in coastal areas.
Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA): State authority responsible for coastal zone management in Maharashtra.
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Indian legislation providing for the protection and improvement of the environment.
District Coastal Zone Monitoring Committees (DCZMCs): Committees constituted by the Government of Maharashtra for identification of and action on CRZ violation cases.
Maharashtra: Indian state where CRZ violations are being monitored.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1321
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
Monitoring of CRZ Violations in Maharashtra
1321. MS. PRANITI SUSHILKUMAR SHINDE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has received reports of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations
in the State of Maharashtra in recent years;
(b) if so, the number of such cases reported during the last five years, district-wise;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any inspections or field verifications in
coordination with the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA);
(d) if so, the details and outcomes thereof; and
(e) whether any directions have been issued to strengthen surveillance and enforcement
against illegal coastal constructions?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) & (b): As per information received from Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management
Authority (MCZMA), the district-wise details of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations
recorded since 2019 and are as follows:
Districts Number of Case reported since
2019
Mumbai City 58
Mumbai Sub-urban 249
Thane 170
Palghar 61
Raigad 132
Ratnagiri 36
Sindhudurg 45
Total 751
(c) to (e) : The Government of Maharashtra has constituted District Coastal Zone Monitoring
Committees (DCZMCs) for the identification of and action on CRZ violation cases, vide
Government Resolution dated 23/03/2011. The DCZMCs are empowered to carry out inspections
and field verifications in respect of CRZ violations. Moreover, site inspections were conducted by
MoEF&CC Regional Office along with MCZMA officials at Ratnagiri on 12/06/2021 and Show
Cause Notices were issued to the violators based on site inspection findings.
As per the CRZ Notification, 2019, the State Government or the Union Territory 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 theChairmanship of the concerned District Magistrate, including at least three representatives from
the local traditional coastal communities including fisherfolk. The Maharashtra State Environment
& Climate Change Department has issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) dated 15/03/2024
for addressing CRZ violations and sensitizing DCZMCs.
Moreover, SCZMAs 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 the matter and 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.
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