Starting business in CRZ zones requires careful planning and execution due to the stringent regulations governing these areas. The demolition of five apartment complexes in Kerala , remind us how precarious to own flats in CRZ zones. The Damocles sword is handing above every investor and business man who lacks the foresight or act improvisationally while implementing projects in coastal zones. Regressing the past makes us realize that all over the world coastal zones are highly exploited. From Indian perspective , the government have issued notification in 1991 , 2011, 2019). And for the latest 2019 notification the draft of coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) got green signal on September 2024. The 2019 notification has further classified the CRZ zones for more effective management of coastal areas. In the latest notification the no development zone is CRZ III areas are further classified as per population density and in densely populated area of CRZ-IIIA the No development zone from High tide zone reduced to 50 meters is positive note from business perspective angle.
According to FAO estimates that around 58.5 million people are employed in worldwide in primary fish production alone[1].CRZ zones in Kerala accounts around 5.63 percentage of the total area and spreads around 560 kilometres of coastal line. Kerala accounts around 7 % of the Indian coastal zone and accounts for 20 percent of national fish production.
The transition of ocean economy is major concern for countries and the objective is to achieve decarbonized ocean economy and slowly migrate to its primary objective of sustainable ocean economy. Form this angle what is visibly allowed in CRZ zones are eco-friendly tourism and non-conventional energy projects which aims to harness wind energy, waves energy and ocean thermal conversion. However, the government cannot ignore the coastal population which are more rural in nature while addressing the environmental protection measures. From this perspective , the 2019 regulation have more empathetic approach while addressing the livelihood of coastal population. Therefore fisheries, inland fisheries, ports are allowed in coastal zones with buildings as per the guidelines of coastal regulatory zone authorities. CRZ-II and CRZ-IIIA allows construction of building which requires the permission from CZMP authorities. Beach resorts and hotel are allowed in these zones as per the guidelines of coastal zone management plan. Interestingly mining of atomic minerals are allowed in coastal zones as per part B of the first schedule of mining and minerals (development and regulation ) Act, 1957.
Erecting environmentally destructive hard structures and establishing hazardous industries in coastal zone might get big lash at any time in near future. Hence the permission granted might not assure the future protection of these projects. The legislatures or judiciary can axe it at any moment hence investors or business community should think more sustainable projects while using their land in coastal zones.
[1] https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/oceans-fisheries-and-coastal-economies