The Response - Coastal Zone Management

The Government of India has notified coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks, rivers and backwaters which are influenced by tidal action ( in the land-ward side) upto 500 meters from High Tide Level (H.T.L.) and the line between Low Tide Level (LTL) and HTL as Coastal Regulatory Zone (S.O.114 (E) dated 19.2.91). The developmental activities in the CRZ are being regulated as per the restrictions imposed in the notification.

The Shore Area Development Authority of Environment/Forests, Science and Technology department, Government of Andhra Pradesh got the Coastal Zone Management plans prepared for all the nine coastal districts in the state. These plans were approved by Government of India as stipulated in the CRZ Notification 1991. The authority is entrusted with the task of regulation and enforcement of CRZ notification in the state as per the approved Coastal Zone Management Plans.

The main objective of the plans is to demarcate Coastal Regulatory Zone, categorise into CRZ-I, CRZ-II, CRZ-III with documentary details of survey numbers, extent and land use of the areas falling in different categories so as to facilitate implementation at field level.

The other areas which are ecologically sensitive and have been included in CRZ-I are reserve forests, mangroves, shelter belt plantations of casuarina, areas of outstanding natural beauty / heritage / historical sites, areas close to breeding and spawning grounds of fish and other marine life and the entire area between LTL and HTL.

In CRZ-II, 27.41 sq.kms of area is included in Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna districts.

In CRZ-III, an area of 2526.60 sq.kms is included while the area under No Development Zone is 1602 sq.kms.

The Government of India has also constituted Andhra Pradesh Coastal Zone Management Authority for protecting and improving the quality of coastal environment and preventing, abating and controlling environmental pollution in the areas of the State of Andhra Pradesh under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary, Environment, Forest Science and Technology, Department of Government of Andhra Pradesh. The Director, Shore Area Development Authority acts as Member Secretary. The authority is entrusted with the responsibility of examination of proposals for modifications to Coastal Zone Management Plans for making specific recommendations to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority, inquiring into cases of alleged violations and issuing of directions under Section 5 of Environment (P) Act, 1986. The Authority is also vested with the power of filing complaints under Section 19, and take action under section 10 of E (P) Act. The responsibility of getting Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans and recommending for approval to National Coastal Zone Management Authority is also entrusted to this state level authority.