Under the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2011, setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries within such Zones is prohibited. However, those activities which are directly related to waterfront or directly needing foreshore facilities are exempt from such prohibition. The illustrative list of foreshore facilities which qualify for such exemption as per the notification includes ports and harbours, jetties, quays, wharves, erosion control measures, breakwaters, pipelines, lighthouses, navigational safety facilities, coastal police stations and the like which require waterfront for their operations. Since the list is not exhaustive, it was prone to subjective interpretation resulting in some important foreshore facilities attracting the prohibition clause in the notification which is unintended.
This issue has been deliberated upon in detail in the meetings of the Group of Infrastructure chaired by Minister of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari. Pursuant to the decision taken in the meeting, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change has issued a clarificatory letter advising that all foreshore facilities which are exclusively for ports and harbour infrastructure like slipways, drydocks, shipbuilding yards, ship repair yards, ship lifts, marinas are permissible under CRZ Notification, 2011. With this clarification, the ambiguity over the meaning of 'foreshore facilities' stands cleared thus giving a fillip to shipping related ancillary activities and associated industries and facilities.
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