Centre open to reviewing coastal regulation norms to promote

The environment ministry was open to reviewing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) guidelines, one of its top officials said today.

Arun Kumar Mehta, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, said they were also considering allowing "sustainable" and "responsible" tourism activities in the natural heritage zones, many of which were in the coastal regions.

"The ministry is open to reviewing the CRZ guidelines. We are also considering (allowing) responsible and sustainable adventure and eco-tourism activities in the natural heritage zones of the country," a CII statement quoted him as saying.

Mehta was speaking at the "National Seminar on Adventure Tourism" here.
 

Tourism Secretary Rashmi Verma had, earlier this month, told PTI that the tourism ministry was working with the environment ministry to find ways to promote sustainable tourism, without losing the focus on conservation.

Satyajeet Rajan, Director General, Ministry of Tourism, today said adventure tourism was a strong focus area of the ministry, while suggesting that various others ministries such as the environment and forests, shipping, home, defence as well as the state tourism boards should come together to make it a success.

The environment ministry is in the process of revamping India's coastal regulation norms, a move that may lead to opportunities for the government to earn more revenues along the country's 7,500-km-long coastline.