Ministry of Environment and Forests Notification S.O. 2557(E)
The Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, issued Notification S.O. 2557(E) on 22 August 2013 to amend the Coastal Regulation Zone notification S.O. 19(E) dated 6 January 2011. It extended the deadline for submitting draft Coastal Zone Management Plans to 30 September 2013 and allowed plans already approved by the Ministry to remain in use until 31 January 2014, with retrospective effect.
What the notification changes
The Ministry of Environment and Forests issued Notification S.O. 2557(E), dated 22 August 2013, because preparation of Coastal Zone Management Plans was still in progress and coastal States and Union territories needed more time to submit draft plans for approval.
Notification S.O. 2557(E) amends the earlier Ministry of Environment and Forests notification S.O. 19(E), dated 6 January 2011. That earlier notification declared certain coastal stretches as Coastal Regulation Zones and imposed restrictions on setting up or expanding industries, operations and processes in those zones.
The Central Government dispensed with the usual notice requirement because it considered the amendment to be in the public interest.
Key provisions
Notification S.O. 2557(E) replaces two items in paragraph 5 of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification:
- A State Government or Union Territory Coastal Zone Management Authority had to submit its draft Coastal Zone Management Plan to the Ministry of Environment and Forests on or before 30 September 2013.
- The draft plan had to incorporate suggestions and objections received from stakeholders.
- The State Government or Union Territory Coastal Zone Management Authority had to provide its recommendations on the plan when submitting it.
- Coastal Zone Management Plans already approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests could continue to be used until 31 January 2014.
Retrospective extension
Notification S.O. 2557(E) records that the earlier deadline for State Governments and Union territories to submit draft plans was valid until 4 July 2013. It also records that plans approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests had previously been valid until 5 January 2013.
The notification gives retrospective effect to both extensions. It certifies that the retrospective extensions would not adversely affect the interests of any person to whom the notification applied.
Who may be affected
Notification S.O. 2557(E) directly concerns coastal State Governments, Union territories and their Coastal Zone Management Authorities. It may also matter to stakeholders and persons dealing with land, industries, operations or processes in coastal stretches declared as Coastal Regulation Zones, because the applicable approved Coastal Zone Management Plans continued to be used during the extended period.
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Common questions
Did this notification create new Coastal Regulation Zones?
The source only states that Notification S.O. 2557(E) amended deadlines under the earlier notification S.O. 19(E), dated 6 January 2011. The earlier notification had declared certain coastal stretches as Coastal Regulation Zones.
What was the revised deadline for submitting draft Coastal Zone Management Plans?
State Governments or Union Territory Coastal Zone Management Authorities had to submit draft plans to the Ministry of Environment and Forests on or before 30 September 2013.
How long could previously approved Coastal Zone Management Plans be used?
Plans already approved by the Ministry of Environment and Forests could be used until 31 January 2014.
Were stakeholder comments required to be included in the draft plan?
Yes. The draft Coastal Zone Management Plan had to incorporate suggestions and objections received from stakeholders before submission.
