The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has asked the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to ensure that coastal States and Union Territories prepare the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) or the Island Coastal Regulation Zone Plan (ICRZP) as per the Coastal Regulation Zone notification, 2019 expeditiously within a time-bound period.
An order issued by the Principal Bench on January 8, 2024 quoted a report submitted by the Secretary of the Ministry stating that only three States – Odisha, Karnataka and Maharashtra – have formulated the CZMP/ICRZP as per the Coastal Regulation Zone notification, 2019. The reply pointed out that only Great Nicobar and Little Andaman Islands have approved the ICRZP as per the notification.
The report pointed out that the National Coastal Zonal Management Authority (NCZMA) had issued a direction in August 2023 that all coastal States/Union Territories, whose CZMPs/ICRZP were yet to be finalised as per 2019 notification, must complete it within October 31, 2023. The tribunal reminded that the CZMPs/ICRZPs have not been formulated by the erring States despite receiving the directive from the NCZMA.
