The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has decided to issue notices to the Coastal Zone Management Authorities (CZMAs) in the coastal States and Union Territories asking it to consider including the recommendations made by an expert panel on the issue of dangers of sea level rise and submergence of low-lying lands into the Integrated Island Management Plans (IIMPs).
The Principal Bench of the tribunal led by its chairperson Prakash Shrivastava issued an order dated October 13 stating that the suggestions incorporated in the panel report dated October 10 need to be looked into for preparation/amendment of the IIMPs.
The panel was constituted by the Principal Bench of the tribunal after it took suo motu cognizance of The Hindu report titled ‘India’s sinking islands’ published on March 19, 2023. The report had stated that several of the country’s 1,382 islands are under siege from unseasonal cyclonic storms, sea erosion and new development projects. The committee had recommended island-specific sustainable development and tourism policy keeping the climate risks in mind.
