Centre relaxes rules for coastal development in city ……Chetan Chauhan
Construction and development activities along Mumbais coast willnowbeeasier than before.TheCentralgovernmentonMondayrelaxedthe stringent Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules for Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
However, theUnion environment ministry has declared open spaces inMumbai,including parks and playgrounds, as no-developmentzones.Theproposed airport nearPanvel could benefit from this relaxation, though the project still needs clearance from the ministry, which has asked the state to examine four alternative sites.
As reported inHTs April 23 edition, when the ministry had issued a draftCRZnotification, housing in the citys coastal areas will get exemption if supported by public finance.
The rules for Indias 7,500km-long coastline divide the shoreline into four zones, and in CRZ-II areas in the city, slum rehabilitation schemes and redevelopment of dilapidated buildings will be allowed. Such redevelopment schemes can be undertaken directly or through joint ventures
ensuring the stake of the state is not less than 51 per cent, it said, adding that the projects have to be monitored by a committee.
However, all open spaces in Mumbai, which fall in CRZ-III, will be no-development zones.
In CRZ-I areas it includes the mangrove belt and coral reefs construction of new approach roads has been allowedprovided it does not disturb the flowof tidal water. But twice the number of the mangroves destroyed will have to be planted.