On Thursday, September 30, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved Coastal Zone Management Plan for Mumbai and its suburbs subjecting to conditions.
In an official release, the ministry stated that the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) in its 43rd meeting held on August 16, 2021 had recommended the CZMPs of Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban District of Maharashtra for approval as per CRZ Notification, 2019. This issues with the approval of the Minister, EFCC.
On Thursday, September 30, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has approved Coastal Zone Management Plan of Mumbai and #Mumbai Suburbs in Maharashtra, subjecting to conditions.@AUThackeray @MahaEnvCC #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/sYndLVZDot
— Mumbai Live (@MumbaiLiveNews) September 30, 2021
According to the release, the draft CZMP maps were prepared by the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM) under the Union Environment Ministry in 2019 for all coastal districts in Maharashtra based on the 2019 Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms.
Besides, the official statement mentioned that the NCZMA further decided that the CZMP of Mumbai City and Mumbai Sub-Urban Districts shall also include the ESZ, if any, and revise the CZMP accordingly, if required.
NCZMA also decided that the activities/projects prohibited in the notified ESZ falling within approved CZMP, if any, shall remain prohibited in that area.
In this regard, it is to state that based on recommendation of the NCZMA, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change hereby conveys its approval of the CZMPS for the Mumbai City and Mumbai Sub-Urban in the State of Maharashtra subject to the following:
(i) The CZMP of Mumbai City and Mumbai Sub-Urban Districts shall also include the ESZ, if any, and CZMP shall be revised accordingly, if required, after due approval of Ministry (ii) The activities / projects prohibited in the notified ESZ falling within approved CZMP, if any, shall remain prohibited in that area. (iii) The CZMPs of Mumbai City and Mumbai Sub-Urban based on the provisions of CRZ Notification, 2019 are signed by all concerned and copy of the same is made available in the website of MCZMA in public domain.
Further, it is to inform that all proposals in Mumbai City and Mumbai Suburban received henceforth for CRZ Clearance shall be considered as per CRZ Notification, 2019 only. However, pending proposal under CRZ notification 2011, if any, may be considered at the discretion of project proponent.
In addition, it has come to light that this project will also pave the way for the redevelopment of a large number of eligible housing societies and slums, as these areas will get a floor-space index (FSI) or permissible development equal to that for the rest of the city.
Moreover, an assurance in this regard was given by the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav to Leader of the Opposition Devendra Fadnavis during his recent Mumbai visit.