Guidelines for development of beaches

This environmental management guideline is designed to provide environmental impact assessments for activities related to coastal area development. The guidelines are in reference to the potential impact assessments of activities which have "direct impact" on coastal land-sea interface area and its hinterland. The guidelines list the major activities or sub activities that might characterize development pressures. The Coastal Zone Regulation Notification (1991) has major influence on regulating the activities on the beaches. The following activities are declared as prohibited for the protection of beaches and coastal areas:

• Setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries except those directly related to water front.

• Manufacturing, handling or storage or disposal of hazardous wastes.

• Setting up and expansion of fish processing units and units of disposal of wastes and effluents.

• Dumping of domestic wastes, ash and wastes from Thermal Power Stations.

• Mining of sand, rocks and other strata materials except those rare minerals not available outside the CRZ areas.

• Harvesting or drawal of ground water and construction of mechanism therefor within 200 m to 500 m zone.

• Any construction activity between the low tide and high tide line except for facilities for carrying treated effluents and waste water discharges into the sea or for facilities for carrying sea water for cooling purposes, oil, gas and similar pipelines and facilities essential for activities permitted under Notification for the Coastal Zone Regulation.

• Dressing or altering of sand mines, hills, natural features including landscape changes for beautification, recreational and other such purpose, except as permissible under this notification.