New coastal regulations may fuel urban boom, greens wary

Taking into consideration the potential for urban Growth based on the new Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP), the civic body and the District Administration are planning to make appropriate corrections in the old Coastal Regulation Zone maps that will eventually free up lands close to water bodies in and around Kochi.

The corporation authorities, with the support of local residents, councillors, and the district administration have started measures to get exemptions for the areas which were included under the CRZ limits.
As per the new draft of the CZMP, there are provisions for certain relaxations, and if the local body or residents succeed in proving that some areas are eligible for relaxations they will be exempted from the CRZ limits.

As of now, CRZ regulations are being decided in each area based on the CZM. “Now, theKeralaCoastal Zone Management Authority has published the draft of the CZMP. Once the draft is finalized, it will be the base for deciding CRZ limits. In the new draft plan, there are some changes,” said P Z Thomas, an expert member of the panel which prepared the CZMP.