The Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate change vide notification dated 1st November, 2021, has issued the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2019, The amendment provides that Development and Production of oil and natural gas and all associated facilities thereto; Exploratory drilling operations shall be exempted from prior CRZ clearance.
All development activities or projects in CRZ-I and CRZ-IV areas, which are regulated or permissible as per this notification, shall be dealt with by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for CRZ clearance, based on the recommendation of the concerned Coastal Zone Management Authority with the following exceptions namely: Stand-alone jetties, Breakwaters, Groynes, Salt works, Slipways and manual Erosion control bunds which shall be dealt by concerned Coastal Zone Management Authority or SEIAA/Ministry, as the case may be, in case the projects attract EIA Notification, 2006.
