Notification issued for restructuring of Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority

Mumbai, July 12 (IANS) The Union Ministry of Environment and Climate Change has issued a notification for the restructuring of the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority to ensure the timely approval of various development works and projects in the state under the Coastal Zone Regulation (CRZ).

State Environment and Climate Change Minister Pankaja Munde, who was pursuing with the Centre for early release of notification, said that the authority will remain operational for the next three years.

“CRZ approval is required for various government and private projects in the state. For this, the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority has been functioning since 1998. However, the term of this authority expired in December 2024. The state government had sent a proposal to the central government for the establishment of a new authority. The Union Environment and Climate Change Ministry has now issued a notification,” said Minister Munde.

She further added that the restructuring of the authority will help to fast-track the development of various projects and will boost the sustainable development of the state. This will help in maintaining a balance between development and environmental protection.

According to the gazette notification, the new authority will comprise senior officials from the administration, scientists, environmental experts and NGOs. The authority will function from Mumbai.

“The authority is headed by the Principal Secretary of the Environment and Climate Change Department, and it will consist of Secretaries of the Revenue, Rural Development, Urban Development, Fisheries and Industries Departments. The members include the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests of the Mangrove Cell, Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Environmental experts LR Ranganath, Milind Sardesai, Amit Bansiwal, Anish Andheria, President of the Bombay Natural History Society and representatives of NGOs. While the Director-level officers of the Environment Department will be the Member Secretary,” said the government release.

The authority’s mandate include examination and recommendation of project proposals as per the CRZ notification, protection of marine and coastal ecosystems and conservation of biodiversity, control over development works in coastal areas, investigation and action in case of violation of the Environment (Protection) Act, sending proposals for necessary changes to the Central government, publication of information about the work by establishing a separate website for transparency and protection of the rights of traditional fishermen and coastal communities, said the government release.

“This decision will not only accelerate the state's progress towards environmental protection but also towards sustainable development. This restructuring of the authority is an attempt to maintain a balance between environmental protection and development,” said Minister Munde.

--IANS

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