Gujarat seeks relaxation in restriction of mining activities in CRZ

As per the provisions of the Coastal Regulation Zone(CRZ) Notification, 1991, mining of minerals in the CRZ area (i.e. area between low tide line to high tide line and area between high tide line to 500m belt towards the landward side) is prohibited. However the Gujarat Government which is heavily promoting development of mining based valued added industry in state has sought major relaxation from the Government of India and demanded permission for allowing mining in presently restricted CRZ areas.

Highly placed sources in the state Forest & Environment Department told that,“

a large amount of limestone reserves are found in the coastal belt of Saurashtra and Kachchh in Gujarat, which could not be extracted due restrictions of mining in CRZ area. Some cement plants set up in Saurashtra region much before the CRZ Notification came into existence with mining leases within the CRZ areas suffer a lot due to the above restrictions and hence face the threat of closure/shut down with implications of unemployment and many other issues.”

Sources further informed that,““the matter of allowing mining of limestone within the CRZ area based on some technical studies have been taken up by the Government of Gujarat with the Central Government. The issue is long pending. The Union Minister for Forests and Environment had said to the Chief Minister mentioned in an official responce that the CRZ Notification is going to be amended as per the recommendations of the Prof. Swaminathan Committee and has requested for the comments of the State Government for any suggestions / comments so that the same could be considered while amending the CRZ Notification, 1991. In view of the same, recently the matter was once again taken up by the State Government at the level of the Chief Minister with the Prime Minister.”

“In connection with the Chief Minister’s letter , Minister of State (Independent Charge), Environment and Forests, Government of India,, informed that permitting mining activities in CRZ area will be considered while revising the CRZ Notification. Since, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has circulated draft CRZ Notification ,2010 for inviting the comments/suggestions, this Department has also recommended to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India to allow lime stone mining activities in CRZ area. Further to this, this Department, has also sent its comments on Draft CRZ Notification 2010 to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India for permitting lime Stone Mining in the CRZ areas.’’, said the sources.