The Ministry of Environment and Forests had constituted an Expert Committee under the Chairmanship of Prof. M. S. Swaminathan in July, 2004, to review and make recommendations with regard to implementation and amendments if necessary,  of Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991. The Expert Committee submitted its report alongwith the recommendations, which were accepted by the Ministry of Environment and Forests in April, 2005. The major recommendations include:-

(i) Implementation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan rather than an uniform regulatory approach.

(ii)Development along the coastal stretches based on the vulnerability of the coast, taking into account the natural and manmade hazards.

(iii)Inclusion of the ocean zone for regulation.

(iv)Setting up of Institute for Coastal Zone Management to address the policy and legal issues.

(v)Abatement of the pollution of coastal areas and marine waters in a time-bound manner.

(vi)Identification and mapping of the coastal eco-sensitive areas such as mangroves, corals, turtle breeding areas.

(vii) Development of coastal bio shield.

No new regulations have been notified based on the recommendations of the Professor M.S Swaminathan Committee. However, pilot studies have been initiated for demarcation of vulnerability line along identified coastal stretches in line with the recommendations, which would interlia, provide for protection of the coastal regions.

This information was given by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Shri S. Reghupathy  in a written reply to question by Shri Sanat Kumar Mandal   and Shri M.P. Veerendrakumar:in the Lok Sabha today.