Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (MS)

Mangaluru, Apr 19: Developmental works and tourism-related activities will soon be set in motion for the beaches in coastal Karnataka. Top sources in the tourism department confirmed that the state government has approved the revised plan of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2019 of the Centre. The notification in this regard will be taken out in a week's time.

Once the notification is announced, the public has 60 days to raise their objection. A meeting to receive petitions will take place under the presidency of DC. Petitions related to objections and disputes will also be taken by local governing bodies including gram panchayats. Once the objections are received, the district administration is going to send a report to the state government. Then the same will be sent to the central government by the state government after verification. The Centre will finally approve the project.

According to the revised plan, in CRZ-II, there is a provision to build houses or other structures from roads that were built prior to 1991 on beaches. If a road is not available, then new houses or commercial buildings can be built from the building that is constructed on the land which has authorized documents. But there are restrictions for establishing industries.

There is a demand to develop tourism in Karnataka based on the Goa model for many years. Now complimentary to this demand, many rules in the CRZ notification have been relaxed. In specific areas of CRZ-II, provisions are made to build new resorts, homestay and apartments. According to the revised plan, 95% of CRZ in Dakshina Kannada and 30% CRZ in Udupi will be included in CRZ-II. Meanwhile, CRZ-I had more restrictions. In the old CRZ plan, only 60% of the CRZ area in Dakshina Kannada and 10% in Udupi were in CRZ-II.

Locals living in and around the beach areas are concerned that open permission to conduct activities throughout the beach in the name of development might make it difficult to protect the species of sea creatures and plants that are on the verge of extinction. Moreover, if the beaches are seen only from the point of view of increasing commercial income, it might cause disruption of peace for locals. The union government had taken out CRZ notification - 2019 in January 2019. Due to the Covid pandemic, the necessary map release was delayed.