The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has sanctioned the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) for ten coastal districts in Kerala, which include Kasaragod, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram. This plan aligns with the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification of 2019, allowing these districts to benefit from relaxed CRZ regulations and to initiate development activities, including the construction of buildings toward the seaward side.

What is the Process?

• The Ministry has instructed the State government to publish the signed copies of the approved CZMPs for all ten coastal districts on the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority website within one month. The Ministry clarified that all applications for CRZ clearance submitted after the approval of CRZ 2019 will be assessed according to the 2019 Notification.
• The Union government has started designating certain areas as Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) to protect the unique coastal and marine environments, ensure livelihood security for fishing communities and local residents, and promote sustainable development based on scientific principles while considering the risks of natural hazards and rising sea levels due to climate change.

Implications for Kerala

• Kerala boasts a coastline of approximately 590 km, with nine out of its fourteen districts bordering the Arabian Sea. The 2011 Census recorded Kerala’s population density at 859 individuals per square kilometer, significantly higher than the national average of 382 per square kilometer.
• The coastal regions exhibit a notably higher population density compared to other areas in the State. It is estimated that five corporations, 36 municipalities, and 245 gram panchayats will fall under the CRZ regime across these ten districts.
• The intense demographic pressure has led to widespread violations of CRZ regulations along the coastline. Numerous land modifications, including illegal wetland reclamation and encroachments, have been reported in Kerala. Hundreds of structures have been constructed along the coast in clear violation of the rules.
• The CRZ 2011 regime, which was in effect until the CZMP approval, focused on preserving the coastal ecosystem, thus safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of fishers and coastal communities.

Benefits of the CZMP Approval

• The State government estimates that the CZMP approval will directly benefit around 1 million people by relaxing previous restrictions on new housing construction and repairs to existing homes. This approval is a prerequisite for states to implement CRZ 2019 and access its associated benefits.
• Under the new regime, the No Development Zone (NDZ)—which must remain untouched—around tidal-influenced water bodies will be reduced from 100 meters to 50 meters from the High Tide Line in at least 122 local bodies. Consequently, 37 village panchayats will be classified as CRZ-III A, where the NDZ has decreased to a quarter of its former size.
• CRZ-III A areas are densely populated rural zones, with a 2011 Census density of 2,161 people per square kilometer. The NDZ in this category will now extend 50 meters from the High Tide Line, compared to 200 meters stipulated by the CRZ 2011 notification.
• Additionally, 66 village panchayats will be moved into the CRZ-2 category, facilitating the construction of both commercial and residential buildings along authorized structures.
• The NDZ within Kerala’s CRZ areas will be halved, decreasing from 239.431 square kilometers to 108.397 square kilometers, as determined by the CRZ 2011 notification.

Concerns Regarding Mangroves

Large areas of mangrove vegetation, crucial for the coastal ecosystem and as breeding grounds for numerous fish and other organisms, may face exploitation due to the 2019 notification, which limits legal protections for government holdings larger than 1,000 square meters to 50-meter buffer zones. As a result, the buffer zones for mangroves will shrink from 4,300 hectares to 2,500 hectares across the State.

The new regulations also eliminate the mandatory buffer zone around mangrove areas located in private properties. While private landowners may welcome this change, it poses a significant risk to the already dwindling mangrove vegetation, potentially leading to the loss of vast areas of these vital ecosystems.

• GS Paper I (Geography): Covers urbanization patterns, challenges of urban spaces, and sustainable urban development.
• GS Paper III (Environment): Relevant for issues like sustainable development, climate resilience in cities, and urban environmental management.

The United Nations emphasizes that cities are confronted with extraordinary challenges, particularly due to climate change. Despite progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), urban areas continue to grapple with issues such as poverty, inequality, and environmental decline. In the Global South, these problems are exacerbated by rapid urbanization, insufficient infrastructure, and a lack of resources. As a result, cities often experience housing shortages, limited access to clean water and sanitation, and heightened vulnerability to climate-related incidents.

Urbanization in India

• The path of urbanization in India is distinct from that of cities in the Global North. In Western nations, urbanization occurred after industrialization, which created jobs that absorbed rural labor.
• Additionally, their urban development was sustained by significant economic transfers from their colonies. Economist Utsa Patnaik has pointed out that India contributed more than $45 trillion to the British economy during colonial times.
• Conversely, India’s urbanization is primarily fueled by economic hardships, leading to what is termed “poverty-driven urbanization,” involving both rural-to-urban and urban-to-urban migration. The COVID-19 pandemic revealed significant pressures on urban planning, with reverse migration trends exposing infrastructure deficiencies.

Challenges of Urbanization in India

• In the absence of a 2021 Census, precise data on India’s urban population is lacking. According to World Bank estimates, about 40% of the population lives in urban areas, spread across approximately 9,000 statutory and census towns. Key challenges facing Indian cities include inadequate spatial planning, climate change, extensive migration, rising inequality and social segregation, and governance issues.
• Urban planning agencies encounter two major problems. First, many spatial and temporal plans are outdated and do not account for population growth. Since the 1980s, deindustrialization has led to job losses in cities like Ahmedabad, Delhi, Surat, and Mumbai, prompting many displaced workers to move to peri-urban regions, resulting in overcrowded living conditions.
• Currently, around 40% of India's urban population resides in slums. Second, planning efforts often prioritize capital growth over the needs of the population, resulting in a lack of local ownership and participation in the planning process.
• This has widened inequality, as exclusive developments cater to the affluent while millions are deprived of basic housing. Furthermore, climate change poses significant challenges, with cities facing severe pollution and increased incidents of urban flooding and "heat island effects." Notably, eight out of the ten most polluted cities in India are located in the National Capital Region (NCR) around Delhi.
• Despite the provisions of the 74th Constitutional Amendment, many Indian cities are still governed by undemocratic entities. Although cities have elected officials, they seldom possess control over urban planning, which is frequently delegated to parastatal and private organizations.
• For instance, less than three out of the 18 functions outlined in the 12th Schedule have been universally transferred to urban governments, and cities receive only 0.5% of the GDP in intergovernmental transfers. As we recognize World Cities Day, these challenges underscore the necessity for comprehensive national interventions

Execution of Operation Polo

• Military Action: On September 13, 1948, the Indian Army launched Operation Polo, involving a swift military campaign to take control of Hyderabad. The operation lasted for about five days.
• Forces Involved: Approximately 40,000 troops from the Indian Army were deployed, supported by air power, to capture key locations in Hyderabad.
• Outcome: The operation culminated in the surrender of the Nizam's forces on September 17, 1948. The Indian Army took control of Hyderabad, and the Nizam agreed to join the Indian Union.