Coastal zone violations to be mapped

AHMEDABAD: Union minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh declared on Wednesday that a comprehensive mapping of all coastal regulatory zone (CRZ) violations would be undertaken soon. The project would be undertaken by Isro's SAC in Ahmedabad.

"The coastal mapping of industrial projects would be undertaken to zero in on existing defaulters and CRZ violators. The exercise is being undertaken solely to strengthen our legal stance on such violations. There are a few cases in Gujarat too," said Ramesh.

He added, "The mapping would help us in devising policies and making CRZ regulations more efficient," Ramesh said. There are instances of CRZ violations but the Isro satellite mapping would help us prevent further CRZ violations in future."

Ramesh also said with the new atlas on wetlands he would not require a list from various states regarding designated wetlands and can directly enforce provisions of the environment protection Act if the ministry comes across any violations regarding wetlands.

"From the wetland atlas we could identify the designated wetlands in a particular state. If there are attempts by the state to write off designated wetlands for projects I can invoke the environment protection Act immediately," Ramesh told TOI.