Order of the Ministry of Environment and Forests establishing the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT and FORESTS ORDER New Delhi, the 9th July, 2009 S.O. 1675(E).― WHEREAS by an order of the Government of India in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Number S.O 156(E), dated the 3rd February, 2005, the Central Government reconstituted the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority for a period up to 31st March 2005 with effect from the date of publication of the order in the Official Gazette and subsequently, the term of the Authority was extended for period of three years and the said term has been expired; AND WHEREAS, the Central Government is of the view that such an Authority should be reconstituted; NOW, THEREFORE in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), the Central Government hereby constitutes an authority to be known as the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority (hereinafter referred to as the Authority) consisting of the following persons, for a period of three years with effect from the date of publication of this order in the Official Gazette, namely: 1. The Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary, Forests and Environment Department, Government of Gujarat, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar Chairman 2. The Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary, Industries and Mines Department, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar Member 3. The Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary, Urban Development and Urban Housing Department, Sachivalaya, Gandhinagar Member 4. The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Gandhinagar Member 5. The Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Gujarat Maritime Board, Gandhinagar Member 6. The Member Secretary, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar Member 7. The Chief Town and Country Planner, Town and Country Planning Organization, State Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar Member 8. The Commissioner of Fisheries, Gujarat State, Gandhinagar Member 9. The Director, Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Bhavnagar or his representative Member 10. The Director, Space Application Centre, Ahmedabad or his representative Member 11. Shri. T.P. Singh, Director, Bhaskaryachay Institute of Space Application and Geoinformatics, Gandhinagar Member 12. Dr. Nikhil Desai, Geology Department, M. S. University, Vadodara Member 13. Shri C.N. Pandey, Director, Gujarat Ecological Education and Research Foundation, Gandhinagar Member 14. Shri Rajesh I. Shah, Managing Trustee, VIKAS Centre for Development, Navrangapura, Ahmedabad Member 15. The Director (Environment), Forests and Environment Department, Government of Gujarat Member Secretary II. The Authority shall have the power to take the following measures for protecting and improving the quality of the coastal environment and preventing, abating and controlling environmental pollution in areas of the State of Gujarat, namely: (i) examination of proposals for changes or modifications in classification of Coastal Regulation Zone areas and in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) received from the Gujarat State Government and making specific recommendations to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority therefore; (ii) (a) inquiry into cases of alleged violation of the provisions of the said Act or the rules made thereunder or any other law which is relatable to the objects of the said Act and, if found necessary in a specific case, issuing directions under section 5 of the said Act, insofar as such directions are not inconsistent with any direction issued in that specific case by the National Coastal Zone Management Authority or by the Central Government; (b) review of cases involving violations of the provisions of the said Act and the rules made thereunder or under any other law which is relatable to the objects of the said Act, and if found necessary, referring such cases, with comments, for review to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority: Provided that the cases under classes (a) and (b) of sub-paragraph may be taken up suo-motu or on the basis of complaint made by an individual or an representative body or an organization; (iii) Filing complaints, under section 19 of the said Act, in cases of non-compliance of the directions issued by it under sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph; (iv) to take action under section 10 of the said Act to verify the facts concerning the issues arising from sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph. Ill. The Authority shall deal with environmental issues relating to Coastal Regulation Zone, which may be referred to it by the State Government of Gujarat the National Coastal Zone Management Authority or the Central Government. IV. The Authority shall identify ecologically sensitive areas in the Coastal Regulation Zone and formulate area-specific management plans for such identified areas. V. The Authority shall identify coastal areas highly vulnerable to erosion or degradation and formulate area-specific management plans for such identified areas. VI. The Authority shall identify economically important stretches in the Coastal Regulation Zone and prepare integrated Coastal Zone Management Plans for the same. VII. The Authority shall submit the plans prepared by it under paragraphs IV,V and VI above and modifications thereof to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority for examination and its approval. VIII. The Authority shall ensure compliance of all specific conditions that are laid down in the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan of Gujarat. IX. The Authority shall furnish report of its activities at least once in six months to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority. X. The Authority shall ensure that at least two third members of the Authority are present during the meetings. XI. The foregoing powers and functions of the Authority shall be subject to the supervision and control of the Central Government. XII. The Authority shall have its headquarters at Gandhinagar. XIII. Any matter specifically not falling within the scope and jurisdiction of the Authority shall dealt with by the statutory authorities concerned. [F.No.J-17011/30/99-IA-III] [Dr. Nalini Bhat, Scientist ‘G’]