The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 1991, has been amended vide S.O. No.494 (E) dated July 9, 1997 as reported in the previous issue of this newsletter.
Inter-alia, the amendment stipulates that the Ministry of Surface Transport, Government of India, may accord environmental clearance for expansion or modernisation of existing port and harbours. The Ministry of Surface Transport can consider for environment clearance only those activities which are proposed to be located within the existing port limits. Environmental clearance cannot be given by them in ecologically sensitive and important areas demarcated in the port.
In order to ensure that the activities are permitted in an environmentally sustainable manner, the Ministry of Surface Transport has been requested to strictly adhere to the guidelines formulated by the Ministry of Environment & Forests while considering applications for environmental clearance. The Ministry of Surface Transport has constituted an Environmental Appraisal Committee in which a representative of the Ministry of Environment is a member.
The Ministry of Surface Transport may also permit, on a case to case basis, storage of selected petroleum products, namely, crude oil, LPG, motor spirit, kerosene, aviation fuel, HSD, lubricating oil, butane, propane, CNG, naptha, furnace oil and LSHS in the port areas subject to implementation of safety regulations, including guidelines issued by Oil Safety Directorate. The Ministry of Surface Transport cannot, however, permit storage of these petroleum products in ecologically sensitive and important areas demarcated in the port.