CRZ Amendment for Tourism

We, the undersigned, call on the Government of Kerala to compel the Ministry Of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the Central Government of India to revise the ‘Coastal Regulation Zone’ Rules to support small scale, low density beach and backwater tourism.

Kerala Tourism and the CRZ Regulations

Kerala has 580km of coastline and 1687km of backwater canals. If a 200m beach/100m backwater ‘No Development Zone’ is enforced, then there is a severe restriction on the tourism industry.

Kerala receives almost 2 crore tourists per year that generate a revenue of more than Rs.21,000 crore (>9% of state GDP) and direct employment for more than 14 million people. Tourists typically spend 30-50% of a holiday in Kerala within CRZ zones; on beautiful beaches and experiencing the renowned backwaters of the state.

The protection of the local fishing communities in the beach and backwater areas is essential. However, tourism and the fishing community are NOT mutually exclusive. Successful beach and backwater areas can unite local communities and tourism and each can benefit from one other.

Karnataka State Government has already sought relaxation in the costal regulatory zone (CRZ) for 43 beach and 4 island areas in order to help boost tourism. We request that the Kerala government does the same, as it is particularly reliant on tourism.

Proposal for CRZ Amendment

The CRZ Regulations only refer to Resorts and Hotels and only allow plot sizes greater than 0.4 hectares. Small and medium scale businesses such as Homestays, Serviced Villas and other small scale tourist facilities are unfairly penalised under CRZ as they cannot afford to purchase beach/backwater property with a 200m/100m ‘No Development Zone’. However, they are essential to any tourist area in order to offer accommodation of different styles and budget to meet tourist demand.

The integration of dispersed, small properties has much less impact on the environment and the fishing community than large resorts, while still providing the benefits of employment and tax income for local, state and central government authorities.  

We fully support the principle of CRZ Regulations that impose development restrictions to protect ecology/wildlife and the fishing community. We propose that the CRZ Regulations be retained for the majority of the coast, but a number of tourist beaches and backwater areas should be granted the status of ‘Special Tourism Zones’ with revised development rules. For instance: Marari Beach, Alleppey, Varkala, Nattika, Cherai, Kovalam, Bekal, Beypore, Chavakkad, Kappad, Kappil, Kizhuna, Poovar, Kollam, Kumarakom

It is our recommendation that the ‘No Development Zones’ in these areas should be amended to allow for fishing community housing and small scale, low density, responsible tourism activities. The development rules within these ‘Special Tourism Zones’ could be amended as follows:

·         Allow for low density tourism facilities (e.g. Homestays, Serviced Villas and small Resorts)

·         Allow re-use of existing buildings and expansion up to 100m2 plinth area (no new building numbers)

·         Allow buildings up to 9m high (1-2 storeys)

·         Allow swimming pools

·         Require eco initiatives (rainwater harvesting, water saving taps/showers, low energy lighting / appliances, waste composting / recycling)

Require grey / black waste water systems that meet Pollution Control Board norms