Will Draft Coastal Development Rules Be A Boon For Mumbai Realtors?

In a city where space crunch has led to real estate developers look for greener pastures in far flung peripheries and while authorities are building infrastructure to cater to those who settle far away from the city centre, it may come across as good news that the draft coastal development rules are out and allow some relaxation too.  The draft issued by the Centre has not been approved yet. However, if approved it would be a boost to builders, especially in Greater Mumbai.

Here is what you need to know:

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the draft Coastal Zone Regulation Notification, 2018 and is open to suggestions and feedback over the next 60 days.

The draft rules apply to the 7,500 coastal stretch of India. Prominent changes include the CRZ distance to land area or width of the creel from the high tide line (HTL) which has been reduced from 100 metre to 50 metre now.

“This CRZ limit of 50 mts or width of the creek whichever is less, shall, however, be subject to revision and final approval of the respective CZMPs as per this Notification, framed with due consultative process/ public hearing etc. and environmental safeguards enlisted therein. Till such time the CZMP to this notification is approved, the limit of 100 mts or width of the creek whichever is less, shall continue to apply,” the rules read. Prior to 2011, the limit was 500 metre.

Although this is good news for builders, environmentalists in Mumbai have already warned what it could do to the coastal ecosystem. It could endanger the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) as a whole.

CRZ-IA areas are the most sensitive coastal zone and no development activity is carried out here. Now, there would be some exemptions. However, on mangroves located in private land, there needs to be no buffer zone anymore but it would be limited to activities like laying of pipelines, transmission lines, conveyance systems/mechanisms and construction of road on stilts etc. that are required for public utilities.

The draft rules also permit eco-tourism in these areas.

Other provisions include a higher Floor Space Index (FSI) of 4 and this would be applicable to CRZ II which is the developed land area close to the shoreline in specific urban areas. As against an FSI of 1.33 in the island city and an FSI of 1 in suburbs, developers can build more and there is scope for a further hike.

In the case of CRZ III, the distance between HTL and land has been reduced from 200 metre to mere 50 metre. There is opposition against this provision as well. Experts are of the view that this may bring in much cheer for builders because it frees up a considerable space for further building. It may also strain areas like Manori, Malad, Mahim creeks, Mehul creek and Thane. 

Henceforth, open spaces, parks, gardens, playgrounds within CRZ-II will be No Development Zone (NDZ). Besides, vacant plots in areas designated for construction could now be open for beach resorts and hotels, strictly adhering to rules.

Among state highways running through NDZ or CRZ III, temporary tourism may also be entertained.

Given the opposition, a revision of these rules looks inevitable.