The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change recently unveiled the Island Protection Zone (IPZ) 2019 for Andaman and Nicobar. This new legislation is designed to align with Niti Aayog’s proposals for holistic development in these Islands. It includes plans to utilize the ‘blue economy’ – a sustainable strategy that harnesses ocean resources.
The Objective of IPZ 2019
The primary goal of the IPZ 2019 is to allow for eco-tourism projects. These projects must be located at least 20 meters from the high tide line (HTL) in smaller islands like Baratang, Havelock, and Car Nicobar. For larger islands, a minimum distance of 50 meters from the HTL is required.
This provision opens up opportunities for activities like mangrove walks, tree huts, and nature trails in the island coastal regulation zone (ICRZ). The ICRZ forms part of the area identified as being most sensitive to environmental changes—inclusive of turtle nesting grounds, marshes, coral reefs, etc.
Construction Policies in the Eco-Sensitive Zones
IPZ 2019 introduces some changes concerning construction in eco-sensitive zones. Notably, the statute allows for the construction of roads or road stilts by reclaiming land in exceptional cases—for defense installations, public utilities, or strategic purposes.
If road construction results in the destruction of mangrove areas, compensatory mangrove planting measures are mandatory. Specifically, three times the area of destroyed mangroves must be replanted elsewhere.
| Eco-Sensitive Zones | Allowances | Compensation Measures |
|---|---|---|
| Marshes, Coral Reefs, Turtle Nesting Grounds | Road Construction for strategic purposes | Compensatory reforestation of mangroves – three times the area destroyed |
Concerns Regarding IPZ 2019
Despite the ambitious objectives of IPZ 2019, the new regulations have raised some concerns. The primary issue raised is that norms for Andaman and Nicobar have been brought in line with Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) 2018 for islands close to the mainland and backwater islands.
Under these norms, a No Development Zone (NDZ) must be positioned only 20 meters from the HTL. This reduces the previous NDZ’s width—stipulated under IPZ 2011—of 200 meters from the HTL for all islands.
The prior regulation authorized only pipelines, transmission lines, and trans-harbor links to be set up in the eco-sensitive zone. The new directive, however, allows for road construction.
Clarifying High Tide Line and Low Tide Line
For understanding these regulations better, it’s essential to clarify what constitutes the high tide line (HTL) and low tide line (LTL). The HTL is determined by the highest point the tide reaches during spring tides and can be delineated by walking over or using remote sensing data or helicopter survey. The LTL, on the other hand, signifies the limit to which the lowest tide recedes during spring tide.
