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The main recommendations of the Dr. M. S. Swaminathan Committee, set up to review the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991 include:-
· Ecological and cultural security, livelihood security and national security should be the cornerstones of the Integrated Coastal Zone Management Policy.
· The coastal should include the water area upto the territorial limits on the seaward side and upto the administrative boundaries or biological boundaries on the landward side of the sea coast. The coastal zone management should include the inland water bodies and the land area along such water bodies.
· Regulation, education and social mobilisation should be the three major components of a participatory and sustainable coastal zone management strategy.
· Protection and sustainable development in marine and coastal environment and its resources should be in conformity with international law.
· The coastal regulation needs to be based on sound scientific and ecological principles and should safeguard both natural and cultural heritage.
· Precautionary approach should be used where there are potential threats of serious irreversible damage. -
· Significant or irreversible risk and harm to human health and life critical systems and resources including cultural and heritage would be considered unacceptable.
· Coastal policy and regulations should be guided by the principles of gender and social equity.
· Coastal protection and bio-resources conservation should be guided by tech-economic efficiency, precautionary approach, polluter pays and public trust doctrine.
· Principles contained in Biodiversity Act, 2002 should be applied to coastal bioresources management.
· Regeneration of mangrove wetlands, coral reefs, seagrass beds as well as coastal forestry and agroforestry will confer both short and long term ecological and livelihood benefits.
· In view of the severe loss of life and livelihood due to Tsunami, short term commercial interest should be allowed to undermine the ecological security of our coastal areas.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests Shri Namo Narain Meena in a written reply to Member of Parliament, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia in Lok Sabha today.
AKS/rs
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