55 cases of CRZ violations recorded in 2 years in DK

Mangaluru: Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) violations in Dakshina Kannada have emerged as a serious environmental issue over the past few years. In two years, at least 55 cases of CRZ violations were reported in Dakshina Kannada, particularly along riverbanks and the seashore.

According to officials, one of the major challenges in curbing these violations is the tendency of local bodies to grant permission for constructing homestays and guest houses without considering CRZ restrictions. "The High Tide Line (HTL) serves as a crucial reference point for demarcating the CRZ, an area along the coastline where developments are strictly regulated to safeguard the coastal environment. For coastal stretches, the CRZ extends 500m from the sea and 50m from rivers. However, over the years, there has been a noticeable shift in many parts of the coastline, with the shoreline gradually receding. As a result, residents living near the shore often observe that the sea encroached further inland, and what was once the HTL now appears to have moved significantly closer to their homes. While these are cases observed by CRZ officials or those brought to their attention, there may be many more violations that may have gone unnoticed. Hence, the tourism department and the local authorities have to be cautious before granting permission for any activity in the CRZ," an official said.

While the state govt put in place a shoreline management plan to address sea erosion, the official said the CRZ is monitored based on the 2019 notification, in which the HTL is decided based on satellite imagery data and ground surveys.

Meanwhile, sources also said that locals are opposing the inclusion of the upstream area of the newly constructed barrage-cum-bridge across the Nethravati River at Adyar-Harekala under the CRZ. Officials, however, clarified that any such changes would require a revision of the existing CRZ guidelines, the official said.

Illegal sand mining remains a major concern, despite the availability of sand in designated non-CRZ areas.