The Indian Chemical Council (ICC) has termed the draft Coastal regulation Zone (CRZ) notification as well drafted and one which will help in preserving, conserving coastal regions and marine biology besides in sustainable development of the coastal region.

After going through the notification, the ICC offered the following suggestions:

1. Existing industries should be allowed to expand in the CRZ areas if needed after imposing specific conditions like installation of zero liquid discharge facilities.

2. The industry bodies which are generating biodegradable effluents should be allowed for expansion and also for setting up of new units.

3. Exemptions have been given for storage of some petroleum products and raw materials required for manufacturing fertilisers. Similarly hazardous substances like VCM, ethylene, ethylene di-chloride, methanol, ethanol, caustic soda etc and those which can only be received through coastal imports should also be exempted. This will put plants requiring hazardous materials as raw material inputs on par with refineries which can import crude and fertiliser plants which can import raw materials used by them.

4. Pipelines etc., can be laid across rivers, creeks, backwaters and their adjacent areas classified as CRZ even if the transportation is not from ports to terminals or other storage facilities.

5. The coastal zone management plans and relevant CRZ map should be placed in the public domain.

The government had declared vide its notification of 1991 the CRZ, imposing restrictions on industries, operations and processes in the CRZ.

The DCPC had sought comments from industry bodies on the notification.