With India having a coastline spanning around 7,516 kilometres, the coastal regions have become significant for the economic growth and development of industries like shipbuilding and mining. The regulation of coastal zones is crucial for protecting the country’s coastal environment.
Under the section 3 of Environment Protection Act, 1986 of India, Coastal Regulation Zone notification was issued in February 1991 for the first time, for regulation of activities in the coastal area by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
In December 2018, the government approved the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification, 2018.

What are coastal regulation zones?:-

The Environment Ministry came up with the Coastal Regulation Zone rules (CRZ rules) in February 1991, under the Environment Protection Act in 1986. The rules were notified in 2011. In 2018, the government issued the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2018 to remove restrictions on building, streamlining the clearance process and increasing tourism in the coastal areas.
As per the CRZ rules, the coastal areas of creeks, seas, bays, rivers and backwaters that get affected by tides up to 500 metres from the high tide line (HTL) and the land area between the low tide line (LTL) and the high tide line are declared as coastal regulation zone (CRZ).
State governments are responsible for preparing Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP) and implementing the CRZ rules through their respective Coastal Zone Management Authorities.