The Tourism Department Planned to Facilitate Fast Development in Beach Tourism

The Kerala Tourism Department planned to facilitate fast development of Beach Tourism. They have submitted a proposal to the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA) for some modifications in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ). KCZMA sources said that, the proposal with details has been forwarded to the Central government.
In this proposal, the Department finds that the regulatory guidelines of the CRZ notifications have negatively affected the development of tourism in Kerala. There have been huge investment potentials. But there have only very little investment because of the old rigid rules. The proposal included potential areas covering the 580-km coastline from Poovar to Bekal.
According to the report, the majority of the tourism destinations emerging in the rural coastal areas and they fall under CRZ-III. There is no development is possible within 200 mts of the No Development Zone (NDZ) from the High Tide Line.
Section 8 (i) II of the CRZ notification points out that, buildings shall be permitted on the landward side of the existing road or on the landward side of the existing authorized structures. But, in Annexure III of the notification describes the guidelines for development of beach resorts and hotels, imposes huge restrictions on tourism development in CRZ II area. These notifications said that, the 100-mtr NDZ for backwaters and tidal-influenced area makes a restriction of backwater-related for the state.
The modification of CRZ norms is mainly for the development of 13 beach stretches identified with a total length of 30 kms from Poovar to Bekal falling under the CRZ III category. The beaches include Poovar, Anchuthengu, Kappil, Kollam, Thottappalli, Marari, Azeekkal, Cherai, Nattika, Kappad, Muzhappilangadu, Meenkunnu and Bekal. and also the Department suggests the amendment of existing CRZ norms in seven beach stretches covering Veli, Thirumullavaaram, Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Vadakara, Payyambalam, and Nileswaram. All these beaches fall under the CRZ II category. The Department has developed some favorable relaxations in the existing norms for the case of backwaters.
The modification of CRZ norms claims that it can open up new advantages and opportunities for the development of tourism and economy of the state.