On Friday, Union environment ministry released new coastal regulation zone (CRZ) notification which protects parks and playgrounds in the city’s latest DP from development but may threaten Koliwadas along Mumbai’s coast.
According to Hindustan Times, the new CRZ notification offers to protect those open spaces, parks, and playgrounds that have been marked in the city’s latest development plan (DP 2034). The new rules also allow redevelopment of Koliwadas. The new CRZ notifications define CRZ-II as developed land areas up to or close to the shoreline, within the existing municipal limits or in other existing legally designated urban areas, which are substantially built-up with basic civic amenities.
The new CRZ notification also allows development of vacant plots in CRZ-II for construction of beach resorts and hotels. The Rules also state that “a floor space index (FSI) up to 15% shall be allowed only for construction of civic amenities, stadium and gymnasium meant for recreational or sports-related activities. Residential or commercial use of such open spaces shall not be permissible.” The new CRZ notification also relaxes previous CRZ norms and increases FSI up to 3 from 1.33 for Mumbai city and 2.7 from 1 for suburbs.
