Department of Science, Technology and Environment

Department of Science, Technology and Environment

Department of Science, Technology and Environment

About PCZMA

Puducherry Coastal Zone Management Authority is the regulatory body for protecting and improving the quality of the coastal environment and preventing and abating coastal environmental pollution in the coastal areas of Puducherry U.T.

The Union Territory of Puducherry has a coastline of 45 kms, stretching along the Bay of Bengal and to some extent along the Arabian Sea out of which Puducherry region alone has 24 km of coastline, Karaikal has 20 km stretch and Mahe has 1km stretch of coastline and 192 kms of Tidal influenced of water bodies in the U.T of Puducherry with a very wide range of coastal ecosystems such as estuaries, lagoons, mangroves, backwaters, sandy stretches, etc .,

The Ministry of Environment & Forest & Climate Change, Government of India published CRZ Notification, 2019 replacing earlier CRZ Notification, 2011. As per the Notification the CZMP has to be revised.

About Us

Genesis of PCZMA

   The Ministry of Environment & Forest & Climate Change, Government of India passed a Notification on 19th February 1991 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 known as ‘Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 1991 where in it is declared that the coastal stretches of seas, bays, estuaries, creeks and backwaters which is influenced by tidal action up to 500 meters from HTL and the land between LTL and HTL as Coastal Regulation Zone and imposed certain restrictions in the said Coastal Regulation Zone.

  Based on the Guidelines in the CRZ Notification the Coastlines of the Puducherry, Karaikal and Mahe, Yanam regions in the U.T. of Puducherry were studied and a Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) was prepared by the Town and Country Planning Department, Puducherry during 1992. The same was approved by MOEF and published in State Gazette vide G.O. Ms. No. 18/93/Hg dated 31st December 1993. Till 1998, the provisions of CRZ Notifications were monitored and enforced by a High Power Committee of the Development Department, Govt. of Puducherry and the regulation of construction activities in CRZ was dealt by the Pondicherry / Karaikal / Mahe / Planning Authorities in their respective regions.

   In 1998, Puducherry Coastal Zone Management Authority (PCZMA) was constituted and published in Gazette of India on 26th November 1998 based on the Supreme Court Direction to the Central Government to consider setting up of State & National Coastal Zone Management Authorities for ensuring effective implementation of CRZ Notifications. PCZMA was subsequently reconstituted in 2002, 2005, 2008,2012, 2015, 2018 & 2022.

Charter of Duties-PCZMA

PCZMA carries out the following activities for protecting and improving the quality of the coastal environment and preventing and abating coastal environmental pollution in the coastal areas of Puducherry U.T.

  1. Examination of proposals for changes or modifications in classification of CRZ areas and in the Coastal Zone Management Plans (CZMP) received from the Puducherry State Government and making specific recommendations to the National Coastal Zone Management Authority (NCZMA) thereof.
  2. Enquire into cases of alleged violations of the provisions of the CRZ Notification and to take action.
  3. Deal with environmental issues relating to CRZ which may be referred by Puducherry Government or NCZMA
  4. Identify ecologically sensitive areas in CRZ and formulate area-specific management plans for the identified area
  5. Identify coastal areas highly vulnerable to erosion or degradation and formulate area-specific management plans
  6. Identify economically important stretches in the CRZ and prepare Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan for the same
  7. Obtaining NCZMA approval for plans prepared as per clause iv, v & vi above.
  8. Examine all project proposals in CRZ areas and give their recommendations
  9. Ensure compliance of all specific conditions that are stipulated in CZMP of Puducherry.
  10. Furnish report of its activities to NCZMA once in six months

The Authority meets periodically to review the CZMP of Puducherry, discuss Environmental issues related to CRZ region and examine project proposals in CRZ region (all constructions / developments within 500 meters from High Tide Line).

Composition of PCZMA

Sl.No Name / Department Control
1 Secretary, Department of Environment, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry Chairman, Ex-officio
2 Director, Department of Fisheries, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry Member, Ex-officio
3 Chief Town Planner, Town and Country Planning Department, Government of Puducherry, Puducherry Member, Ex-officio
4 Prof. R. Ramesh, Director, National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management, Chennai-25 Member(Expert)
5 Dr.M.V.Ramana Murthy, Scientist ‘G’ and Director, National Central for Coastal Research, NIOT Campus, Chennai Member(Expert)
6 Thiru Ashok Panda, Co-convenor, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), Pondicherry Chapter Member, Non-Governmental Organisation;
7 Thiru. Yasam Lakshmi Narayana Reddy, Director (Science, Technology & Environment, Puducherry Member-Secretary, Ex-officio

PCZMA NOTIFICATIONS

Notification of GoI

1.    Amendment in Reconstitution of Puducherry Coastal Zone Management Authority (PCZMA) dated 20th April, 2023
2.    Procedure for Clearance of permissible activities as per the CRZ notification, 2011 and IPZ notification, 2011
3.    Amendment in guidelines for updation of CZMPs as per CRZ notification, 2011 to align it with CRZ notification, 2019.
4.    Procedure for dealing with violations arising due to not obtaining a prior CRZ clearance for permissible activites
5.    Enforcement & Monitoring Guidelines for Sand Mining
6.    Re Constitution of Puducherry Coastal Zone Management Authority 2022
7.   F.No.12/1/2019-IA.III(E-122245)dt. 26, October 2021 - Office Memorandum on Ecologically Sensitive Area / Coastal Land Use as per CRZ Notification, 2019
8.   S.O.125E-DATED-09.01.2020-NOTIFICATION-FOR-BLUE-FLAG-CERTIFICATION
9.   S.O.-2502E-DATED-12.07.2019-NOTIFICATION-FOR-BLUE-FLAG-CERTIFICATION
10.   Terms of Refernce for EIA/EMP
11.   Procedure of CRZ violation 2021
12.   Non Compliance of ToR
13.   MoEF & CC authorised agencies for Preparation of CRZ demarcation
14.   MoEF&CC Communication on Approved CZMP for U.T of Puducherry
15.    Deployment of Artifical Reed Modules made of concrete in the Sea
16.    Reconsititution of NCZMA
17.    Action on Violation in CRZ Notification and EP Act 1986
18.    Procedure for Clearance of Permissible Activites as per the CRZ Notification, 2019/ICRZ Notification 2019

RTI ACT



Ass. PIO
First Applette Authority
Thiru. Yasam Lakshmi Narayana Reddy
Member Secretary - PCZMA
Telephone : 0413-220 1256
E-Mail : dste.pon@nic.in
Ass. PIO
Public Information Officer
Dr. R. Sagaya Alfred
Senior Scientific Officer ,DSTE
Telephone : 0413-220 1256
E-Mail : dste.pon@nic.in
Ass. PIO
Asst.Public Information Officer
Thiru. P. Vipin Babu
Scientist, PPCC
Telephone : 0413-220 1256
E-Mail : dste.pon@nic.in