As many as 22 beach-facing residential buildings in a coastal area along a major road face the threat of demolition after the district administration identified them as violators of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules. The buildings—some completed and others still under construction—are located within the No Development Zone (NDZ) of CRZ III, where permanent structures are banned within 200 metres of the High Tide Line.

At least six of these were found to be under construction even during inspection, indicating ongoing activity despite regulatory restrictions. Others are upscale, completed buildings, some with two floors, built along the fragile coastal stretch.

These findings were part of an action taken report submitted to a national environmental tribunal, which took up the matter on its own. A team comprising revenue and environmental officials conducted GPS-tagged inspections and submitted photographs and ownership details to the state coastal regulatory authority to initiate action.

During the hearing, the tribunal questioned why demolition had not begun despite clear acknowledgment of violations. It also noted that the district-level coastal authority was expected to act decisively against illegal developments.

In response, the state coastal authority informed the tribunal that it had forwarded the list of violators to the central environmental authority, seeking clarification on whether it had the power to directly carry out demolitions. The tribunal is now expected to decide whether demolition can proceed without waiting for further directions from the central government. The matter will be taken up again in the coming weeks.

https://www.livehomes.in/news_letter