Central Government Sets Up New Coastal Zone Body for West Bengal
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has issued a new order establishing the West Bengal Coastal Zone Management Authority for a period of three years. The authority has been formed under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The authority will oversee protection, monitoring, and regulation of coastal areas in the State of West Bengal.
Purpose and Scope
The authority will examine development proposals, ensure compliance with the Coastal Regulation Zone norms, regulate activities in coastal regions, and address cases of violations. It will also assess requests for changes in zoning and submit recommendations to the Central Government.
Key Functions
The authority must review project applications, maintain oversight on environmental protection measures, and issue directions as empowered under the Act. It may also investigate contraventions and deliver reports every six months to the Central Government.
Impact on Public and Governance
The formation of the new authority ensures structured oversight over coastal development in West Bengal. It aims to strengthen environmental regulation, improve transparency through a dedicated website, and enhance timely processing of project proposals. Communities, institutions, and developers operating in coastal regions will be required to follow the defined procedures and norms more closely.
Membership and Structure
The authority consists of senior officials from multiple state departments, academic experts, members of environmental organisations, and technical professionals. It will be headquartered in Kolkata.
West Bengal Coastal Zone Management Authority Reconstituted
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
ORDER
New Delhi, the 12th November, 2025
S.O. 5164(E).
In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (3) of section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (29 of 1986) (hereinafter referred to as the said Act), the Central Government hereby constitutes the West Bengal Coastal Zone Management Authority (hereinafter referred to as the Authority) consisting of the following persons, for a period of three years, with effect from the date of publication of this order in the Official Gazette, namely.
| Serial No | Members | Designation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary, Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal | Chairperson, exofficio |
| 2. | Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary, Department of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs, Government of West Bengal or his representative not below the rank of Joint Secretary | Member, exofficio |
| 3. | Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary, Department of Sundarban Affairs, Government of West Bengal or his representative not below the rank of Joint Secretary | Member, exofficio |
| 4. | Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary, Department of Fisheries, Government of West Bengal or his representative not below the rank of Joint Secretary | Member, exofficio |
| 5. | Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary, Department of Industry, Commerce and Enterprise, Government of West Bengal or his representative not below the rank of Joint Secretary | Member, exofficio |
| 6. | Director, School of Oceanographic Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032, West Bengal | Member, exofficio |
| 7. | Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Director, Sundarban Biosphere Reserve, Directorate of Forest, Government of West Bengal | Member, exofficio |
| 8. | Chairman, West Bengal Pollution Control Board | Member, exofficio |
| 9. | Prof. Tarun Kumar De, Head, Department of Marine Sciences, Calcutta University, 35, B C Road, Kolkata-19, West Bengal | Member, Expert |
| 10. | Dr. Jatisankar Bandyopadhyay, Director, Centre for Environment Studies and Coordinator, Coastal Observatory and Outreach Centre, Vidyasagar University, Midnapore-721102, West Bengal | Member, Expert |
| 11. | Prof. Asok Kanti Sanyal, Ex-Chairman, West Bengal Biodiversity Board, 66, Dum Dum Road, Ahana Apartment, Flat – 1C, Kolkata –700074 | Member, Expert |
| 12. | Prof. Abhijit Kundu, Environment Consultant, Academic and Disaster Management Expert, Flat – C-4, 152, Lake East 6th Road, Kolkata – 700075 | Member, Expert |
| 13. | Ms. Ajanta Dey, Joint Secretary and Programme Director, Nature Environment and Wildlife Society, 10, Chowringhee Terrace, Kolkata700020, West Bengal | Member, Non Government Organisation |
| 14. | Director, Institute of Environmental Studies and Wetland Management, Department of Environment, Government of West Bengal | Member Secretary |
The Authority shall have its headquarter at Kolkata.
The quorum for the meeting of the Authority shall be one- third of the total number of its Members.
The member, other than Member, ex officio, shall be paid allowances as per the terms and conditions decided by the Central Government.
In order to avoid any conflict of interest, the Members shall recuse themselves from the meeting of the Authority, in the process of appraisal of any project, for which they have rendered any consultancy service.
The Authority shall, for the purposes of protecting and improving the quality of the coastal environment and preventing, abating and controlling environmental pollution in the Coastal Regulation Zone areas in the State of West Bengal, take following measures namely.
(i) after receiving the application for approval of project proposals, examine proposals if they are in accordance with the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan and within the requirements of the Coastal Regulation Zone notification issued by the Government of India in the erstwhile Ministry of Environment and Forests and published vide number S.O.19(E ), dated the 6th January, 2011 (hereinafter referred to as the said notification), and make recommendations for approval of project proposal to the authority concerned, as specified in the said notification, within a period of sixty days from the date receipt of application.
(ii) regulate all developmental activities in the Coastal Regulation Zone areas as specified in the said notification.
(iii) issue directions under section 5 of the said Act as specified in the notification of the Government of India, in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, number S.O. 4650(E), dated the 30th September, 2022.
(iv) exercise powers under section 10 of the said Act.
(v) make complaint under section 19 of the said Act.
(vi) examine proposals received from the State Government for changes or modifications in the classification of Coastal Regulation Zone areas and in the Coastal Zone Management Plan and make recommendations, to the Central Government.
(vii) inquire and review the cases of alleged violation of the provisions of the said Act or the rules made thereunder.
(viii) inquire and review the cases of violation or contravention of the said notification suo-moto or on the basis of a complaint made by any individual or body or organisation before it.
The Authority shall be responsible for enforcement and monitoring of the implementation of the provisions of the said notification.
The Authority shall, for the purposes of maintaining transparency in its functioning, create a dedicated website, and post the information relating to its functions, including the agenda in its meeting, minutes of the meeting, decision taken in the meeting, recommendation for matters on violation and contravention of the said notification, action taken on such violation and contravention, court matters including the order of the court and the approved Coastal Zone Management Plan of the State of West Bengal.
The Authority shall furnish report of its activity at least once in six months to the Central Government.
[F. No. 12-8/2005-IA.III]
VED PRAKASH MISHRA, Jt. Secy.