Maharashtra government scraps RRZ policy, draws greens' wrath

The state government on Tuesday decided to scrap the river regulation zone policy. The policy made areas within two kilometres of high flood lines on either side of river basins no-development zones. Environmentalists and experts have slammed the decision and raised a number of issues.

It is interesting to note that the decision has been taken on the eve of the scheduled departure of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and a delegation of state officials for the Davos World Economic Forum. Fadnavis is going to hold one on one meetings with corporate leaders to attract investment in the state. The state government had sought opinion from the law and judiciary department on the policy, adopted by the previous Congress-NCP government.

What's RRZ policy?
The river regulation zone (RRZ) policy was introduced in 2000 under section 5 of the Environment Protection Act to regulate industrial activity near river banks. The policy states that the areas within two kilometres of high flood lines on either side of the basin are to be treated as no-development zones.

Why it is being scrapped?
The government now feels that the policy was erred and it created a deadlock in Maharashtra's industrial growth since its introduction. The government is of the view that due to prevention of growth of industrial units on river banks, the problem of unauthorised constructions has come up at various places.

What do geologists say?
Dr Dhruv Sen Singh of Centre of Advanced Study in Geology in University of Lucknow, who has studied river basins of the north Gangetic plains extensively, said: "More than global warming, encroachment on dried river belt led to Uttarkhand tragedy." A geologist from IIT Delhi echoed similar sentiments.
Prof Shyam Asolekar, who heads the environmental engineering department, IIT Bombay, suggests a detailed study on the river basins of Maharashtra. "Before scrapping such an important policy, a detailed study should be conducted to get a fair idea, especially since the state has seen two big environment tragedies, one in 2005 in Mumbai and other in Malin near Pune last year."

Environmentalists slam govt
Accusing the government for being "anti-environment", "anti-people" and "money-oriented", environmentalist Debi Goenka, said: "It is a ridiculous justification to say that the policy was illegal. What were officials of the law and judiciary doing? If the state can pull the violators under other rules, then it must disclose the list of industries on which actions were initiated."

Projects were stuck due to RRZ
While the number of projects couldn't be obtained immediately, according to a top official, projects worth Rs7,000 crore were stuck for approvals. The industry department was flooded with requests to abolish the policy. The department then wrote to the environment ministry which further sought an opinion from the law and judiciary department a few months ago. "The L&J reverted to us only a week back to say that the policy was "illegal" as states are not permitted to frame rules under the section 5 of the Act concerned," claimed an official from the environment department on condition of anonymity. "The states only have the power to take action on individuals or companies as stipulated under the Act for non-compliance of the rules," he added.