New Delhi: The Odisha Coastal Zone Management Authority (OCZMA) has been reconstituted under Section 3 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India.
The newly formed 15-member authority, chaired by the Additional Chief Secretary of Odisha’s Forest and Environment Department, includes key officials such as the Secretaries of the Housing and Urban Development Department, Fisheries and Animal Resources Department, Industries Department, a Member Secretary of the State Pollution Control Board, the Chief Wildlife Warden, and the Regional Chief Conservator of Forests from the MoEFCC’s regional office.
In addition, representatives from institutions such as the Odisha Space Applications Center (ORSAC) and the Vice Chairman of the Puri-Konark Development Authority have been appointed as ex-officio members.
Three subject experts – Dr. Ajit Kumar Pattnaik, Ravindra Indra Nath Hota, and Dr. Prasanna Kumar – have been inducted as specialist members. An NGO named “Anweshan” from Pattamundai in Kendrapara district has been selected as an NGO member.
The Director of the State Forest and Environment Department will serve as the Member Secretary of the authority. The authority will have a tenure of three years, with its headquarters located in Bhubaneswar.
The authority will be responsible for:
Reviewing coastal zone management plan proposals within 60 days of receipt and making necessary recommendations,
Regulating all development activities in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ),
Overseeing implementation of provisions in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP),
Conducting monitoring and research,
Taking decisions on violations of existing environmental laws within CRZ areas.
These details were published in the official gazette notification issued by the Ministry.