COASTAL CURBS

To check furtherdegradation of the coastal ecologyin India, the Supreme Courtbanned all construction activity inthe coastal areas within 500 m ofthe high water mark on April 18.The court set aside the Centralgovernment notification whichpermitted development activitywithin 200 m from the beach andupheld the original notification of1991. The apex court has orderedthe setting up of coastal management authorities. India has a 6,000-km-Iong coastal line which hasbeen threatened as a result ofindustrialisation and urbanisationin view of the absence of requisitepollution control systems.