a fresh controversy has lashed the 7,500-kilometre-long Indian coastline with the Union ministry of environment and forests (mef) seeking to water down stringent laws governing the Coastal Regulation Zone (crz). A draft notification was issued recently to relax restrictions on construction activity within 50 metres (m) of the high tide zone as against the 500m stipulated in the original February 19, 1991, regulations.

The 1991 notification had imposed curbs