India, Dec. 11 -- The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance process is streamlined for eligible Blue Economy projects, with the necessary safeguards for sensitive habitats like mangroves and coral reefs, minister of state for environment Kirti Vardhan Singh told Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The CRZ clearance procedures ensure strict protection for ecologically sensitive areas categorized as CRZ-I(A), including mangroves, coral reefs, and other critical coastal ecosystems. All development activities are prohibited, except limited and regulated activities such as ecotourism facilities, construction of public utility roads, and laying of pipelines or transmission lines, in these areas.

"Under the CRZ Notification 2019, all development activi...