📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ms Sarah Welch
Local
Citizens' Group Accuses Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority of Neglecting Shoreline Protection
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 09 Sep 2026, 05:04 AM
👁 4
A local citizens' organization has alleged that the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority (GCZMA) is failing to safeguard the state's coastline, citing inadequate enforcement and rising erosion.
A grassroots environmental collective in Gujarat has publicly criticised the Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority for not fulfilling its mandate to protect the state's vulnerable shoreline. The group points to a series of unchecked erosion incidents along key coastal districts, arguing that the authority's monitoring and mitigation measures are insufficient.
According to the citizens' group, recent surveys show accelerated shoreline loss in areas such as Kutch and the Saurashtra coast, where illegal sand mining and unregulated construction have exacerbated natural degradation. The organization has submitted a detailed report to the state government, urging immediate action and stricter enforcement of coastal regulations.
State officials have not yet responded to the allegations, but the GCZMA is expected to review the claims in its upcoming quarterly meeting. Environmental experts warn that continued neglect could threaten coastal habitats, fisheries and the livelihoods of communities dependent on the sea.
The citizens' group has called for greater transparency, regular public audits of coastal projects, and the involvement of local stakeholders in decision‑making processes to ensure the long‑term resilience of Gujarat's coastline.
According to the citizens' group, recent surveys show accelerated shoreline loss in areas such as Kutch and the Saurashtra coast, where illegal sand mining and unregulated construction have exacerbated natural degradation. The organization has submitted a detailed report to the state government, urging immediate action and stricter enforcement of coastal regulations.
State officials have not yet responded to the allegations, but the GCZMA is expected to review the claims in its upcoming quarterly meeting. Environmental experts warn that continued neglect could threaten coastal habitats, fisheries and the livelihoods of communities dependent on the sea.
The citizens' group has called for greater transparency, regular public audits of coastal projects, and the involvement of local stakeholders in decision‑making processes to ensure the long‑term resilience of Gujarat's coastline.