Legal Aspects of Marine Pollution in India under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Rules

Coastal and marine environments in India face serious pollution threats from rapid industrialization, port development, and urban expansion. To protect fragile coastal ecosystems, India has enacted a layered legal regime. Key domestic laws include the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA), the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 (Water Act), and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Under these laws, the Central Government has issued the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notifications (1991, 2011, 2019) to regulate activities along the coast and prevent habitat degradation. India is also bound by international obligations (such as the MARPOL Convention and the UN Law of the Sea) to prevent marine pollution.1 Together, these laws and rules aim to curb discharges of pollutants into the sea, restrict destructive coastal development, and hold polluters accountable. This article examines the structure and role of the CRZ rules in India’s coastal protection regime, reviews relevant case law and NGT decisions, highlights pollution incidents (e.g. Mumbai Coastal Road, Ennore Creek, Visakhapatnam), and identifies gaps in enforcement. Finally, it offers recommendations to strengthen legal safeguards for India’s coasts.