LESSON 4.2 — Eco-Sensitive Zones & Bioclimatic Planning (Coastal, Hill, Riverfront)
A. Standard Map
| Topic | Governing Source | Exam Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) | MoEFCC notification under EP Act 1986 | Definition; 10 km rule; activities regulated |
| Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) | CRZ Notification 2011, 2018/2019 amendments | CRZ-I, II, III, IV classification; setbacks |
| Hill area development | Hill Area Development Programme; specific state acts (e.g., MAHADA) | Constraints; building codes |
| Riverfront development | Examples — Sabarmati (Ahmedabad), Musi (Hyderabad); NMCG | Approach; risks; regulations |
| Bioclimatic design — concepts | Olgyay (1963), Mahoney tables, Koenigsberger | Climate zones; design responses |
| NBC climate zones | 5 climate zones (Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid, Composite, Temperate, Cold) | Zone → design strategy |
| Passive design techniques | Orientation, shading, insulation, ventilation, earth coupling | Technique → climate zone |
B. Why It’s Used
Paper II §4 explicitly identifies “planning principles for eco-sensitive zones (coastal habitat, hill towns, riverfront, etc.)” and “bio-climatic considerations at neighbourhood level to city level.” These are the planning principles that translate climate science (Lesson 4.1) into spatial design. The Town Planning Assistant will work on CRZ permissions, hill-town master plans, riverfront rejuvenation (the Musi Riverfront Development project in Hyderabad is a live case), and bioclimatic guidelines in development control regulations. The exam tests zonal classification (which CRZ category applies), setback arithmetic (HTL distances), design principles (which passive techniques fit which climate), and policy knowledge (ESZ notifications, NMCG, state-specific hill regulations).
C. Mechanism in Words
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An Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) is an area notified by the MoEFCC around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries to act as a “shock absorber” between protected areas and human activity. ESZs are notified under Section 3(2)(v) of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 and Rule 5 of the EP Rules 1986. The default extent is 10 km from the boundary of the protected area — either as a uniform ring or as a customised extent based on local ecology. Within an ESZ, certain activities are prohibited (commercial mining, stone quarrying, crushing, setting up of industries, establishment of major hydroelectric projects, use or production of any hazardous substances, commercial use of firewood, tourism activities generating solid/liquid waste or air pollution), regulated (commercial signboards and hoardings, erection of electrical cables, drastic change in agriculture systems, drilling and extraction of natural resources including groundwater, felling of trees), or permitted (residential, agricultural, small businesses, eco-tourism, village infrastructure). Telangana’s Kawal Tiger Reserve, Amrabad Tiger Reserve, and several wildlife sanctuaries have notified or proposed ESZs.
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The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) is India’s principal coastal planning instrument. The first CRZ Notification was issued in 1991 under the EP Act; it was substantially revised in 2011 (CRZ Notification 2011) and again amended in 2018/2019 to balance conservation with sustainable coastal development. The coast is divided into four categories: CRZ-I is the most ecologically sensitive — includes ecologically important areas (mangroves, corals, mudflats, national parks/marine sanctuaries) and the inter-tidal zone between High Tide Line (HTL) and Low Tide Line (LTL). CRZ-I is further split into CRZ-I A (mangroves, corals, critical habitats) and CRZ-I B (inter-tidal zone). CRZ-II covers developed areas within municipal limits that are already substantially built up — buildings permitted only on the landward side of existing roads or authorized structures, with stringent FSI/density limits. CRZ-III is relatively undisturbed rural coastal areas — split into CRZ-III A (densely populated, ≥ 216 persons per sq km as per 2011 Census) and CRZ-III B (sparsely populated). Setback lines of 50–200 m from HTL apply depending on density. CRZ-IV covers the territorial waters and the seabed — from LTL to 12 nautical miles — and includes water areas up to the waterline and the seabed. CRZ applies only to the coastal stretches of India — Telangana is landlocked, so CRZ does not directly apply to the state, but the principles inform lake and riverfront regulation.
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The High Tide Line (HTL) is the critical reference line for all CRZ calculations. HTL is the line on the land up to which the highest water of spring tide reaches during the monsoon season — officially demarcated by one of the authorised agencies (SAC Ahmedabad, NHO Dehradun). The Low Tide Line (LTL) is the corresponding low-tide mark. All CRZ setback distances are measured from HTL. Typical setbacks: CRZ-II → no new construction between HTL and 50 m (or as per local development plan in already-built areas); CRZ-III A → no construction within 50 m of HTL; CRZ-III B → no construction within 200 m of HTL. The Mumbai coastal road, the various beach resorts cases (the Kerala coastal resorts litigation of the 1990s), and the Digha (West Bengal) beach development cases all turned on HTL interpretation.
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Hill towns face a distinctive set of planning constraints. Slope stability, landslide risk, water scarcity (most hill towns depend on spring water or pumped supply), forest cover, ecological fragility, narrow road sections, limited flat land for building, and aesthetic/cultural heritage values together demand a planning approach that differs from plains cities. India’s Hill Area Development Programme (HADP), launched in the Fifth Plan (1974–78), gave special assistance to designated hill areas — Western Ghats (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala), Eastern Ghats, Himalayan states, and hill districts in plains states. Specific state-level regulations apply: Maharashtra has the MRTP Act provisions and the Hill Station Policy; Himachal Pradesh has TCP Rules with slope-based restrictions (typically no construction on slopes > 30°); Uttarakhand has the 2011 hill town building byelaws; Darjeeling (West Bengal) has special hill council planning. Telangana’s hill areas — the Nallamala hills (containing the Amrabad Tiger Reserve) and the Eastern Ghats segments in northern Telangana — have conservation rather than urban-development regulations.
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Riverfront development is one of the most contested planning interventions in Indian cities. The textbook case is the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project in Ahmedabad — a 19th-century drainage canal turned into a continuous 11.5 km promenade with walkways, parks, markets, and housing on reclaimed land. It is widely cited as a successful waterfront reclamation but has also been criticised for displacing informal settlements (over 10,000 families initially) and for narrowing the river channel, increasing flood risk. The Musi Riverfront Development in Hyderabad is an active project — the Musi, once a seasonal river running through the old city, is severely polluted and prone to catastrophic flooding (major floods in 1908, 2020). The proposed Musi Riverfront project aims to reclaim the banks, treat sewage inflows, build promenades, and integrate metro and road infrastructure. Similar projects exist or are proposed for the Yamuna in Delhi, the Ganga in Varanasi and Patna, and the Mula-Mutha in Pune. The National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) under the Namami Gange programme is the largest single river-rejuvenation effort globally — covering the entire 2,525 km main stem of the Ganga with sewage treatment, industrial effluent control, afforestation, and biodiversity conservation.
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Bioclimatic design is the practice of designing buildings and settlements in harmony with the local climate to minimise energy use and maximise thermal comfort. The intellectual roots are Victor Olgyay’s Design with Climate (1963) and the Mahoney tables (developed by Carl Mahoney for UN-Habitat — a systematic method to derive design recommendations from climate data). For India, the foundational text is O.H. Koenigsberger and others’ Manual of Tropical Housing and Building (1973), which established the climate-zone framework still used in the National Building Code. The premise: if a building’s orientation, form, shading, ventilation, and materiality respond correctly to sun, wind, humidity, and diurnal temperature range, mechanical cooling or heating becomes minimal or unnecessary.
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India has five NBC climate zones, each with distinct design strategies. Hot and Dry (e.g., Jaisalmer, Jodhpur) — high daytime temperatures, large diurnal range, low humidity, hot winds; design with massive walls (thermal mass), small openings, internal courtyards, light colours, shading. Warm and Humid (e.g., Mumbai, Chennai, coastal Kerala) — high temperatures, low diurnal range, high humidity, still air; design with maximum cross-ventilation, large openings, raised structures, light construction, shading against direct sun. Composite (e.g., Delhi, Hyderabad, Lucknow) — long hot-dry period, brief monsoon humid period, short cold period; design must shift strategies seasonally — shading + thermal mass in summer, ventilation in monsoon, insulation in winter. Temperate (e.g., Bangalore, Mysore, Pune) — moderate temperatures, mild humidity; design with normal openings, light shading, moderate mass. Cold (e.g., Leh, Srinagar, Shimla) — low temperatures, sometimes below freezing; design with maximum solar capture, massive walls, insulation, dark colours, small north-facing openings. Telangana (including Hyderabad) is officially classified as Composite — long hot-dry summer (April–June, peaking at 45°C+), a brief warm-humid monsoon (July–September), and a cool dry winter (November–February). Bioclimatic design in Telangana must shift strategies seasonally.
D. Core Concept Explanations
C1. ESZ — prohibited vs regulated vs permitted
| Status | Examples |
|---|---|
| Prohibited | Commercial mining; stone quarrying/crushing; setting up of industries; major hydroelectric projects; production or use of hazardous substances; commercial use of firewood; tourism activities that produce solid/liquid waste or air pollution; new hotel and resort construction in ESZs of protected areas |
| Regulated (with MoEFCC/State permission) | Commercial signboards and hoardings; erection of electrical cables; drastic change in agriculture systems; drilling and extraction of natural resources including groundwater; felling of trees; collection of NWFP; establishment of fishery-related activities; commercial use of natural water bodies |
| Permitted | Residential, agricultural, horticultural, floricultural, small businesses, eco-tourism, village infrastructure, schools, dispensaries, religious places, public utilities |
C2. CRZ classification — the four categories
| Category | What it covers | Setback / Key rule |
|---|---|---|
| CRZ-I A | Mangroves, corals, mudflats, sand dunes, national parks/marine sanctuaries, critical habitats, bird nesting grounds, marine biologically diverse areas | No new construction (very limited exceptions) |
| CRZ-I B | The inter-tidal zone between HTL and LTL | No new construction except those permitted under the Notification |
| CRZ-II | Developed areas within municipal limits substantially built up | Buildings only on landward side of existing road/structure; FSI as per local norms but with strict limits |
| CRZ-III A | Relatively undisturbed rural areas, densely populated (≥ 216 persons/sq km per 2011 Census) | No construction within 50 m of HTL (treated like CRZ-II beyond) |
| CRZ-III B | Sparsely populated rural coastal areas | No construction within 200 m of HTL (no development zone) |
| CRZ-IV A | Water area from LTL to 12 nautical miles seaward | No waste discharge; regulated activities |
| CRZ-IV B | Tidal-influenced water bodies (creeks, backwaters, estuaries) | No construction in the water body; setback from banks |
C3. NBC India climate zones and Telangana
| Zone | Characteristics | Representative cities | Telangana |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hot and Dry | 40–45°C summer, large diurnal range (15–20°C), low humidity | Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner | (Some western Deccan fringes are hot-dry) |
| Warm and Humid | 30–35°C, high humidity, small diurnal range, still air | Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, coastal Kerala | (Minor monsoon influence) |
| Composite | Long hot-dry summer + brief humid monsoon + cool winter | Delhi, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Lucknow | Most of Telangana is Composite |
| Temperate | Moderate temperatures, mild humidity | Bangalore, Pune, Mysore | (Northern highlands edges temperate) |
| Cold | Cold winters (often below freezing), pleasant summers | Leh, Srinagar, Shimla, Manali | (Not applicable) |
C4. Passive design strategies by climate
| Strategy | Hot-Dry | Warm-Humid | Composite | Temperate | Cold |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal mass | High (massive walls) | Low (light walls) | High (with night ventilation) | Moderate | High (capture solar heat) |
| Ventilation | Night-only | Maximum cross-ventilation | Seasonal (high in monsoon) | Moderate | Minimal (avoid heat loss) |
| Shading | Essential (small openings) | Essential (large shaded openings) | Essential in summer | Light | None |
| Orientation | Long axis E-W (shorter north-south) | Openings facing prevailing winds | E-W long axis | Mixed | South-facing for solar capture |
| Wall colour | Light/white | Light | Light | Any | Dark/absorbent |
| Courtyard | Yes (deep, shaded) | No (intercepts airflow) | Yes (with shading) | Optional | Yes (sun trap) |
C5. Major riverfront projects in India
| Project | City | Status / Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sabarmati Riverfront | Ahmedabad | Completed (phase 1); widely cited but controversial (displacement, flood risk) |
| Yamuna Riverfront | Delhi | Partial; multiple proposals; severe pollution |
| Ganga Riverfront (Namami Gange) | Varanasi, Patna, others | Ongoing; NMCG-led |
| Mula-Mutha Riverfront | Pune | Ongoing |
| Musi Riverfront | Hyderabad | Active proposal; chronic pollution + flooding; integrates metro |
| Sabarmati-style replicas | Bhopal, Indore, Surat | Various stages |
E. Worked Numericals and Parameter Tables
E1. CRZ setback computation
A proposed building site is in CRZ-III B (sparsely populated rural coastal area), 120 m from the HTL.
- The no-development zone extends 200 m from HTL.
- At 120 m, the site is within the NDZ → no construction permitted.
If the site were at 220 m from HTL → outside NDZ → construction permitted (subject to other rules). The arithmetic of CRZ setback is straightforward but essential for any coastal site decision.
E2. ESZ extent computation
A wildlife sanctuary boundary is the reference line. The MoEFCC notification sets the ESZ as 8 km around the sanctuary. A new industry is proposed at 9.5 km from the boundary.
- ESZ extends 8 km → site is outside ESZ → ESZ restrictions do not apply (standard EP Act rules still apply).
- If the site were at 7 km → within ESZ → industry prohibited (under the standard ESZ template).
The default ESZ is 0–10 km from the boundary; specific notifications may set a different extent.
E3. Solar geometry — basic shading
In Hyderabad (latitude 17.4°N), the noon sun angle on the equinox (March 21 or September 21) is approximately (90° − 17.4°) = 72.6° above the horizon. On the summer solstice (June 21), noon sun angle is approximately (90° − 17.4° + 23.4°) = 96° — but since the sun cannot exceed 90°, it is actually on the north side at (90° − (17.4° − 23.4°)) → inverting; the formula gives (90° − |latitude − declination|) = (90° − 6°) = 84° on the north side at noon. This means in summer, the sun is nearly overhead at noon, slightly to the north, and south-facing windows get little direct sun — the opposite of what intuitive design might assume. North-facing windows get the most sun in summer in Hyderabad; this is a key reason for overhangs on north-facing openings in composite climates.
E4. Cooling-load reduction
A building with a 200 sq m roof area painted dark grey (solar absorptance 0.8) absorbs 0.8 × 800 W/sq m (peak summer solar) × 200 sq m = 128 kW of solar gain. If painted white (cool roof, solar absorptance 0.3), absorption is 0.3 × 800 × 200 = 48 kW. Reduction = 80 kW → significant cooling-load saving. Cool roofs are now mandated in many Indian city heat action plans.
F. Design Criteria
| Parameter | Standard / Typical value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Default ESZ extent | 0–10 km from boundary of National Park/WLS | MoEFCC ESZ notifications |
| CRZ setback (CRZ-III B) | 200 m from HTL | CRZ Notification 2011 |
| CRZ setback (CRZ-III A) | 50 m from HTL | CRZ Notification 2018 |
| HTL definition | Line reached by highest spring tide during monsoon | CRZ Notification |
| ESZ legal basis | Section 3(2)(v) EP Act 1986 + Rule 5 EP Rules 1986 | EP Act 1986 |
| CRZ legal basis | Section 3 EP Act 1986 + Rule 5 | EP Act 1986 |
| NBC climate zones | 5 (Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid, Composite, Temperate, Cold) | NBC 2016 Part 8 |
| Slope limit for construction (typical hill towns) | 30° (varies by state) | State TCP Rules |
| Mahoney tables reference | UN Manual of Tropical Housing and Building | Mahoney 1970s |
| Cool roof solar absorptance | ≤ 0.3 (recommended) | ECBC 2017 |
G. Application Zones
- CRZ permissions — coastal urban local bodies interpret CRZ for building permits; planners in coastal states (not Telangana) handle this routinely.
- ESZ notifications — every protected area in India has or will have an ESZ; planners in districts adjacent to tiger reserves (including Telangana’s Amrabad and Kawal) work with ESZ constraints.
- Hill town master plans — Uttarakhand, Himachal, North Bengal hill towns require slope-based development controls.
- Riverfront development — active in Hyderabad (Musi), Ahmedabad (Sabarmati), Delhi (Yamuna), Varanasi/Patna (Ganga).
- Heat action plans — bioclimatic principles inform cool roof mandates, urban greening (Haritha Haram in Telangana), shaded street design.
H. Common Confusions
| Confusion | Reality |
|---|---|
| “CRZ applies to rivers.” | Generally no — CRZ is for marine coasts. Rivers and lakes are regulated separately under state-level buffer norms (e.g., NGT-mandated buffer zones around lakes). |
| “CRZ-IV is on land.” | No — CRZ-IV is the water area (from LTL to 12 nautical miles seaward) and tidal-influenced water bodies. |
| “ESZ is the same as a protected area.” | No — the ESZ is the buffer around a protected area. The protected area itself (the national park or sanctuary) is governed by the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. |
| “Sabarmati Riverfront is universally praised.” | No — it has been criticised for displacement of informal settlers and increased flood risk due to channel narrowing. Both views are tested. |
| “CRZ applies in Telangana.” | No — Telangana is landlocked. CRZ applies to coastal states only. |
| “Hot-Dry and Composite climates need the same design.” | No — Hot-Dry favours massive walls with small openings; Composite must shift strategies seasonally. |
| “South-facing windows always get the most sun in India.” | False in summer at low latitudes (like Hyderabad) — at the summer solstice, the noon sun is on the north side. The intuition only holds in winter. |
| “Cool roofs are purely aesthetic.” | No — they significantly reduce solar absorption and cooling loads (typically 30–50% roof heat gain reduction). |
I. Compare & Contrast
I1. CRZ-I vs CRZ-II vs CRZ-III vs CRZ-IV
| Category | Coverage | Development allowed? |
|---|---|---|
| CRZ-I A | Ecologically sensitive (mangroves, corals, etc.) | Essentially none |
| CRZ-I B | Inter-tidal zone | Essentially none |
| CRZ-II | Already-built municipal areas | Limited, landward side of roads; FSI constraints |
| CRZ-III A | Densely populated rural | Beyond 50 m NDZ, similar to CRZ-II |
| CRZ-III B | Sparsely populated rural | Beyond 200 m NDZ only |
| CRZ-IV A | Water area (LTL to 12 nm) | No waste discharge; regulated activities |
| CRZ-IV B | Tidal-influenced water bodies | No construction in water body |
I2. Hot-Dry vs Warm-Humid bioclimatic strategy
| Dimension | Hot-Dry | Warm-Humid |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | High (40°C+) | High (30–35°C) |
| Diurnal range | Large (15–20°C) | Small (5–8°C) |
| Humidity | Low | High |
| Wind | Hot dusty winds | Often still |
| Mass | High thermal mass (slow temperature swing) | Light construction (heat dissipates fast) |
| Openings | Small, shaded | Large, for cross-ventilation |
| Courtyard | Yes, deep and shaded | No (intercepts airflow) |
| Walls | Thick mud/stone/adobe | Light timber/bamboo, raised floors |
J. Memory Hooks
- “ESZ = 10 km default” — buffer around protected areas.
- “CRZ 1-2-3-4 = I-II-III-IV” — sensitive → built → rural → water.
- “HTL = the line that matters” — all CRZ distances measured from High Tide Line.
- “50 / 200 m” — setback for CRZ-III A vs III B.
- “5 climate zones: HDCWH-CTC” — Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid, Composite, Temperate, Cold.
- “Musi in Hyderabad; Sabarmati in Ahmedabad; Yamuna in Delhi” — three major riverfront projects.
- “Composite = shift strategies by season” — Hyderabad’s actual climate.
- “Mass for hot-dry; ventilation for warm-humid; both for composite” — design summary.
K. Revision Ladder
| Order | Item | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memorise ESZ default extent and prohibited/regulated/permitted lists | 30 min |
| 2 | Memorise CRZ four categories with setbacks | 45 min |
| 3 | Memorise HTL definition | 15 min |
| 4 | Memorise the 5 NBC climate zones + characteristics | 30 min |
| 5 | Memorise the passive design strategy table by climate zone | 45 min |
| 6 | Memorise the major riverfront projects with cities | 20 min |
| 7 | Memorise ESZ/CRZ legal bases (EP Act 1986) | 15 min |
| 8 | Practise CRZ setback numericals | 20 min |
| 9 | Practise solar geometry (noon sun angle at Hyderabad latitude) | 30 min |
| 10 | Map Telangana-specific cases (Musi, Amrabad/Kawal ESZs, Haritha Haram) | 30 min |
L. Exam Traps
| Trap | Correct response |
|---|---|
| Question states CRZ applies in Telangana. | False — Telangana is landlocked. CRZ applies to coastal states only. |
| Question lists CRZ-IV as a land category. | False — CRZ-IV is water (from LTL to 12 nm seaward) and tidal-influenced water bodies. |
| Question states ESZ = protected area. | False — ESZ is the buffer around the protected area. |
| Question asks ESZ default extent. | 0–10 km from the boundary of the protected area. |
| Question asks CRZ-III B setback. | 200 m from HTL. |
| Question lists Hyderabad as “Warm-Humid.” | False — Hyderabad is Composite. |
| Question pairs cool roofs with cold-climate design. | False — cool roofs are for hot climates (reduce solar absorption). |
| Question states Sabarmati Riverfront had no displacement. | False — over 10,000 families were initially displaced. |
| Question asks the EP Act section used for ESZ. | Section 3(2)(v) of EP Act 1986. |
M. Answer-Writing Cues
- For CRZ questions, always give category + setback + activities: “Per CRZ Notification 2011/2018, CRZ-III B (sparsely populated rural) requires a 200 m no-development zone from the HTL…”
- For ESZ questions, give extent + legal basis: “Per MoEFCC notification under Section 3(2)(v) of the EP Act 1986, an ESZ of X km is notified around [protected area]…”
- For climate-zone questions, give zone + characteristics + design strategy.
- For riverfront projects, give city + key feature + critique: “The Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad reclaims 11.5 km of banks; it is praised for promenade access but criticised for displacing over 10,000 families initially and narrowing the river channel.”
N. PYQ Integration
Pattern questions only:
Pattern question 1 — CRZ category
Q. Under the CRZ Notification 2011/2018, mangrove areas and coral reefs are classified under:
– (A) CRZ-I A ✓
– (B) CRZ-II
– (C) CRZ-III A
– (D) CRZ-IV
Ans: (A). Ecologically sensitive areas are CRZ-I A.
Pattern question 2 — ESZ default extent
Q. The default extent of an Eco-Sensitive Zone around a National Park or Wildlife Sanctuary in India is:
– (A) 1 km
– (B) 5 km
– (C) 10 km ✓
– (D) 25 km
Ans: (C). The default is 0–10 km from the boundary; specific notifications may set a different extent.
Pattern question 3 — Hyderabad climate zone
Q. As per the National Building Code, the climate zone for Hyderabad is:
– (A) Hot and Dry
– (B) Warm and Humid
– (C) Composite ✓
– (D) Temperate
Ans: (C). Hyderabad is in the Composite zone — long hot-dry summer, brief humid monsoon, cool winter.
Pattern question 4 — MSQ
Q. Which of the following are prohibitions within an Eco-Sensitive Zone?
– (A) Commercial mining ✓
– (B) Setting up of new industries ✓
– (C) Major hydroelectric projects ✓
– (D) Residential construction
Ans: (A), (B), (C). Residential construction is permitted (subject to local regulations).
Pattern question 5 — Numerical
Q. A coastal site in a sparsely populated rural area (CRZ-III B) is at 150 m from the HTL. Construction is:
– (A) Permitted
– (B) Permitted with conditions
– (C) Not permitted (within the 200 m NDZ) ✓
– (D) Permitted if approved by SPCB
Ans: (C). CRZ-III B has a 200 m NDZ; 150 m is within it.
O. Mini-Check — Lesson 4.2
- What is an Eco-Sensitive Zone, and what is its default extent?
- State the legal basis for ESZ notifications.
- List the four CRZ categories.
- What is HTL, and from where are CRZ setbacks measured?
- State the setback for CRZ-III A and CRZ-III B.
- Does CRZ apply in Telangana? Why or why not?
- List the five NBC climate zones of India.
- In which climate zone is Hyderabad?
- Name three major riverfront projects in India with their cities.
- What is a “cool roof,” and why does it reduce cooling load?
Answers:
1. A buffer area notified by MoEFCC around National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries to act as a “shock absorber.” Default extent 0–10 km from the boundary of the protected area.
2. Section 3(2)(v) of the EP Act 1986 + Rule 5 of the EP Rules 1986.
3. CRZ-I (ecologically sensitive + inter-tidal), CRZ-II (developed municipal areas), CRZ-III (relatively undisturbed rural — split III A and III B), CRZ-IV (water area and tidal-influenced water bodies).
4. High Tide Line = the line reached by the highest water of spring tide during the monsoon. All CRZ setbacks are measured from HTL.
5. CRZ-III A: 50 m from HTL; CRZ-III B: 200 m from HTL.
6. No — Telangana is landlocked. CRZ applies to marine coastal states only.
7. Hot-Dry, Warm-Humid, Composite, Temperate, Cold.
8. Composite — long hot-dry summer, brief humid monsoon, cool winter.
9. Sabarmati Riverfront (Ahmedabad), Yamuna Riverfront (Delhi), Musi Riverfront (Hyderabad), Ganga Riverfront (Varanasi/Patna), Mula-Mutha Riverfront (Pune). Any three.
10. A roof with high solar reflectance and low absorptance (≤ 0.3); it absorbs less solar energy and reduces the building’s cooling load by 30–50%.
Module 4 complete. Next: Module 5 — Disaster Planning & Management (Paper II §5). Lesson 5.1 covers disaster types, risk, vulnerability; Lesson 5.2 covers the disaster management cycle, legislation, and community-based DRR.