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Relevance: GS-I (Geography) | GS-III (Environment) | Source: The Indian Express
The News: The ocean is rising faster than ever. In a historic move, the UN just decided that a country won’t legally disappear even if its land is completely swallowed by the sea. While this protects India’s island borders, experts warn our local laws are failing the people living on our vanishing coastlines.
1. Can a Country Exist Without Land?
Normally, international law says you must have actual physical land to be a recognized country. But with entire island nations at risk, the UN is changing the rules.
- Safe Ocean Borders: Sinking island nations will keep their official statehood and valuable ocean borders. For India, this guarantees we won’t lose our massive fishing and mining rights around Lakshadweep and the Andamans, even if those islands shrink.
2. India’s Risky Building Rules
While our sea borders are protected, our mainland is literally washing away. Parts of West Bengal are losing over 5 meters of coastline every year.
- The CRZ Flaw: India’s Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules tell people to build a safe distance away from today’s high-tide mark. But in fast-eroding areas, a house built legally today will be underwater in just ten years.
- Ignoring the Science: The government actually has a scientifically mapped “Hazard Line” that predicts exactly where the water will be in the future. Yet, builders are still legally allowed to use the outdated, temporary high-tide marks instead.
3. The Forgotten Climate Refugees
- No Legal Protection: In the Sundarbans, entire islands have vanished. Sadly, Indian law doesn’t officially recognize or support people who slowly lose their land to the sea. Displaced families are relocated randomly without proper land titles or jobs.
Practice MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding coastal management and international law:
- Under the recent UN declaration, sinking island nations will retain their official statehood and fixed maritime boundaries.
- India’s current Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules mandate using a scientifically updated “hazard line” to define strict construction setbacks.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Hint: Statement 1 is correct; the UN rule ensures countries keep their status and ocean borders even if their land sinks. Statement 2 is incorrect because Indian CRZ rules still rely on the static High-Tide Line (HTL) to set construction limits, ignoring the more accurate hazard line.
Hint: Statement 1 is correct; the UN rule ensures countries keep their status and ocean borders even if their land sinks. Statement 2 is incorrect because Indian CRZ rules still rely on the static High-Tide Line (HTL) to set construction limits, ignoring the more accurate hazard line.
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