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Law Update
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The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has made a targeted change to the Coastal Regulation Zone framework. Through G.S.R. 832(E) dated 22 September 2026, the Central Government has amended Annexure-II of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019. The amended entries now list Bitumen, Linear Alkyl Benzene, N-Paraffin, and Carbon Black Feedstock.
The real business relevance lies in the background to the amendment. The Government had received representations regarding permission for the receipt and storage of Linear Alkyl Benzene, N-Paraffin and Carbon Black Feedstock in CRZ areas, but not in CRZ-IA. The issue was examined by the concerned Expert Appraisal Committees and later by the National Coastal Zone Management Authority before the Annexure-II amendment was finalised.
For companies operating terminals, coastal storage facilities, port-linked infrastructure or chemical-handling projects, this change is useful, but it needs to be read carefully. The notification does not say that all petroleum activities are now freely allowed along the coast. It also does not turn Annexure-II inclusion into automatic project approval.
The first question is therefore not simply, “Is the product in the list?” A business also needs to ask where the project is located, wHat activity is proposed, what the existing clearance permits and whether any other project-specific compliance remains applicable.
| Particular | Verified Details |
| Issuing Ministry | Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change |
| Document Type | Notification / further amendment |
| Notification Number | G.S.R. 832(E) |
| Notification Date | 22 September 2026 |
| Gazette | Gazette of India, Extraordinary |
| Gazette Issue No. | No. 762 |
| Gazette Header Date | 23 September 2026 |
| Principal Notification | G.S.R. 37(E), dated 18 January 2019 |
| Framework Amended | Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019 |
| Part Amended | Annexure-II |
| Products in Substituted Entries | Bitumen, Linear Alkyl Benzene, N-Paraffin and Carbon Black Feedstock |
| Main Activity Discussed | Receipt and storage |
| Express Exclusion | CRZ-IA |
| Draft Notification | G.S.R. 410(E), dated 26 May 2026 |
| Consultation Period | 60 days for objections and suggestions |
| Legal Basis Cited | Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 |
| Separate Effective Date | Not expressly specified in the text of this notification |
The notification is dated 22 September 2026, while the Gazette issue header carries 23 September 2026. These dates should be stated separately rather than being mixed with a commencement date, because G.S.R. 832(E) does not set out a separate effective date clause in its operative text.
The present amendment sits inside the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019, not outside it.
The Gazette explains that the Central Government had issued G.S.R. 37(E), dated 18 January 2019, declaring specified coastal stretches as Coastal Regulation Zones and placing restrictions on the setting up and expansion of industries, operations and processes in those areas.
That background is important because G.S.R. 832(E) should not be read as a fresh and independent permission for coastal industry.
It changes Annexure-II of an existing regulatory framework.
In practical terms, a business planning storage or receipt of one of the listed products still needs to understand how its proposed project fits within the wider CRZ framework.
A clear understanding of the legal basis helps explain where the 2026 amendment fits within the existing coastal regulation framework. The notification refers to the following provisions and documents:
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
The notification states that the Central Government has acted under powers conferred by:
These provisions form part of the legal authority cited for making the amendment.
Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986
G.S.R. 832(E) also refers to Rule 5(3) of the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986.
The article should therefore treat the 2026 notification as part of the statutory environmental framework rather than an advisory note or voluntary industry document.
Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019
The 2026 notification expressly describes itself as a further amendment to the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019.
That distinction matters. The original CRZ framework continues to provide the wider regulatory setting. G.S.R. 832(E) modifies a specific part of it.
Annexure-II
The actual amendment is made in Annexure-II.
The Government has substituted serial number (xxiii) and its connected entry with four serial numbers covering Bitumen, Linear Alkyl Benzene, N-Paraffin and Carbon Black Feedstock.
The Gazette gives a clear history behind the change.
Various State Coastal Zone Management Authorities had made representations to the Central Government regarding permission for the receipt and storage of three products:
The representations related to CRZ areas other than CRZ-IA.
The Government did not immediately amend the list. The matter first went through technical and regulatory examination.
It was considered by the Expert Appraisal Committee for Industry-II, then by the Expert Appraisal Committee for Coastal Regulation Zone Clearances, and later by the National Coastal Zone Management Authority.
Only after those stages did the Government publish a draft amendment for public comments and subsequently issue the final notification.
That history is useful because it shows that the change is not simply a renaming exercise. It follows a specific regulatory review concerning whether these products should be included in the Annexure-II framework for receipt and storage.
The easiest way to understand the amendment is to focus on three things:
1. The product must be one of the identified products: The substantive background concerns:
2. The activity discussed is receipt and storage: The Gazette repeatedly refers to receipt and storage.
That wording should not casually be replaced with manufacturing, processing, production, refining or every other industrial use.
3. CRZ-IA is excluded: The regulatory discussion expressly excludes CRZ-IA. This means businesses should not use the 2026 amendment as a blanket statement that any facility handling these products may operate anywhere within the coastal zone.
The actual project still matters.
The substituted entries are short and specific.
| Serial No. | Product | Position Under G.S.R. 832(E) |
| (xxiii) | Bitumen | Listed in substituted text |
| (xxiv) | Linear Alkyl Benzene | Listed |
| (xxv) | N-Paraffin | Listed |
| (xxvi) | Carbon Black Feedstock | Listed |
These are the exact entries appearing in the operative portion of the notification.
One point needs care here.
The Gazette does not present Bitumen in the same way as the other three products in its background discussion. The substantive representations and committee consideration described in the notification concern Linear Alkyl Benzene, N-Paraffin and Carbon Black Feedstock.
For that reason, it would be misleading to write that all four products were newly introduced by the 2026 amendment without checking the earlier Annexure-II text separately.
The Gazette uses the exact term Linear Alkyl Benzene.
It does not provide a grade-wise or composition-wise definition in this three-page notification.
That means businesses should be careful when matching their commercial material with the regulatory entry.
A similar name on an invoice, material sheet or purchase order should not automatically be treated as enough to establish coverage.
For project and compliance teams, the practical approach is to make sure the product description remains consistent across:
The Gazette specifically lists N-Paraffin.
It does not say “all paraffin products”.
That difference may appear small, but it matters from a regulatory drafting perspective.
Where a facility handles a product with a different description, the business should confirm whether it genuinely matches the notified entry instead of extending the amendment by assumption.
The entry used in the Gazette is Carbon Black Feedstock.
The notification does not say that finished carbon black, every feedstock used by the carbon black industry, or every related petroleum stream falls under the same entry.
For businesses, correct identification becomes especially important where commercial terminology differs from the wording used in the regulatory document.
The amendment is product-specific.
That means a business cannot safely rely on the notification only because its material is chemically related to one of the named substances.
A compliance review should answer:
These are practical checks rather than a new statutory filing process created by G.S.R. 832(E).
The Gazette repeatedly states that receipt and storage of the products was considered within CRZ areas excluding CRZ-IA.
This is not a minor qualification.
A project developer cannot simply confirm that a facility is within a Coastal Regulation Zone and stop the analysis there.
The precise CRZ category matters.
A project in an eligible category may present a different regulatory position from a project falling within CRZ-IA.
G.S.R. 832(E) expressly keeps CRZ-IA outside the permission discussed in the notification.
That should be clearly stated in any business-facing summary because overlooking this exclusion could lead to an overly broad interpretation.
The notification itself does not give a fresh definition of CRZ-IA and does not explain all activities permitted or prohibited in that category.
Therefore, where a project touches CRZ-IA, the wider CRZ Notification, 2019 should be examined separately.
This is where a lot of compliance content can become misleading.
The Gazette deals with receipt and storage of the specified products. It does not say that every activity connected with those products is permitted.
| Activity | Position Based on G.S.R. 832(E) |
| Receipt of the named products | Expressly discussed |
| Storage of the named products | Expressly discussed |
| Manufacturing | Not expressly authorised by this amendment |
| Processing | Not expressly addressed |
| Refining | Not expressly addressed |
| New industrial establishment | Not automatically approved by this amendment |
| Expansion of an existing plant | Not automatically approved by this amendment |
| Other handling activity | Requires separate review where relevant |
A project involving storage alone may therefore raise a different question from a project involving manufacture or processing.
Businesses should keep the two issues separate.
The actual legal change is compact.
Annexure-II now contains the following substituted entries:
This is the part of G.S.R. 832(E) that has direct legal effect.
The rest of the Gazette explains why the amendment was considered and how the Government reached the final position.
The attached Gazette does not reproduce the full pre-amendment wording of Annexure-II.
For that reason, a detailed old-versus-new comparison should not be invented from memory.
What can safely be stated from the source is:
| Regulatory Point | Position Evident from the Notification |
| Earlier framework | CRZ Notification, 2019 |
| Issue raised before Government | Receipt and storage of LAB, N-Paraffin and Carbon Black Feedstock |
| Geographic qualification | CRZ areas excluding CRZ-IA |
| Amendment method | Substitution in Annexure-II |
| Final substituted entries | Substitution in Annexure-II |
This is more accurate than filling an “earlier position” column with text that the attached Gazette itself does not reproduce.
Step 1: Representations from State CZMAs
The Central Government received representations from various State Coastal Zone Management Authorities regarding receipt and storage of the three specified products outside CRZ-IA.
Step 2: Industry-II Expert Appraisal Committee Review
The matter was referred to the concerned sectoral Expert Appraisal Committee.
The Industry-II EAC considered whether the products could be included in the approved Annexure-II list for storage in CRZ areas other than CRZ-IA.
Step 3: CRZ Expert Appraisal Committee Review
The sectoral EAC for CRZ clearances also examined the proposal.
It recommended that receipt and storage of the identified chemicals may be considered permissible in CRZ areas excluding CRZ-IA under the CRZ Notification, 2019.
Step 4: NCZMA Consideration
The proposal then went before the National Coastal Zone Management Authority.
Step 5: Draft Notification
A draft amendment was issued as G.S.R. 410(E), dated 26 May 2026.
Step 6: Public Consultation
Objections and suggestions were invited for 60 days.
Step 7: Final Notification
After considering the responses received within the consultation period, the Central Government issued G.S.R. 832(E).
The proposal was placed before the National Coastal Zone Management Authority at its 48th meeting held on 26 September 2025.
According to the Gazette, NCZMA considered the chemical characteristics of these products to be comparatively less hazardous than products already permitted.
On that basis, it unanimously recommended allowing receipt and storage of:
in CRZ areas excluding CRZ-IA through an amendment to Annexure-II.
The wording here needs care.
The notification records a comparative assessment. It should not be rewritten to say that these chemicals are harmless, risk-free or free from environmental controls.
The final amendment was preceded by a draft notification.
The Government published G.S.R. 410(E), dated 26 May 2026, inviting objections and suggestions from persons likely to be affected.
The consultation period was 60 days from the date on which copies of the Gazette containing the draft notification were made available to the public.
The final notification also records that objections and suggestions received within that period were duly considered by the Central Government.
This distinction is useful because the May 2026 notification was a draft stage, while G.S.R. 832(E) is the final amendment.
| Event | Date | What Happened |
| Principal CRZ Notification | 18 January 2019 | G.S.R. 37(E) issued |
| NCZMA 48th Meeting | 26 September 2025 | Proposal considered and recommended |
| Draft Amendment | 26 May 2026 | G.S.R. 410(E) issued |
| Public Consultation | 60 days | Objections and suggestions invited |
| Final Amendment | 60 days | G.S.R. 832(E) issued |
| Gazette Issue Header | 23 September 2026 | Gazette Extraordinary No. 762 |
The note at the end of the Gazette also records that the principal notification was last amended earlier through S.O. 5495(E), dated 24 November 2022.
No such automatic approval is stated in the notification.
G.S.R. 832(E) changes Annexure-II. It does not contain wording saying that every individual project involving one of these products is deemed approved.
This distinction is central for project developers.
A project still needs to be looked at in its own factual setting.
Relevant questions include:
This is why CRZ clearance services may still be relevant even where the product itself appears in the amended Annexure-II.
| Question | What It Means |
| Is the product listed in Annexure-II? | Checks whether the named substance appears in the amended list |
| Is receipt/storage covered by the notification background? | Checks whether the proposed activity matches the issue considered |
| Is the project outside CRZ-IA? | Checks the express geographical limitation |
| Is the project already approved? | Depends on project-specific clearance and conditions |
| Can an existing facility add the product immediately? | Cannot be assumed from G.S.R. 832(E) alone |
| Are other approvals relevant? | Must be checked under the applicable project framework |
This table captures the core compliance point: a product entry answers one question. It does not answer every question about the project.
The short wording of G.S.R. 832(E) makes its limits equally important. The notification does not expressly say that:
This does not mean all these activities are necessarily prohibited. It simply means G.S.R. 832(E) should not be cited as proof for conclusions it does not contain.
The Gazette names specific substances.
Therefore, businesses should avoid using a broad assumption such as:
“LAB is allowed, so a related petroleum stream must also be allowed.”
That is not what the document says.
Where a product has a different chemical, technical or commercial description, its regulatory position should be checked separately.
This is particularly important for businesses that store several related feedstocks at the same coastal facility.
Coastal Storage Terminal Operators
The amendment may be relevant where a terminal receives or stores one of the specified products.
The main review should focus on product identity, CRZ classification and existing project conditions.
Petroleum and Chemical Companies
Companies dealing in LAB, N-Paraffin or Carbon Black Feedstock now have express Annexure-II wording to consider while assessing eligible coastal storage operations.
Port-Linked Businesses
Businesses operating port-linked tanks, terminals or handling facilities may need to check whether their proposed activity fits within the receipt-and-storage context described in the Gazette.
Existing CRZ Clearance Holders
An existing facility should read the wording of its own clearance before making any operational change.
New Project Developers
For new projects, the amendment may support early-stage regulatory planning, but it does not remove the need to assess the proposed site and activity.
Environmental and Compliance Teams
Internal teams should make sure the amendment is not interpreted more broadly than its actual text.
An existing project may already have approvals that describe:
G.S.R. 832(E) does not expressly say that those conditions automatically change because the Annexure-II list has changed.
A company looking to introduce LAB, N-Paraffin or Carbon Black Feedstock at an existing terminal should therefore compare the new proposal with the approval already held.
Where the activity falls outside the approved project description, the business may need a separate regulatory assessment before implementation.
For a new project, the amendment can form part of the planning review at an early stage. However, product inclusion should not be the first and last check.
The project developer should also look at:
This kind of review can prevent a business from reaching a commercial decision based on an incomplete reading of the notification.
The Gazette does not say so.
That means businesses should avoid assuming that an existing approval now automatically permits the newly listed products.
The existing clearance may contain very specific wording about:
If a proposed change falls outside that approval, the regulatory position should be checked separately.
G.S.R. 832(E) does not contain a complete checklist of every permission that may apply to a coastal storage facility.
Accordingly, businesses should not convert a practical list into a statement that every approval below is mandatory in every case.
| Compliance Area | What Businesses Should Review |
| CRZ framework | Site category and activity |
| Existing CRZ approval | Whether proposed product/activity is already covered |
| Environmental approval | Applicability based on the project |
| Pollution-control permissions | Applicability to the facility and operation |
| Chemical safety requirements | Nature and handling of the substance |
| Port/terminal permissions | Where the project is port-linked |
| Project conditions | Existing restrictions, monitoring and operational requirements |
The correct mix of approvals depends on the actual project.
A practical review can be carried out in the following order.
| Review Point | Question to Ask | Nature of Check |
| Product identity | Is the substance exactly one of the notified products? | Applicability |
| CRZ classification | Which CRZ category covers the site? | Location review |
| CRZ-IA | Does the project touch the excluded category? | Critical scope check |
| Proposed activity | Is it receipt/storage or something wider? | Activity review |
| Annexure-II entry | Does the product match the amended wording? | Source-based check |
| Existing clearance | Is the product already covered? | Project-specific review |
| Approval conditions | Are there restrictions on activity or storage? | Compliance review |
| Other approvals | Does another legal framework apply? | Due diligence |
| Documentation | Are project descriptions consistent? | Internal control |
The amendment provides clearer treatment for the named products within Annexure-II.
For businesses considering eligible receipt and storage operations outside CRZ-IA, this may help in several ways.
These benefits should not be confused with guaranteed clearance or lower project costs.
The amendment may provide more clarity in some cases, but businesses still need to check the details of their own projects. The applicable CRZ category, product, activity and existing approvals can all affect how the provision applies.
The amendment is not useful in exactly the same way across every CRZ category.
Similar products should not automatically be included.
A general amendment cannot simply be substituted for the wording of an individual project approval.
A facility involved in manufacturing or processing should not rely only on a provision dealing with receipt and storage.
Legal, environment, project, engineering and commercial teams may all be using different product descriptions. That can create avoidable confusion if documents are not aligned.
Businesses should be especially careful about the following:
The biggest risk is not necessarily missing the notification. It is reading more into it than the text actually provides.
The change may make certain project discussions more commercially relevant for businesses dealing with the named products.
Possible areas include:
These are possible business opportunities arising from greater regulatory clarity. The Gazette does not provide market projections, investment estimates or revenue forecasts.
For businesses dealing with LAB, N-Paraffin or Carbon Black Feedstock, the amendment can reasonably be seen as a useful regulatory clarification.
The products now have clear entries in Annexure-II.
But the relief is not unlimited.
CRZ-IA remains outside the permission discussed. The Gazette also does not convert the product entry into automatic approval for a specific project.
So, while the amendment may remove one layer of uncertainty around the listed products, it does not remove the need for project-level compliance review.
The 2026 amendment has implications for regulators, businesses and project teams dealing with activities covered by the CRZ framework. Each group may need to look at the amendment from a different perspective, depending on its role and the nature of the proposed activity.
The Gazette shows that the proposal moved through several levels of review before the final amendment.
State CZMA representations were considered, Expert Appraisal Committees examined the issue, NCZMA gave its recommendation, and a draft notification was put out for objections and suggestions.
The clearer product list may help companies understand whether their proposed storage activity falls within the Annexure-II framework.
That can be useful when reviewing the feasibility of coastal terminals or storage facilities.
The amendment reduces ambiguity around the named products but does not remove the need to read project approvals and CRZ classifications carefully.
| Stakeholder | Likely Impact | Main Point to Review |
| Coastal storage terminals | Clearer Annexure-II position for named products | Site and product |
| Petroleum companies | Greater clarity for eligible storage planning | Exact activity |
| Chemical companies | Direct relevance for named products | Product identity |
| Port-linked facilities | Possible relevance for receipt/storage | Project approval |
| Existing clearance holders | Need to compare current approval with new proposal | Approval conditions |
| New project developers | Amendment can support early planning | CRZ category |
| Compliance teams | Need to prevent overbroad interpretation | Scope of notification |
First: Check the Product: Confirm whether the material is genuinely LAB, N-Paraffin or Carbon Black Feedstock.
Second: Check the Site: Establish the exact CRZ classification.
Third: Check CRZ-IA: Do not overlook the express exclusion.
Fourth: Define the Activity: Make sure the proposal is correctly described as receipt/storage if that is what is being relied upon.
Fifth: Read Existing Approvals: Do not assume older clearance conditions have changed automatically.
Sixth: Review Other Applicable Requirements: Where another permission may apply, check it separately.
Seventh: Keep Documents Aligned: Regulatory, technical and commercial descriptions should not contradict one another.
A short notification can create a surprisingly detailed project question.
A business may know that its product now appears in Annexure-II but still be unsure whether the proposed location, project activity and existing clearance allow it to rely on the amendment.
This is where a project-specific CRZ applicability assessment becomes useful.
Corpseed can support businesses with:
1. CRZ Applicability Assessment
Reviewing the project location, proposed activity and relevant product against the applicable CRZ framework.
2. CRZ Clearance Services
Supporting businesses where a project requires CRZ clearance services, regulatory documentation or project-specific compliance review.
3. Existing Clearance Review
Checking whether the existing approval already covers the proposed product and activity.
4. Annexure-II Applicability Review
Comparing LAB, N-Paraffin or Carbon Black Feedstock with the exact wording of the amended entries.
5. Environmental Compliance Gap Assessment
Identifying gaps between the proposed activity and the regulatory documents already held by the project.
6. Regulatory Documentation Support
Helping project teams organise and align technical, environmental and regulatory information.
7. Environmental Compliance Services
Supporting projects where CRZ requirements sit alongside other applicable environmental approvals or conditions.
8. Ongoing Compliance Support
Assisting businesses in tracking project-specific conditions and later regulatory changes.
A CRZ clearance consultant should not treat the presence of a product in Annexure-II as automatic permission for the project. The more useful approach is to check the product, location, activity and existing approval together.
For businesses planning receipt or storage of Linear Alkyl Benzene, N-Paraffin or Carbon Black Feedstock in coastal areas, Corpseed's CRZ clearance services can help determine how G.S.R. 832(E) applies to the actual project before an operational or investment decision is taken.
The final amendment followed committee review, NCZMA consideration and a 60-day public consultation process.
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