The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), GoI, with a view to ensure livelihood security of the local community through sustainable development, to conserve and protect the environment, maintain coastal integrity, mitigate natural hazards and disasters by addressing climate change issues, promulgated implementation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) in 1991 which was further amended in 2011 and 2019 under the provision of Environment Protection Act, 1986. CRZ Notification envisages delineation of High Tide Line (HTL) and Low Tide Line (LTL) for segregating the coastal area and the tidal influenced area into different CRZ categories and preparation of Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) on scale 1:25000 by all the coastal states. The land area from HTL to 500mts on the landward side along the sea front and the land area between HTL to 100 mts or width of the creek whichever is less, on the landward side along the tidal influenced water bodies that are connected to the sea, are declared as CRZ. The notification specifies the permissible activities and regulation thereof in CRZ areas. State CZMP assumes great importance in facilitating policy formulation, implementation and monitoring of regulation to maintain the sanctity of the coastal region by the decision makers and competent authority.

West Bengal CZMP includes coastal maps delineating the CRZ-I, CRZ-II, CRZ-III, CRZ-IV, Eco-sensitive areas (ESAs), No Development Zone (NDZ), Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCA) and Hazard line superimposed on a base map comprising administrative boundaries and infrastructure on scale 1:25000. The State Government has entrusted Institute of Environmental Studies and Wetland Management (IESWM) to prepare the CZMP for West Bengal.

The first CZMP was prepared in 1996 based upon CRZ Notification 1991, which was later updated, based on CRZ Notification 2011, and CZMP-2011 was approved by MOEF&CC on June 2020. Presently, IESWM is updating CZMP-2011 based on CRZ Notification 2019. Once the CZMP maps on scale 1:25000 are approved by MOEF&CC, the maps are made publicly available. Based on the MOEF&CC approved CZMP, local level CZM maps on scale 1:4000 are to be prepared.

IESWM, one of the authorized agencies by MOEF&CC, undertakes various CRZ mapping projects, from prospective project proponents who want to set up developmental activities in the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), by preparing CRZ maps based on approved CZMP for the project site on scale 1:4000 and CRZ maps on scale 1:25000 normally covering 7km radius around the project site. These CRZ maps form an integral part of requisite documents, while seeking clearance under CRZ Notification from the West Bengal State Coastal Zone Management Authority (WBSCZMA). All development activities listed in the CRZ notification are regulated by the state government within the framework of MOEF&CC approved CZMP in accordance with provisions contained in the prevalent CRZ notification. In addition, IESWM also acts as the "Technical Secretariat" for WBSCZMA and renders technical support on issues related with Coastal Zone Mapping, CZMP and CRZ maps.