Tamil Nadu launches coastal restoration project

The State government has launched climate change mitigation mission called "Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resources and Blue Economy known as Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission. The launching of this project assumes significance since the state has been repeated by cyclones during the last seven years causing severe damage to livelihood.

With assistance from the World Bank, the State would be pumping in a whopping Rs 1,675 crore over the next five years to arrest sea erosion, reduce marine pollution and conserve marine biodiversity. 

A G.O. in this regard was issued by Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department.. 

Under the mission, the government will set up a special purpose vehicle "Tamil Nadu Blue Carbon Agency" to ensure dedicated and focused attention on overseeing the preservation and restoration of targeted coastal ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass and salt marshes. This initiative will not only enhance ecosystem services but will also create a framework for trading carbon credits. 

The government will make sure the primary beneficiaries of carbon credits will be the local communities. As per the G.O., the mission has five components or thematic prioritized investment areas, which include enhancing coastal biodiversity that was given a budgetary allocation of Rs 770. Under this component, the Biodiversity Conservation Park at Kadambur in Chengalpattu will be built at a cost of Rs 345 cr, and coastal wetlands like Palikaranai will be carried out costing Rs 275 cr. 

The other investment areas include coastal projection, improving livelihoods, pollution abatement and project management. Riding on the success of the restoration of Vaan Island in the Gulf of Mannar, the government has identified a few more islands in the Gulf for erosion control and coral restoration.

The entire mission will be monitored by Tamil Nadu Green Climate Company. Out of a total of Rs 1,675 cr, World Bank assistance is 1,172.5 cr (70 per cent) and Tamil Nadu's share will be Rs 502.5 cr. The central government will have no role in this project

For effective implementation, the government also accorded approval for an amount of Rs 100 cr earmarked towards the establishment of a Special Project Monitoring Unit and a high-powered steering committee is constituted headed by the chief secretary, the G.O. says.