Lok Sabha Question No. 3261 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2020-03-13
Subject: Threat of Rising Sea Level
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Adoor Prakash

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3261

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.03.2020

## Threat of Rising Sea Level

## 3261.   ADV. ADOOR PRAKASH:

## SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE   be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken note of the threat of rising sea levels in the coastal areas of the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has conducted any study on rising sea levels due to climate change and its impact on the coastal cities of the country;
- (c) if so the details thereof indicating the regions facing such challenges, State/UT-wise;
- (d) whether the Government has consulted climate change experts including academics and scientists to address the issue of rising sea-levels, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the  concrete  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  make  coastal  cities  and  their populations resilient to rising sea-levels?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI BABUL SUPRIYO )

(a) Based on the study by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) as well as the studies published in scientific literature, on an average, the sea level along the Indian  coast  is  considered  to  be  rising  at  about  1.7  mm/year.It  was  observed  that,  the  sea levels are changing at different rates along the Indian coast. These rising sea levels alone may not impact much but, it can exacerbate the coastal inundation along low lying areas during the  extreme  events  such  as  tsunami,  storm  surge,  coastal  flooding,  coastal  erosion.  It  will have  cumulative  impact  on  inundation  during  extreme  events  causing  increased  coastal inundation. The coastal areas that might get inundated due to the rising sea level needs to be evaluated based on the elevation of the coastal areas; that is the elevation of the coast above mean sea level.

(b)  and  (c)  The  direct  impacts  of  sea  level  rise  on  coastal  zones  were  not  carried  out. However,  INCOIS has estimated  rate  of  change  in  the  sea  levels  from  the  long  term  data (monthly  mean  sea  levels)  obtained  from  the  sea  level  gauges  installed  at  10  major  ports which is given below. These rates may also include the manifestations in sea level due to the subsidence or uplift of land at those locations. Since no long term data on land subsidence or upliftment  are  available  for  those  locations,  the  rate  of  increase  of  sea  level  due  to  the changes in climate could not be separated. For example, the higher rate of sea level increase at Diamond Harbour is also due to the larger land subsidence happening there. The same may apply to Kandla, Haldia and Port Blair as well.

|   S. No. | Location        |   Rate of change of sea- level (mm/year) | Duration of data used (years)   |
|----------|-----------------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------------|
|        1 | Chennai         |                                     0.33 | 1916-2005                       |
|        2 | Diamond Harbour |                                     5.16 | 1948-2005                       |
|        3 | Haldia          |                                     2.89 | 1972-2005                       |
|        4 | Kandla          |                                     3.18 | 1950-2005                       |
|        5 | Kochi           |                                     1.3  | 1939-2005                       |
|        6 | Mumbai          |                                     0.74 | 1878-2005                       |
|        7 | Paradeep        |                                     1.03 | 1966-2005                       |
|        8 | Port Blair      |                                     2.2  | 1916-1964                       |
|        9 | Vizag           |                                     0.97 | 1937-2005                       |
|       10 | Okha            |                                     1.5  | 1964-1991                       |

(d) and (e)  INCOIS had prepared the coastal vulnerability index for the entire coastline as part  of  Tsunami  Early  Warning  System.  Coastal  Vulnerability  Index  (CVI)  mapped  at 1:100000 scale was prepared based on the assessment of probable implications to the coast due  to  sea  level  rise  (climatic  and  momentary  due  to  tsunami/storm  surge),  coastal  slope, shoreline change rate, coastal elevation, coastal geomorphology, tidal range and significant wave height. These maps are available at https://www.incois.gov.in/portal/cvi/index.html. In addition,  INCOIS  has  also  prepared  the  Multi-Hazard  Vulnerability  Maps  (MHVM)  for mainland of India at 1:25000 scale. The MHVMs indicate the probable coastal flooding due to oceanogenic disasters like tsunami and storm surges. Both have used the Sea level change rate as one of the parameters. However, a detailed study is necessary to access coastal cities that have been projected as vulnerable to sea level rise and consequent submersion.

The experts and scientists from different organizations like Survey of India and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) have been involved to address the issue of rising sea levels.

With a view to conserve and protect the unique environment of the marine areas of the  country  and  to  promote  development  in  a  sustainable  manner,  the  Central  Government issued the Coastal Regulation Zone and Island Protection Zone notification which lays down strong emphasis on adaptation to impact of sea level rise. To enforce the provisions of the notification,  the  Government  of  India  has  constituted  National  Coastal  Zone  Management Authority  and  Coastal  Zone  Management  Authorities  for  coastal  States/Union  Territories under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 (EPA). Adequate powers under EPA have been provided to these Authorities to ensure implementation of the provisions of the notification. The  notification  also  provides  for  constituting  district  level  committees  in  each  coastal district.

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