Lok Sabha Question No. 3069 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: National Coastal Mission
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Pinaki Misra, Debasree Chaudhuri

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3069

TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## National Coastal Mission

## 3069.  SHRI PINAKI MISRA: MS. DEBASREE CHAUDHURI:

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

- (a) whether it is true that there has been a drastic decrease in the Budget Estimates for the National  Coastal  Mission  (NCM)  between  2022-23  and  2023-24,  if  so,  the  reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  there  has  been  a  consistent  underutilisation  of  funds  allocated  to  the  NCM between 2017-18 and 2022-23, if so, reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of steps being taken by the Government to ensure proper utilisation of funds for achievement of the objectives of the NCM;
- (d) whether Government is currently implementing the NCM and if so, the State-wise details thereof;
- (e) the budgetary allocation made for NCM, during the last three years and the current year, State-wise and the details of the progress made under NCM till date; and
- (f) whether NCM has met its stipulated targets since its operation, if so, the details thereof, and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) The budgetary allocation (Budget Estimates) of National Coastal Mission (NCM) for 2022-23 and 2023-24 is Rs. 195 Crores and Rs. 12.50 Crores respectively. The NCM  has  both  externally  aided  project  (EAP)  and  non-EAP  components. However, in the Revised Estimates stage, the EAP component for 2022-23 (Rs. 170 crore) has been excluded.
- (b) The details of fund allocated and utilized between 2017-18 and 2022-2023 are as under:
- (c) to (f) NCM is an ongoing Scheme under the National Coastal Management Program. The objective of the NCM is to address the following issues in the coastal territory:
- i. Improve  conservation  of  ecologically  sensitive  areas  (as  per  Coastal Regulation Zone [CRZ] Notification, and Island Coastal Regulation Zone [ICRZ]) through its restoration, Protection and Management,  while ensuring enhanced annual CO2 sequestration potential of vegetated coastal habitats and coastal wetlands.
- ii. Protect  shorelines,  assets,  and  communities,  coastal  erosion,  sea  level change, and vulnerabilities including low elevation coastal zones.
- iii. Adapt  and  improve  employment  generation,  opportunities  for  coastal communities to reduce pressures on coastal/marine ecosystems.
- iv. Control  pollution  from  land  based  sources  and  develop  eco-friendly infrastructure for environmental protection to support pollution prevention and enhancement of environmental quality.
- v. Develop  capacity  and  institution  to  implement  CRZ  Notification  and achieve the objectives of Integrated and Sustainable Coastal Management as  per  National  Environment  Policy  (2006)  and  in  consonance  with  the SDG-14 as applicable to coastal and marine resources.
- vi. To  enhance  India's  commitment  towards  UN  Sustainable  Development Goals in the Coastal Regions.

| Year    | Component   |   Budget Estimates (Rs in Cr.) |   Revised Estimates (Rs in Cr.) | Budget utilized (Rs in Cr.)   |
|---------|-------------|--------------------------------|---------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 2017-18 | Non EAP     |                           5    |                            0    | 0                             |
| 2017-18 | EAP         |                         441.98 |                          152    | 152.00                        |
| 2018-19 | Non EAP     |                          15    |                           10.1  | 9.55                          |
| 2018-19 | EAP         |                         150    |                          120    | 120.0                         |
| 2019-20 | Non EAP     |                          20    |                           16    | 15.84                         |
| 2019-20 | EAP         |                          75    |                           80    | 75.0                          |
| 2020-21 | Non EAP     |                          18    |                            7.34 | 7.34                          |
| 2020-21 | EAP         |                          85    |                           61    | 61.0                          |
| 2021-22 | Non EAP     |                          50    |                           30.9  | 27.79                         |
| 2021-22 | EAP         |                         150    |                           70    | 0                             |
| 2022-23 | Non EAP     |                          25    |                            4    | 2.98 (as on 15.3. 2023)       |
| 2022-23 | EAP         |                         170    |                            0    | 0                             |

The implementing agencies of NCM are the State Governments of Coastal States and Union Territories. The funds are released based on the recommendation of the State Level Steering Committees for conservation and management of Mangroves and on their submission of Utilization Certificates.

The state wise allocation of funds under NCM during the last three years is as under: -.

| States/UTs                  | Year/Rs in lakhs   | Year/Rs in lakhs   | Year/Rs in lakhs   |
|-----------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
|                             | 2020-21            | 2021-22            | 2022-23            |
| Odisha                      | 154.41             | 154.80             | 56.50              |
| Tamil Nadu                  | 0                  | 26.38              | 45.50              |
| Karnataka                   | 110.92             | 92.42              | 5.91               |
| Kerala                      | 0                  | 0                  | 21.60              |
| West Bengal                 | 0                  | 0                  | 90.50              |
| Goa                         | 106.00             | 98.13              | 0                  |
| Gujarat                     | 486.36             | 233.98             | 36.39              |
| Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 0                  | 0                  | 0                  |
| Lakshadweep                 | 0                  | 0                  | 3.00               |
| Andhra Pradesh              | 0                  | 0                  | 4.50               |

Under NCM,  activities related to conservation and management of coastal ecosystems such as mangrove plantation, shelterbelt plantation, coral transplantation, enhancement of livelihood  security  of  coastal  communities,  pollution  abatement  in  coastal  areas  and capacity building have been carried out. In addition, 10 beaches have been accorded the Blue  Flag  Certification  under  NCM.  Moreover,  Integrated  Coastal  Zone  Management Plans  (ICZMP)  for  identified  stretches  of  Gujarat  and  Odisha  have  been  prepared. Further, ICZM Plan and Marine Spatial Plan for identified stretches of West Bengal have also been prepared.

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