Lok Sabha Question No. 2421 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-13
Subject: Change in Coastal Line
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: S. Jagathrakshakan

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2421

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2021

## Change in Coastal Line

## 2421. SHRI S. JAGATHRAKSHAKAN:

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

- (a) whether the Government agrees with the view that in light of the new sea level rise forecasts for 2050, it is high time that India's new coastline is created;
- (b)  if  so,  the  measures  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  keeping  in  mind  that  all interests to the left of the new coastline-residential, industrial or infrastructure, will have to be relocated; and
- (c)   if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a) to (c)According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) the Working Group I contribution to the Sixth Assessment Report, global mean sea level has increased by 0.20 [0.15 to 0.25] m between 1901 and 2018. Further, as per the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), on an average, the sea level along the Indian coast is considered to be rising at about 1.7 mm/year.  Shoreline change including erosion and sea level rise are slow phenomena and manifesting globally.

The  Government  is  committed  to  combating  coastal  erosion  and  protecting  the coastal  areas  and  coastal  communities  through  various  extant  legal  and  promotional measures.  The Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  has  notified  Coastal Regulation  Zone  Notification,  2019  with  a  view  to  conserve  and  protect  the  unique environment of coastal stretches and marine areas, besides livelihood security to the fisher communities and other local communities in the coastal areas and to promote sustainable development  based  on  scientific  principles  taking  into  account  the  dangers  of  natural hazards and sea level rise due to global warming. As per the aforesaid Notification, certain coastal areas are declared as coastal regulation zone, wherein developmental activities such as residential, industrial, infrastructure, etc, are regulated as per the extant provisions.

The  Government  is  combating  climate  change  through  its  several  programs  and schemes.  This  includes  implementation  of  the  National  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change (NAPCC) which comprises  missions  in  specific  areas  of  solar  energy,  energy  efficiency, water,  agriculture,  Himalayan  ecosystem,  sustainable  habitat,  green  India,  and  strategic knowledge  on  climate  change.  The  NAPCC  provides  an  overarching  framework  for  all climate actions. Thirty-three States/Union Territories have prepared their State Action Plan on  Climate  Change  (SAPCC) in  line  with  NAPCC  taking  into  account  the  State  specific issues relating to climate change. These SAPCCs outline sector-specific and cross-sectoral priority  actions,  including  adaptation. The  Government  is  also  implementing  the  scheme, 'National Adaptation  Fund  for  Climate  Change'  to  support  adaptation  measures  of States/UTs in areas that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change.

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