Lok Sabha Question No. 2039 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-31
Subject: Damage caused by Sea Level Rise and Coastal Erosion
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Shri Parshottambhai Rupala

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

## DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2039

## ANSWERED ON 31.07.2025

## DAMAGE CAUSED BY SEA LEVEL RISE AND COASTAL EROSION

## 2039.  SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) the extent of damage caused by sea level rise and coastal erosion in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, particularly in terms of  sea water ingress, land salinization and impact on agriculture and drinking water sources;

(b) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to construct dykes and prevention walls to protect coastal villages and agricultural land from sea water ingress and erosion;

(c)  whether  the  Government  has  chalked  out  any  action  plan  to  prevent  overground  and  underground salinity ingress in coastal areas including measures to protect drinking water sources and agricultural land and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)  the  specific  initiatives  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  by  the  Government  to  support  the  affected communities in Saurashtra region including the compensation or rehabilitation measures, if any?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## ( SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY )

(a) The issue of coastal erosion and land salinity is observed due to natural factors like salinity of Sea water and also due to human interface in Coastal region of Saurashtra which is 765 kms long. As informed by Government of Gujarat,  a  High-level  Committee  (HLC-1  &2)  was  formed  in  1976  &  1978  respectively under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Gujarat to resolve problem of Salinity ingress in Saurashtra region. As per the report of Committees, 700120 Ha area from 534 villages were affected in Coastal region of Saurashtra.

As  per  the  National  Assessment  of  Shoreline  Change  Report,  published  by  NCCR  (2018),  in  the Saurashtra  sector,  viz.  Amreli,  Girsomnath,  Porbandar,  Devbhumi-Dwaraka  and  Jamnagar,  erosion  and stable conditions are prevalent.  In the Saurashtra sector, erosion is observed along Jaspara, Mithi, Viradi, Thalsar and Gogha of Bhavnagar and in Adri, Navapara of Girsomnath. About 66% of Junagadh coast faces erosion.

(b)  &  (c) Flood  management  including  coastal  erosion  schemes are  formulated  and  implemented  by concerned State Governments as per their priority. Government of India supplements the efforts of the State Governments  by  providing  technical  guidance  and  financial  assistance  through  Flood  Management  & Border  Area  Programme  (FMBAP). Under  the  Flood  Management  Component  (FMP)  component  of FMBAP, central assistance is provided to State Governments for taking up works related to flood control,

anti-erosion,  drainage  development,  anti-sea  erosion,  restoration  of  damaged  flood  management  works, etc. Two  schemes  namely,  1.  Providing  coastal  protection/  sea  wall  to  combat  erosion  from  Sangam Narayan temple to Gayatri temple at Taluka, Dwarka in district Jamnagar;  2.  Anti-sea erosion  works in villages Dabhari, Neshkaranj and Dandi in District Surat  related to Coastal protection/sea-erosion works for the State of Gujarat with an estimated cost of Rs. 19.79 crore was approved during XIth plan under FMP component of FMBAP and central assistance amounting to Rs. 2 crore has been released.

As per suggestion of HLC, Government of Gujarat has constructed 14 Tidal Regulators, 32 Bandhara, 18  Recharge  Reservoirs,  34  Recharge  Tank,  220km  Spreading  channel,  226km  Radial  Canal,  680  check dams, 4487 nala Plugs and afforestation in 5867 Ha to resolve problem of Salinity ingress in Saurashtra region.  State  Government  has  constructed  dykes/Anti  Sea  Erosion  works  in  total  length  of  3.505  kms  at various places in Saurashtra in vulnerable area.

In order to aid/assist the State Government in taking mitigation works to prevent the 'overground and underground  salinity  ingress  in  coastal  areas  including  measures  to  protect  drinking  water  sources  and agricultural  land',  CWC  has  published  the  'Guidelines  for  Preparation  of  DPR  for  Salinity  Ingress Management projects in Coastal Areas' in May 2025. This guideline provides scientific, sustainable, and implementable  solutions  that  can  be  adapted  to  local  conditions  across  various  coastal  states  and  Union Territories.

In addition, Central Ground Water Board under this Ministry has carried out Aquifer mapping under National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM) and reports of all the coastal districts have been prepared and shared with state government and respective DM/DCs. Also, as per recommendations of Special Secretary (Water Resources) Government of Gujarat, CGWB under NAQUIM 2.0 has carried out a study on efficacy of Tidal regulator built on Ambika River to mitigate salinity ingress in Coastal area of Navsari District, the study shows positive impact of measures adopted to mitigate salinity.

(d) Government  of  Gujarat  has  informed  that  the  works  of  prevention  of  salinity  ingress  have  been undertaken  which  aims  at  recharge  of  fresh  water,  augmentation  of  quality  of  underground  water  and prevent sea water intrusion. About 87,860 Ha area of land has been benefitted directly and indirectly and 326.40 MCM fresh water stored in Salinity prevention structures.

The primary responsibility of disaster management rests with the State Government concerned. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Government and provides requisite logistics and financial  support.  The  State  Government  undertakes  assessment  of  damages  caused  due  to  12  notified natural calamities including rain and floods and provide relief assistance from State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) already placed at their disposal as per Government of India's approved norms. Additional financial assistance is provided from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), as per laid down procedure in case of disaster of 'severe nature' which includes an assessment based on the visit of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT). During last five years from 2021-22 to 2024-25, an amount of Rs. 4414.40 Crore has been released by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as central share of SDRF and Rs 1000 Cr. under NDRF.

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