Lok Sabha Question No. 2570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-17
Subject: Climate Change Impact on Lakshadweep
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Muhammed Hamdullah Sayeed

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  2570

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2025

## Climate Change Impact on Lakshadweep

## 2570.   SHRI MUHAMMED HAMDULLAH SAYEED:

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

- (a) whether the Government is working on long-term strategies to address future risks of sea-level rise and climate-induced heat stress in the Union Territory of Lakshadweep, particularly with respect to coastal erosion and habitat loss, if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) whether  the  Government  plans  to  collaborate  with  marine  research  institutions  to develop resilience-building measures for the Lakshadweep archipelago in response to accelerated warming in the Indian Ocean, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) and (b) Small islands are amongst the most vulnerable to sea level rise and other climate change related impacts. The National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM), an organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), has  undertaken  physical  vulnerability  studies  for  four  islands  of  Lakshadweep  (Kavaratti, Kadmat,  Minicoy,  and  Suheli)  using  various  climate  change-related  scenarios  of  extreme events such as storm surges and tsunamis, etc., to identify vulnerable areas along the island coast. As per the studies conducted by the Indian Council of Agriculture Research - Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, a considerable percentage of the hard coral species from various Lakshadweep Islands have undergone severe bleaching, primarily due to a prolonged period of marine heatwaves affecting the region since late October 2023.

The Government of India is committed to taking proactive steps to address future risks of sea level rise and climate-induced heat stress and in combating sea erosion and protection of India's coastal areas. Some of the important measures taken are as follows:

- i. MoEFCC has framed a national strategy for coastal protection along with guidelines for all Coastal States and Union Territories.
- ii. MoEFCC has notified the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, 2019 with a view to conserve and protect coastal stretches, marine areas and to ensure livelihood security to the coastal  communities. The notification also provides  for No  Development  Zones (NDZ)  along  various  categories  of  coastal  areas  to  protect  India's  coastline  from encroachment and erosion.
- iii. MoEFCC has delineated the hazard line for the entire coast of the country. The hazard line  is  indicative  of  the  shoreline  changes,  including  sea  level  rise  due  to  climate change. This line  is  to  be  used  by  agencies  in  Coastal  States  as  a  tool  for  Disaster Management including planning of adaptive and mitigation measures.
- iv. In compliance of Hon'ble NGT order dated 11/04/2022 in O.A. No. 04 of 2013 and Appeal No. 18 of 2017, Chief Secretaries of all the Coastal States / UTs, have been requested vide letter dated 08/09/2022 to finalize the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) as per CRZ Notification 2019 which also includes mapping of erosion prone areas  and  preparation  of  Shore  Line  Management  Plan  for  such  identified  eroding stretches shown in the CZMP.
- v. The  National Adaptation  Fund  for  Climate  Change  (NAFCC)  is  aimed  at  climate adaptation,  including  in  vulnerable  coastal  areas.  NAFCC  finances  the  measures  to protect vulnerable coastal communities and improve their resilience to sea level rise.

Further, the Lakshadweep Administration has taken up shore protection measures for nearly  57.4%  of  the  eroding  coast  using  hard  structures  such  as  tetrapod,  retaining  walls, dumping  of  rocks,  sandbags,  etc.  Implementation  of  green  coastal  infrastructure  (which includes plantation of mangroves, salt marsh, coastal dune vegetation etc.) is recommended, wherever possible, as a long-term strategy for shore protection along the eroding coasts and to act  as  bio-shields  against  coastal  hazards.  Promotion  of  hybrid  structures  (combination  of vegetation and eco-friendly materials), submerged reefs, artificial reefs, and oyster reefs are encouraged  as  the  potential  shoreline  protection  measures.  Transplantation  of  coral  and seagrasses,  and  coral  gardening  as  mitigation  measures  in  identified  hotspots  are  also recommended for these Islands.

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