Lok Sabha Question No. 1211 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-28
Subject: MISHTI Scheme
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Baijayant Panda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1211

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.07.2025

## MISHTI Scheme

## 1211.  SHRI BAIJAYANT PANDA:

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

- (a) the  total  area  of  mangrove  forests  restored  or  newly  developed  under  the  MISHTI (Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes) Scheme during the last two year and the current year;
- (b) the details of the States and UTs that have received the highest financial allocations and targets under this Scheme;
- (c) the  details  of  the  mangrove  restoration  work  undertaken  specifically  in  Odisha, including the area covered, funds allocated and targeted interventions in Kendrapara district, particularly in and around the Bhitarkanika mangrove region; and
- (d) the  steps  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  to  involve  local  communities  in  planning, planting and monitoring as part of MISHTI?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

- (a) A  total  of  26396.34  ha  of  degraded  mangrove  area  have  been  brought  under restoration  efforts  during  2023-24  and  2024-25  which  includes  3836  ha  area under  gap  funding  from  National  CAMPA,  through  MISHTI  (Mangrove Initiative  for  Shoreline  Habitats  &  Tangible  Incomes)  and  22560.34  hectares through convergence with State CAMPA, MGNREGS, and other schemes.
- (b) The  details  of  the  area  and  the  funds  released  through  National  CAMPA  are provided under Annexure 1.
- (c) A  sum  of  ₹  0.70  Crores  has  been  released  to  the  State  of  Odisha  under  the MISHTI  Scheme  for  mangrove  restoration  and  plantation  activities  in  four districts, namely Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapara, and Puri. The total area being covered  under  this  scheme  in  Odisha  is  89  hectares.  In  Kendrapara  district Junusnagar village, situated in and around the Bhitarkanika Mangrove Division, has been identified for plantation over 5 hectares under the MISHTI Scheme. An  expenditure  of  ₹4.69  lakh  has  already  been  incurred  during  2024-25  for raising  13,750  seedlings.  The  targeted  interventions  by  the  Eco-Development Committee (EDC)/ villages, including Junusnagar EDC, Balabhadrapur EDC, Ajagarpatia, and other fringe villages, include activities like raising of nursery,

planting of mangrove species and livelihood support activities such as backyard duckery,  mangrove  honey  production  through  beehive  boxes,  and  tailoring initiatives.

- (d) Under the MISHTI Scheme, local community participation is a key component of  implementation.  Multi-stakeholder  awareness  and  sensitization  workshops are  organized  with  the  involvement  of  Forest  Officials,  local  NGOs,  Van Suraksha Samitis (VSS), Eco-Development Committees (EDC), Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members, academia, and representatives from various government  departments,  focusing  on  mangrove  protection  and  conservation. Provision  for  regular  community  meetings,  training  sessions,  and  awareness programmes  to  promote  conservation  and  the  sustainable  management  of mangrove  resources  exist  within  the  MISHTI  scheme.  Members  of  VSS  and EDCs are actively encouraged to participate in nursery raising, plantation, postplanting operations, and watch and ward activities to strengthen local commitment towards mangrove conservation and restoration.

*****

Annexure 1

Annexure referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha Un-Starred Question No. 1211 due for reply on 28.07.2025 by Shri Baijayant Panda regarding 'MISHTI Scheme'

Table: The details of the area brought under restoration and fund released to the States during the FY 2024-25 as Gap-Funding from National CAMPA through MISHTI Scheme

| S. No.   | State/UT       | No. of districts   |   Area taken up for interventions under National CAMPA (in ha) |   Total funds released as 1st instalment (in ₹ crores) |
|----------|----------------|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|
| 1        | Gujarat        | 02                 |                                                           2500 |                                                   6.2  |
| 2        | West Bengal    | 03                 |                                                            478 |                                                   3.74 |
| 3        | Kerala         | 01                 |                                                             13 |                                                   0.67 |
| 4        | Puducherry     | 03                 |                                                             55 |                                                   1.94 |
| 5        | Andhra Pradesh | 06                 |                                                            701 |                                                   4.71 |
| 6        | Odisha         | 04                 |                                                             89 |                                                   0.7  |
|          | Total          | Total              |                                                           3836 |                                                  17.96 |

*****