Lok Sabha Question No. 1479 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-09
Subject: Climate Induced Changes on Coastal Settlements
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1479

TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026

## Climate Induced Changes on Coastal Settlements

1479. SMT. SUPRIYA SULE: SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL: PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD: SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE: DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE: SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:

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

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any comprehensive scientific studies to evaluate the impact  of  rising  sea  levels,  coastal  erosion  and  climate-induced  changes  on  coastal settlements across the country, particularly along the Maharashtra coastline;
- (b) if so, the details and key findings of such assessments in respect of Maharashtra;
- (c) whether the Government has identified the districts, towns and villages in Maharashtra such as Mumbai, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg that are most vulnerable to sea-level rise and extreme weather events and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  Government  has  formulated  or  implemented  any  adaptation  and  mitigation measures such as coastal protection infrastructure, mangrove restoration and early warning systems to safeguard life, property and livelihood of residents in these high-risk coastal areas and if so, details thereof; and
- (e) whether the Government proposes to launch or expand any new initiatives in Maharashtra for  long-term  monitoring,  sustainable  coastal  planning  and  community-based  climate resilience to address the challenges posed by sea-level rise and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c):  The Government has undertaken the following scientific studies to assess the impacts of sea-level  rise,  coastal  erosion,  and  climate-induced  changes  on  coastal  settlements  across  the country:

- i. The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), has prepared the report 'Projected Changes  in  Extreme  Sea  Levels  and  Coastal  Vulnerability  along  the  Indian  Coasts' under  the  Deep  Ocean  Mission.  The  study  provides  a  comprehensive  assessment  of projected  sea-level  rise,  its  implications  for  coastal  India,  and  associated  coastal vulnerability maps.
- ii. Indian  National  Centre  for  Ocean  Information  Services  (INCOIS)  has  developed  a Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) for the entire Indian coastline as part of the Tsunami Early Warning System. The CVI, mapped at a scale of 1:100,000, is based on multiple parameters  including  sea-level  rise,  coastal  slope,  shoreline  change  rate,  elevation, geomorphology, tidal range, and significant wave height.
- iii. INCOIS has also carried out Coastal Multi-Hazard Vulnerability Mapping (MHVM) for the entire  Indian  coastline  at  a  scale  of  1:25,000,  using  parameters  such  as  sea-level change, shoreline change rate, elevation contours, extreme water levels from tide gauges, and return periods.
- iv. The National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), an attached office of MoES, has been  monitoring  shoreline  changes  along  the  Indian  coast  since  1990  using  remote sensing data supported by field verification. NCCR has prepared 526 coastal erosion maps at a scale of 1:25,000, along with district-wise and State/UT-wise maps. For the Maharashtra  coast  (1990-2022),  the  study  indicates  that  27.7%  of  the  coastline  is eroding, 54.7% is stable, and 17.6% is experiencing accretion.

The district-wise shoreline change status and identified erosion hotspot regions along the Maharashtra coast have also been documented as part of the study for 1990-2022. The district wise details of erosion is as follows:

| District        | Coast Length (in   | Erosion   | Erosion   |
|-----------------|--------------------|-----------|-----------|
|                 | km)                | Km        | (%)       |
| Sindhudurg      | 144.66             | 19.02     | 13.1      |
| Ratnagiri       | 264.06             | 36.18     | 13.7      |
| Raigad          | 196.78             | 64.36     | 32.7      |
| Mumbai city     | 67.64              | 6.52      | 9.6       |
| Mumbai suburban | 40.16              | 20.72     | 51.6      |
| Thane           | 6.86               | 1.76      | 25.7      |
| Palghar         | 113.06             | 82.26     | 72.8      |
| Overall         | 833.22             | 230.82    | 27.7      |

- v. NCCR also undertakes R&D on coastal processes and shoreline management, assists States/UTs  in  identifying  vulnerable  stretches,  recommends  site-specific  mitigation measures, and supports preparation of Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs).
- vi. Under  the  Coastal  Management  Information  System  (CMIS),  the  Central  Water Commission has established two coastal data collection stations in Maharashtra (Tarkarli and  Satpati).  Since  2019,  nine  coastal  parameters-including  waves,  ocean  currents, bathymetry,  sediment  dynamics,  beach  profiles,  shoreline  change,  wind  and  rainfall, riverine  data,  and  salinity-are  being  monitored  to  support  coastal  planning  and management.
- vii. As informed by Government of Maharashtra (GoM), it has undertaken a comprehensive climatological assessment that includes sea-level rise, temperature, rainfall, and other meteorological  parameters,  through  its  revised  State  Action  Plan  on  Climate  Change (SAPCC).
- viii. Further  as  informed  by Government  of  Maharashtra,  steps  have  been  undertaken  for preparation of the Coastal Zone Management Plan under Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2019, Shoreline Change Assessment, and Shoreline Management Plan for the  seven  coastal  districts  of  Maharashtra-Sindhudurg,  Ratnagiri,  Raigarh,  Greater Mumbai,  Mumbai  Suburban,  Thane,  and  Palghar-and  include  analysis  of  coastal erosion and sea-level rise projections.
5. (d) Government is implementing the following adaptation and mitigation measures to safeguard life, property and livelihood of residents in these high-risk coastal areas:
- i. 'Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)' was launched as  Budget  Announcement for FY 2023-24 to restore and promote mangroves as unique, natural  eco-system  and  for  preserving  and  enhancing  the  sustainability  of  the  coastal habitats,  with  the  objective  to  'restore  mangrove  forests'  by  undertaking  mangrove reforestation/ afforestation measures along the coast of India. This programme envisages covering approximately 540 sq km area across nine coastal States and four Union Territories.
- ii. INCOIS functions as the nodal agency for providing ocean-based early warning and advisory services  for  disaster  risk  reduction  and  coastal  safety  along  the  entire  Indian  coastline, including Maharashtra. Its services include tsunami and storm-surge warnings, ocean state advisories on high waves, currents and swell surges, and comprehensive 7-day ocean state forecasts covering major oceanographic parameters.
- iii. INCOIS also provides critical support services such as search and rescue advisories, oil-spill trajectory forecasts, small-vessel advisories, marine heatwave information, and other userspecific ocean services, which are vital for maritime safety, fisheries, coastal infrastructure protection, and environmental management.
- iv. To  enhance  preparedness  and  response,  INCOIS  undertakes  regular  capacity-building activities including awareness programmes, training workshops, tsunami mock drills, and implementation of the Tsunami Ready programme in coordination with State Governments, UTs, and disaster management agencies.
- v. INCOIS also  conducts  coordination  meetings  and  joint  exercises  with  stakeholders,  and systematically incorporates feedback  to strengthen advisory products, dissemination protocols, and operational readiness.
- vi. The Guidelines for Appraisal and Release of Funds for Coastal and River Erosion under the National  Disaster  Mitigation  Fund  (NDMF)  and  the  Policy  on  Resettlement  of  People Affected by Erosion under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) were issued on 20 June 2024, based on the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission.
- vii. As per these recommendations, an allocation of ₹1,500 crore has been earmarked under the NDMF for erosion mitigation during 2021-26, and ₹1,000 crore has been provided under the  NDRF  for  resettlement  of  erosion-affected  people.  These  measures  aim  to  reduce vulnerability, strengthen recovery, and enhance long-term riverbank resilience.

(e)  Further, Government of Maharashtra has stated that it has proposed the project 'M-SHORE: Strengthening  Coastal  Resilience  and  the  Economy  in  the  Coastal  Districts  of  Maharashtra'  to Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, for a period of five years, with the financial assistance from the World Bank. The project aims at sustainable and productive use of coastal and marine  resources,  strengthening  the  blue  economy,  and  building  coastal  resilience  through integrated Coastal Zone Management and Shoreline Management Plans and will cover  all coastal districts  including  Palghar,  Thane,  Greater  Mumbai,  Mumbai  Suburban,  Raigad,  Ratnagiri  and Sindhudurg.

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