Lok Sabha Question No. 856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: Erosion of Coastal Areas
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: P. KUMAR

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 856

TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.03.2016

## Erosion of Coastal Areas

## 856: SHRI P. KUMAR:

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

- (a) whether  the  mangrove  forests  prevent  erosion  in  coastal  areas  especially during cyclones and typhoons;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  any  plan  to  increase  the  mangrove  forests  in coastal areas of the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (e) the other steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE)  FOR  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI   PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) and (b) Yes, Sir.

Mangroves provide protection against cyclones and storms to the coastal areas. It is  called  Bio-shield  against  these  natural  calamities.  Role  of  mangroves  as protective cover to coastal areas has been studied and scientifically proved. The protective role of mangroves have been proved time and again e.g. during Orissa super cyclone in 1999 and Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.

- (c) to (e) The Government seeks to protect, sustain and augment mangroves in the country by both promotional and regulatory measures:
- ¾ Under the promotional measures, the Ministry is operating a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for Conservation and Management of Mangroves of India since 1987-88. Under the Scheme, the Ministry provides 100% (upto 2014-15 and in 60:40 central and state share from 2015-16 onwards) Central Assistance for the implementation of approved Management Action Plans (MAPs) for mangroves.

The  MAP  components  are  Survey,  Assessment  and  Demarcation,  Capacity Building  :  Staff  Training  and  Skill;  Shelter  Belt  Development;  Protection  & Monitoring; Restoration and Regeneration Measures; Alternate and Supplementary  Livelihood;  Community Participation;  Mangrove  Afforestation  / Plantation  (in  degraded  areas  and  open  mud  flats);  Biodiversity  Conservation; Sustainable Resources Development; De-silting; Weed Control; Pollution

Control;  Environmental  Education  &  Awareness.  According  to  State  Forest Report -  2015,  112  km 2 mangrove  areas  have  been  increased  in  comparison  of SFR 2013. The Government has identified 38 mangrove sites along coastal areas for implementation of MAP. The State-wise list of 38 mangrove sites is attached as Annexure.I.

- ¾ Under the regulatory  measures, the Coastal Regulation  Zone  Notification, 2011 and Island Protection Zone Notification, 2015 provide, for appraisal of proposals with due consideration to protection of mangroves and also to prevent ecological imbalances  and  recognize,  the  mangrove  areas  as  ecologically  sensitive  and categorize,  them  as  Coastal  Regulation  Zone  (CRZ)-I  which  implies  that  these areas are afforded protection of the highest order.

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ANNEXURE.I IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 856 WITH RESPECT TO 'EROSION OF COASTAL AREAS' TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.03.2016 RAISED BY

SHRI P. KUMAR.

| State/Union Territories   | Mangrove Sites                          | Mangrove Sites                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------|-----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| West Bengal               | 1.                                      | Sunderbans                                                                                                                 |
| Orissa                    | 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.                    | Bhaitarkanika Mahanadi Subernarekha Devi-Kadua Dhamra Mangrove Genetic Resources Centre Chilka                             |
| Andhra Pradesh            | 9. 10. 11.                              | Coringa East Godavari Krishna                                                                                              |
| Tamil Nadu                | 12. 13. 14. 15. 16.                     | Pichavaram Muthupet Ramnad Pulicat Kazhuveli                                                                               |
| Andaman& Nicobar          | 17. 18.                                 | North Andamans Nicobar                                                                                                     |
| Kerala                    | 19.                                     | Vembanad Kannur (Northern Kerala)                                                                                          |
| Karnataka                 | 20. 21. 22. 23. 24.                     | Coondapur Dakshin Kannada/Honnavar Karwar Manglore Forest Division                                                         |
| Goa                       | 25.                                     | Goa                                                                                                                        |
| Maharashtra               | 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. | Achra-Ratnagiri Devgarh-Vijay Durg Veldur Kundalika-Revdanda Mumbra-Diva Vikroli Shreevardhan Vaitarna Vasai-Manori Malvan |
| Gujarat                   | 36. 37. 38.                             | Gulf of Kutchh Gulf of Khambhat Dumas-Ubhrat                                                                               |

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