4 crore venture carried out in Cuddalore district to forestall coastal erosion, says Centre

The Department of Environment and Climate Change is implementing a ₹4 crore venture (2025-26 to 2027-28) titled “Creation of Bio-shield to Prevent the Impact of Sea Level Rise and Coastal Erosion,” in Cuddalore district, which incorporates 60 hectares of mangrove plantation and 20 hectares of coastal bio-shield utilizing resilient species, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh mentioned.

Responding to an unstarred query from Cuddalore Member of Parliament M.Ok. Vishnu Prasad, Mr. Singh mentioned the Tamil Nadu Forest Department has undertaken large-scale mangrove restoration with group involvement. From 2022-23 to 2024-25, 95 hectares of recent mangroves had been planted beneath NABARD, Green Tamil Nadu Mission (GTM), and NHAI schemes utilizing modified fish-bone designs.

Additionally, 250 hectares of degraded mangrove forests had been restored beneath GTM and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS), and 52,000 mangrove seedlings had been planted utilizing linear strategies, he mentioned.

The GTM focuses on enhancing biodiversity, forest productiveness, timber on farmlands, city and peri-urban greenery, inexperienced employment, and farmers’ incomes. Over the final three years (2022-23 to 2024-25), 10.86 crore seedlings have been planted throughout the State by the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, different authorities departments, NGOs, and the general public. In Cuddalore district, about 54.25 lakh seedlings have been planted via the involvement of assorted stakeholders.

The Government has launched the World Bank-funded TN-SHORE/Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission for restoring 160 hectares of degraded mangroves via Village Mangrove Councils (VMCs), Mr. Singh added.