Parliament Question: Assistance to Kerala

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3116 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.03.2026 Assistance to Kerala

3116. SHRI SANDOSH KUMAR P:

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

state:

(a) whether Government has assessed the impact of climate change in Kerala, particularly with regard to recurring floods, landslides, coastal erosion and sea-level rise;

(b) the details of climate vulnerability assessments conducted there during the last five years;

(c) the details of funds allocated and released to the State under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) and other climate-related schemes during those years, year-wise; and

(d) whether the State has sought additional financial assistance in view of its high climate vulnerability and if so, the status thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) & (b) According to the Third National Communication (TNC) submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), an assessment of the vulnerability of India’s districts was carried out in 2020 under the aegis of the Department of Science and Technology (DST). The report titled “Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Planning in India Using a Common Framework” indicates high vulnerability of southern and eastern zones of India to extreme cyclonic events, floods, and droughts combined.

Further, the report identifies the western and southern regions of India as being extremely vulnerable to agricultural droughts and indicates that northern, eastern, and central zones are moderately vulnerable to both meteorological and agricultural droughts. The report also identifies the main drivers of vulnerability as well as the most vulnerable States and districts in India with respect to the current climate. Kerala State is found to be in relatively low vulnerable category with major drivers identified as prevalence of marginal and small landholdings and low coverage of crop insurance, along with prevalence of rainfed agriculture, lack of forest area per 1,000 rural population, and lack of women’s participation in workforce. District-level current climate vulnerability profile for the State is also mapped in the report.

TNC also refers to Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) mapping by Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) to assess the probable implications of sea-level rise along the Indian coast. Further, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has prepared a map of the cyclone hazard proneness of the coastal districts of India based on the frequency of cyclones, their intensity, actual/estimated maximum wind strength, Probable Maximum Storm Surge (PMSS) associated with the cyclones and Probable Maximum Precipitation (PMP) for Page 1 of 2all the districts along the coastline.The DST has also established State Climate Change Cell in Kerala under the National Mission on Strategic Knowledge on Climate Change (NMSKCC), to take up vulnerability and risk assessment.

(c) & (d) The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) was established to support adaptation activities in the States and Union Territories (UTs) of India that are vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. NAFCC is implemented in project mode and till date, 30 projects have been sanctioned in 27 States and UTs including the State of Kerala. The Project implemented in the State of Kerala under NAFCC was “Promotion of Integrated Farming System of Kaipad and Pokkali in coastal wetlands of Kerala”. Year-wise funds allocated and released to NAFCC project implemented in the State of Kerala are given

below:

Year Funds (₹ in Crore) Funds Allocated Funds Released 2015-16 12.50 6.00 2016-17 - - 2017-18 - 6.65 2018-19 5.0 - 2019-20 - 4.34 2020-21 3.00 2.91 2021-22 4.50 4.29 2022-23 - - 2023-24 - - 2024-25 - - 2025-26 - - Total 25 24.19 The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change provides one-time financial support for the preparation and revision of the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC). The MoEFCC has released ₹ 12 lakh for the revision of the SAPCC of Kerala in 2020.

National Mission for a Green India (GIM) aims at protecting, restoring, and enhancing India’s forest cover and responding to climate change by undertaking plantation activities in the forest and non-forest areas. GIM activities in the State of Kerala were started in the FY 2015-16. So far, a sum of ₹ 33.96 crores have been allocated/released for creation of plantation/eco- restoration as per the approved Annual Plan of Operations (APOs) in the selected landscapes.

Ministry of Jal Shakti provides grants to all the States/UTs for the formulation of the State Specific Action Plans (SSAPs) under the National Water Mission. State Specific Action Plans is being implemented in the States/UTs including in the State of Kerala to promote basin level integrated water resource management. A grant to the tune of ₹ 50 Lakh has been allocated to the State of Kerala.

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