**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer to Unstarred Question No. 1406 in the Lok Sabha, regarding environmental stress and coastal vulnerability in Kasaragod, Kerala, to be answered on February 9, 2026. It outlines the Government's awareness of the issue and the steps taken to address it, including studies, regulations, and mitigation efforts. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is responsible for the response.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Studies and Assessments:**
* The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has prepared a report on projected changes in extreme sea levels and coastal vulnerability along Indian coasts.
* The National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) has assessed shoreline changes in Kerala, including Kasaragod, from 1990-2022.
* Sector-wise vulnerability assessments were conducted under the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC 2.0), including Kasaragod.
* **Regulations and Planning:**
* The Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification has been implemented since 1991 to prevent unregulated development in coastal regions, including Kerala.
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) of Kerala under the CRZ Notification, 2019.
* All development and infrastructure expansion activities are regulated under the CRZ Notification, 2019.
* The MoEF&CC, in association with the Survey of India (SOI), has delineated the hazard line for the entire coast of the country.
* The Ministry has issued directions to Coastal States/UTs for incorporation of the Shoreline Management Plan in CZMP as per the provisions CRZ Notification, 2019.
* **Mitigation and Protection Measures:**
* The 15th Finance Commission recommended allocating funds for disaster mitigation and response related to erosion.
* INCOIS has developed a Coastal Vulnerability Index (CVI) and carried out Coastal Multi-Hazard Vulnerability Mapping (MHVM).
* The NCCR assists States/UTs in identifying vulnerable stretches and recommends site-specific mitigation measures.
* The Government of Kerala has undertaken various coastal protection measures, including restoration of damaged seawalls, maintenance of existing coastal seawalls, implementation of coastal protection works, and protection of houses using geobags.
* Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change (2023–2030) is being implemented.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Coastal Communities (including fishers) in Kerala, especially Kasaragod**
* **Impact:**
* These communities are vulnerable to environmental stress, climate change, coastal erosion, and unregulated development.
* The CRZ Notification aims to conserve and protect coastal stretches and marine areas, ensuring their livelihood security.
* Mitigation and protection measures aim to reduce the impact of coastal hazards.
* **Action Required:**
* Comply with regulations under the CRZ Notification.
* Participate in state government climate change initiatives.
**Stakeholder: Government of Kerala**
* **Impact:**
* The government is responsible for implementing the CRZ Notification and the CZMP.
* The government receives assistance and recommendations from various national institutions (INCOIS, NCCR) to address coastal vulnerability.
* The government is implementing the State Action Plan on Climate Change.
* **Action Required:**
* Enforce the CRZ Notification, 2019 and all related regulations.
* Continue implementing coastal protection measures and the Kerala State Action Plan on Climate Change (2023–2030).
* Incorporate the Shoreline Management Plan in CZMP as per the provisions CRZ Notification, 2019.
* Work with other State and Union Territories to implement appropriate shoreline protection measures.
Key Entities Referenced
Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification: A notification implemented by the Government of India, including Kerala, since 1991 to prevent unregulated development in coastal regions, conserving coastal stretches and marine areas, and ensuring livelihood security.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC): The central ministry responsible for approving the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) and delineating hazard lines for the coast.
Kerala: A state in India where coastal vulnerability and related environmental issues are being addressed.
Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP): A plan approved by the MoEFCC under the CRZ Notification for coastal states/UTs.
Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS): An autonomous institute that prepared the report on projected changes in extreme sea levels and coastal vulnerability.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1406
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Environmental Stress and Coastal Vulnerability in Kasaragod
1406. SHRI RAJMOHAN UNNITHAN:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased
to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that coastal and border districts of Kerala,
including Kasaragod are increasingly vulnerable to environmental stress due to
climate change, coastal erosion and loss of green cover;
(b) whether it is a fact that unregulated development and infrastructure expansion have
aggravated ecological risks in these regions;
(c) whether the Government has conducted any district-specific environmental impact or
climate vulnerability assessments in Kasaragod;
(d) whether targeted mitigation and adaptation projects have been sanctioned for
ecologically sensitive coastal districts; and
(e) the steps taken or proposed to be taken by the Government to strengthen
environmental protection, climate resilience and sustainable development in
vulnerable regions of Kerala?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) 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.
To prevent unregulated development in the coastal regions of the country, including Kerala, the
Government has been implementing the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification since 1991,
with the objective of conserving and protecting coastal stretches and marine areas, and ensuring
livelihood security for fishers and other local communities. The Ministry of Environment, Forest
and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approved the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) of
Kerala under the CRZ Notification, 2019, vide letter dated 16.10.2024. Accordingly, all
development and infrastructure expansion activities areregulated under the CRZ Notification,
2019 to ensure environmental sustainability.The National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) an attached office of Ministry of Earth
Sciences, has carried out an updated assessment of shoreline changes along the coastal districts
of Kerala including Kasaragod, using remote-sensing datasets for the period 1990–2022.
Based on information received from the Department of Environment, Government of Kerala, and
the Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority, sector-wise vulnerability assessments were
conducted under the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC 2.0), with the district as the
unit of analysis, including Kasaragod.
(d) to (e): Several steps have been taken to strengthen environmental protection, climate
resilience and sustainable development to address the vulnerability of coastal areas in Kerala
which, inter-alia include the following:
i. As reported the National Disaster Management Authority, in order to mitigate the risk of
erosion in the country, the 15th Finance Commission had recommended an allocation of
Rs.1,500 crore from National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) for the period 2021-26
and Rs.1000 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) for resettlement of
displaced people affected by erosion.
ii. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in association
with the Survey of India (SOI) has delineated the hazard line for the entire coast of the
country which is indicative of the shoreline changes, including sea level rise due to
climate change. The hazard line features in the new Coastal Zone Management Plans
(CZMP) of the coastal States/Union territories approved by the MoEF&CC. Further, the
Ministry has issued directions to Coastal States/UTs for incorporation of the Shoreline
Management Plan in CZMP as per the provisions CRZ Notification, 2019.
iii. The 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.INCOIS has also carried out Coastal Multi-Hazard Vulnerability
Mapping (MHVM) for the entire Indian coastline
iv. The 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 the preparation of Shoreline Management Plans (SMPs). Based
on the findings and recommendations of these reports, the Government of Kerala has
undertaken various coastal protection measures, including the restoration of damaged
seawalls in vulnerable reaches, maintenance of existing coastal seawalls, implementation
of coastal protection works, and protection of houses using geobags.
v. Further, the State Government is implementing the Kerala State Action Plan on Climate
Change (2023–2030) to strengthen environmental protection, climate resilience, and
sustainable development.
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