**Executive Summary**
This document presents the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question regarding funds for climate change in Tamil Nadu. It details financial assistance provided to the state, including a special loan for infrastructure reconstruction and support under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) for specific projects. The response includes details of fund allocation, executing entities, and project timelines. The date of the response is December 15, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Special Assistance to Tamil Nadu:**
* The State Government of Tamil Nadu requested Rs. 1126.08 crore as Special Assistance (Loan) under the 'Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2024-25' for infrastructure reconstruction after natural disasters.
* The Central Government approved and released Rs. 1121.50 crore in March 2025.
* **NAFCC Support for Climate Change Projects:**
* The Government of Tamil Nadu is receiving assistance under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) for implementing two projects:
* **Project 1:** Management and Rehabilitation of Coastal Habitats and Biodiversity for Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Gulf of Mannar.
* Amount Sanctioned: Rs. 24.74 crore
* Amount Released: Rs. 23.03 crore
* Executing Entity: Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu
* Project Period: April 2016 - April 2020
* **Project 2:** Climate Proofing of Rainfed Watersheds in Salem & Virudhunagar Districts of Tamil Nadu.
* Amount Sanctioned: Rs. 23.80 crore
* Amount Released: Rs. 11.52 crore
* Executing Entity: Tamil Nadu Watershed Development Agency
* Project Period: February 2019 - March 2026
* **National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC):**
* India's climate actions are integrated into various programs and schemes, guided by the NAPCC.
* NAPCC comprises missions in areas like solar energy, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, and sustainable agriculture.
* **State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC):**
* The Ministry supports SAPCC for states/UTs, including Tamil Nadu.
* SAPCCs address state-specific climate change issues through mitigation and adaptation.
* **Drought-Prone Areas:**
* The Government of India has approved Catalytic Assistance to 12 drought-prone States, including Ramanthapuram, Sivagangai, and Virudhunagar districts of Tamil Nadu, focusing on farming systems and water management.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Government of Tamil Nadu**
**Impact:** Receives financial assistance for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, including infrastructure reconstruction and specific environmental initiatives.
**Action Required:** Utilize the allocated funds for the designated projects, adhering to the outlined guidelines and timelines, and ensure effective implementation through the relevant executing entities.
**Department of Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu & Tamil Nadu Watershed Development Agency**
**Impact:** Responsible for executing the NAFCC-funded projects, focusing on coastal habitat management and climate-proofing watersheds.
**Action Required:** Implement the projects according to the approved plans, manage the allocated funds effectively, and ensure timely completion within the specified project periods.
Key Entities Referenced
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): Provides the overarching framework for all climate actions in India.
Tamil Nadu: State government that requested special central assistance for climate change.
Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2024-25: Scheme under which Tamil Nadu requested assistance.
National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): Fund under which assistance has been provided to the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The central ministry responsible for climate change-related policies.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2526
TO BE ANSWERED ON 15.12.2025
Funds for Climate Change
2526. SHRI K GOPINATH:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the State Government of Tamil Nadu has demanded any special Central assistance
for capital investment to combat the adverse impacts of climate change;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Central Government has any proposal to integrate the climate concerns
especially at the grass-roots level for climate-proof districts and villages in Tamil Nadu, if
so, the details thereof along with its timeline; and
(d) the corrective steps taken by Government to invest in climate resilient and ecologically
sensitive development with sustainable infrastructure in the State?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (b) As per information provided by the Ministry of Finance, the State Government of
Tamil Nadu had requested Special Assistance (Loan) of Rs. 1126.08 crore under the ‘Scheme
for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2024-25’ for reconstruction of
infrastructure damaged in the State due to natural disasters of severe nature. After examining the
proposal and eligibility, an amount of Rs. 1121.50 crore was approved and released to the State
government of Tamil Nadu in March 2025.
(c) & (d) With the objective of combating the adverse impacts of climate change at grass root
level, assistance has been provided to the Government of Tamil Nadu under National Adaptation
Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) for implementation of two projects. The details of the
projects are as under:
Sl. Name of the project Amount Amount Executing Project
No. Sanctioned Released to Entity (EE) Period
(Rs. crore) EE
(Rs. crore)
1 Management and Department of (April,
Rehabilitation of Coastal 24.74 23.03 Environment, 2016-
Habitats and Biodiversity Government April,
for Climate Change of Tamil Nadu 2020)
Adaptation and SustainableSl. Name of the project Amount Amount Executing Project
No. Sanctioned Released to Entity (EE) Period
(Rs. crore) EE
(Rs. crore)
Livelihoods in the Gulf of
Mannar, Tamil Nadu
2 Climate Proofing of 23.80 11.52 Tamil Nadu Februar
Rainfed Watersheds in Watershed y 2019-
Salem & Virudhunagar Development March
Districts of Tamil Nadu Agency 2026
India’s climate actions across various sectors are embedded in various programmes and schemes.
The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) provides the overarching framework for
all climate actions and comprises missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy
efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, sustaining Himalayan ecosystems, Green India, sustainable
agriculture, human health and strategic knowledge for climate change. All these Missions are
institutionalized and implemented by their respective nodal Ministries/Departments, including
allocation of funds under their relevant schemes as a part of their annual budgetary allocations.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is supporting State Action Plans on Climate
Change (SAPCC) for States/UTs including Tamil Nadu. SAPCC are designed to address state-
specific issues related to climate change through commensurate mitigation and adaptation
measures. SAPCCs are intended to be context- specific, considering the different ecological,
social, and economic conditions of each State.
As regards hazards linked to climate resilience, the Government of India has approved the proposal
of the Catalytic Assistance to 12 (Twelve) most Drought-prone States under earmarked allocated
funds of the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), including Ramanthapuram, Sivagangai
and Virudhunagar districts of the State of Tamil Nadu. The focus is on area specific farming
system, surface and ground water management, agro-forestry schemes, etc.
***