Executive Summary:
This document is a response to a question in Lok Sabha regarding seawall construction and coastal protection works in Kerala. It outlines the Union Government's role in supplementing State Government efforts in disaster management, including coastal protection, through financial and logistical support. The Fifteenth Finance Commission recommended an allocation of Rs. 1500 crore from NDMF for coastal and river erosion mitigation, and guidelines for fund approval were issued on June 20, 2024. Kerala has submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for coastal erosion mitigation, which is currently under review by the NDMA.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Financial Assistance and Responsibility:**
* The primary responsibility for coastal protection rests with State Governments.
* The Central Government supplements state efforts with financial and logistical support.
* Financial assistance is provided under the Flood Management Border Area Program (FMBAP).
* **Coastal Area Management Assessment:**
* The Central Water Commission (CWC), in association with other central government institutions, conducted a Quarterly Dialogue (QD) with states, including Kerala, to assess coastal challenges in April-May 2024.
* CWC published a report titled "Status Report on Coastal Area Management – An Indian Perspective, Regional Issues & Remedial Measures" in September 2024, detailing coastal interventions.
* **NDMF Allocation and Guidelines:**
* The Fifteenth Finance Commission (XVFC) recommended an allocation of Rs. 1500 crore from the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF) for erosion mitigation for the period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
* Guidelines for approval and release of funds for coastal and river erosion under NDMF were issued on June 20, 2024.
* **Kerala's Project Proposal:**
* Kerala has submitted a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the "Coastal and River Erosion Mitigation Project" under NDMF.
* The DPR includes structural measures and nature-based solutions like artificial reefs and mangrove regeneration for coastal protection in vulnerable areas, including Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
* The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has recommended revisions to the DPR.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments (specifically Kerala):**
* Impact: Receives supplemental financial and logistical support from the Central Government for coastal protection efforts.
* Action Required: Revise and resubmit the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for coastal erosion mitigation based on the NDMA Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) recommendations.
* **National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA):**
* Impact: Oversees the review and approval process for coastal erosion mitigation projects under the NDMF.
* Action Required: Continue the review process of Kerala's DPR after resubmission, ensuring alignment with the NDMF guidelines.
* **Central Water Commission (CWC):**
* Impact: Plays a key role in assessing coastal challenges and providing sustainable strategies through dialogues and reports.
* Action Required: Continue to support states through data, expertise, and guidance for effective coastal area management.
Key Entities Referenced
Kerala: State in India, focus of coastal protection works and central assistance.
Alappuzha: District in Kerala affected by coastal erosion.
Kollam: District in Kerala affected by coastal erosion.
Thiruvananthapuram: District in Kerala affected by coastal erosion.
Flood Management Border Area Program FMBAP: Central Government program providing financial assistance for flood management, including coastal protection schemes.
Central Water Commission CWC: Government institution involved in coastal area management and assessment.
Fifteenth Finance Commission XVFC: Recommended allocation of funds for coastal and river erosion mitigation.
National Disaster Management Authority NDMA: Received Detailed Project Report (DPR) from the Government of Kerala regarding coastal erosion mitigation.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 241
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 22ND JULY, 2025/ ASHADHA 31, 1947 (SAKA)
SEAWALL CONSTRUCTION AND COASTAL PROTECTION WORKS
241. SHRI K RADHAKRISHNAN:
Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:
(a) the total amount sanctioned by the Union Government for seawall
construction and coastal protection works in Kerala during the last ten
years, year-wise;
(b) whether the Government has reviewed the effectiveness of the seawall
projects in preventing coastal erosion and protecting livelihoods in
affected districts like Alappuzha, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram;
(c) whether there is any proposal to increase Central assistance for long-
term coastal protection measures, including eco-friendly alternatives
such as artificial reefs and mangrove regeneration in Kerala; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI NITYANAND RAI)
(a) & (b): The primary responsibility for disaster management, including
coastal protection, rests with the State Governments concerned. The
Central Government supplements the efforts of the State Governments
and provides requisite logistics and financial support. Central
Government provides financial assistance to States / Union Territories-2-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 241 FOR 22.07.2025
under its Flood Management & Border Area Program (FMBAP), for flood
management which also includes assistance for Coastal protection
schemes.
Central Water Commission (CWC) in association with Central Ground
Water Board (CGWB) and other central Government institutions (like NIO,
NIOT, NCCR, CWPRS etc) had the Quarterly Dialogue (QD) with concerned
States including on the topic Coastal Area Management in the month of
April- May 2024. These sessions were aimed to assess ongoing coastal
challenges and explore long-term, sustainable strategies for coastal area
management. As an outcome of this QD, CWC has published a detailed
report titled “Status Report on Coastal Area Management – An Indian
Perspective, Regional Issues & Remedial Measures” in September 2024.
A list of coastal intervention, including interventions undertaken by Kerala
in the last 10 years are detailed in this publication which is available at
CWC website https://cwc.gov.in/en/publications?title=status+report.
(c) & (d): To mitigate the risk of erosion, Fifteenth Finance Commission
(XV-FC) had recommended an allocation of Rs.1500 crore from NDMF for
the award period 2021-22 to 2025-26. Central Government has issued on-3-
L.S.US.Q.NO. 241 FOR 22.07.2025
20.06.2024, the guidelines for Approval and Release of funds for Coastal
and River Erosion under NDMF based on the recommendations of the XV-
FC under NDMF. The guidelines are available on MHA website
www.ndmindia.mha.gov.in.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has received the
Detailed Project Report (DPR) titled ‘Coastal and River Erosion Mitigation
Project under NDMF’ from the Government of Kerala. The DPR outlines a
range of initiatives aimed at addressing the pressing issue of severe
coastal erosion along the Kerala coastline. It incorporates both structural
measures and nature-based solutions—such as artificial reefs and
mangrove regeneration—to ensure long-term coastal protection in
vulnerable stretches including Alappuzha, Kollam, and
Thiruvananthapuram, among others, under the National Disaster
Mitigation Fund (NDMF).
NDMA has convened the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and has
recommended revision in the DPR for updating and resubmitting the
project.
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