Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change addressed a parliamentary question regarding Tamil Nadu's request for special central assistance to combat climate change impacts. The State received Rs. 1121.50 crore in March 2025 for infrastructure reconstruction. Additionally, assistance is being provided through the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) for two projects focused on coastal habitat management and climate-proofing rainfed watersheds.
Key Points / Main Content:
Financial Assistance to Tamil Nadu:
* Tamil Nadu requested a Special Assistance Loan of Rs. 1126.08 crore for infrastructure reconstruction following severe natural disasters.
* Rs. 1121.50 crore was approved and released to Tamil Nadu in March 2025 under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2024-25.
NAFCC Projects in Tamil Nadu:
* Project 1: Management and Rehabilitation of Coastal Habitats and Biodiversity for Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Livelihoods in the Gulf of Mannar.
* Grant Assistance Sanctioned: Rs. 24.74 crore
* Grant Released: Rs. 23.03 crore
* Executing Entity: Department of Environment, Govt. of Tamil Nadu
* Project Period: April 2016 – April 2020
* Project 2: Climate Proofing in Rainfed Watershed in Salem Virudhunagar Districts of Tamil Nadu.
* Grant Assistance Sanctioned: Rs. 23.80 crore
* Grant Released: Rs. 11.52 crore
* Executing Entity: Watershed Development Agency
* Project Period: February 2019 – March 2026
National Climate Action Framework:
* The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) provides an overarching framework for climate actions across various sectors.
* NAPCC comprises missions in areas including solar energy, energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, Himalayan ecosystems, Green India, sustainable agriculture, human health, and strategic knowledge.
* Missions are implemented by respective nodal Ministries/Departments with budgetary allocations.
State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC):
* The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change supports SAPCCs for States/UTs, including Tamil Nadu.
* SAPCCs address state-specific climate change issues through mitigation and adaptation measures, considering ecological, social, and economic conditions.
Impact Analysis:
Government of Tamil Nadu:
* Impact: Received financial assistance for infrastructure reconstruction and funding for climate change adaptation projects.
* Action Required: Continue implementing the NAFCC projects and utilize the funds effectively for climate resilience and ecological development. Implementation of State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change:
* Impact: Responsible for supporting and overseeing climate change initiatives at the state level.
* Action Required: Continue providing support for SAPCCs and monitoring the progress of NAFCC projects in Tamil Nadu.
Citizens of Tamil Nadu (especially in coastal and rainfed areas):
* Impact: Beneficiaries of climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts, including improved infrastructure and sustainable livelihoods.
* Action Required: Participate in and support local climate resilience initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Tamil Nadu: A state in southern India that requested special central assistance for capital investment to combat climate change and received funding for climate change projects.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and climate change policies.
National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC): A fund that provides assistance to the Government of Tamil Nadu for implementation of climate change projects.
Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment 2024-25: A scheme under which Tamil Nadu requested and received a Special Assistance Loan for reconstruction of infrastructure damaged by natural disasters.
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC): An overarching framework for climate actions in India, comprising missions in specific areas such as solar energy and sustainable agriculture.
Salem: A district of Tamil Nadu where climate proofing projects are being implemented.
Virudhunagar: A district of Tamil Nadu where climate proofing projects are being implemented.
State Action Plans on Climate Change (SAPCC): Plans designed to address state-specific issues related to climate change through mitigation and adaptation measures. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is supporting SAPCC for States/UTs including Tamil Nadu.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3661
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Special Assistance to Combat Climate Change
3661. SHRI 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 Government has any proposal to integrate the climate concerns especially
at the grass root level for climate-proof districts and villages in Tamil Nadu, if so, the
details thereof along with timeline; and
(d) the corrective steps taken by the Government to invest in climate resilient and
ecologically sensitive development with sustainable infrastructure?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (d) 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.
In addition to that, with the objective of combating the adverse impacts of climate
change at grass root level, assistances has been provided to the Govt. 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 Grant Grant Executing Project
No. Assistance Released Entity Period
Sanctioned (Rs
(Rs crore) crore)
1 Management and Department 4 years
Rehabilitation of Coastal of (April,
Habitats and Biodiversity Environment, 2016-
for Climate ChangeSl. Name of the project Grant Grant Executing Project
No. Assistance Released Entity Period
Sanctioned (Rs
(Rs crore) crore)
Adaptation and 24.74 23.03 Govt. of April,
Sustainable Livelihoods Tamil Nadu 2020)
in the Gulf of Mannar,
Tamil Nadu
2 Climate Proofing in 23.80 11.52 Tamil Nadu February
Rainfed Watershed in Watershed 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.
Further, the 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.
***