Govt of India and ADB signed a $42 million loan for coastal protection in Maharashtra

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank have signed a loan of $ 42 million for improving the coastal and riverine defensive structure for Maharashtra by implementing the Maharashtra Sustainable Climate-Resilient Coastal Protection and Management Project. The planned enhancements are to enhance the development of local communities and ecosystems by using integrated techniques including Offshore reefs human structures work such as rock armoring and nature-based measures including beach nourishment. Modern tools such as remote sensing and climate projection will be applied in shoreline preservation and risk diversification for climatic events. The project also aims to respond to challenges that affect some of the most important economic sectors of the community, including tourism and fishing as a result of erosion and flooding along the coast. Moreover, it recognizes and celebrates women, youth, and vulnerable groups in leadership and management of the coast with a view to enhancing disaster risk reduction and response mechanisms.

Key points 

Through the signed loan agreement of $ 42 million between the Government of India and ADB, more support is committed to enhancing coastal and riverbank protection in Maharashtra, emphasizing the safety of the people and ecosystems in the areas of vulnerability.

Objective: The objective of the Maharashtra Sustainable Climate-Resilient Coastal Protection and Management Project is to use advanced measures to increase the ability of coastal populations to withstand negative impacts.

• Hybrid Approach for Coastal Protection: Offshore reef systems, rock structures, and natural coast are the approaches used in this project to address issues of coastal erosion through beach and dune replenishment.

• Advanced Technologies: Enhances its ability to protect the shoreline, monitor sea level, and prepare for storms using remote-sensing satellite photography and sophisticated climate change modeling.

• Impact on Local Sectors: Stresses more development of hard measures that can be observed in sectors such as tourism and fishery industries which are most vulnerable to the effects of coastal erosion and floods.

• Increased Community Participation: Gives priority to women and youths, and vulnerable groups in the management of the coastal zones and hence these groups will equally be in a better place to handle such disaster before, during and after incidents.

About Coastal Erosion

Coastal erosion refers to loss of land along coast due to natural forces and anthropogenic effects – the most important causes of coastal erosion are wave and currents, cyclone, tides and human activities like reduction of sand, construction along the coast, water pollution, destruction of Mangrove forest, dredging etc.

Causes of Coastal Erosion

Natural Causes:

• Wave Action and Tides: Shoreward wave action and strong tidal forces stimulate sediment movement.

• Sea Level Rise: Brought about by climate change which has acting as a catalyst resulting in water logging of coastal regions.

• Cyclones and Storm Surges: High frequency of cyclone enhances the rate of erosion more especially along the eastern coastline.

Anthropogenic Causes:

• Sand Mining: This de-stabilizes sediment inputs and outputs, and thus is unsustainable.

• Infrastructure Development: Natural sediment flow is affected by creation of ports harbors and urbanization.

• Deforestation of Mangroves: The loss of primary natural barriers causes exacerbation of the coastal risk.

• Pollution: Littering and industrial effusions distort the balance of forces in coastal grounds.

Conclusion

As stated, the $42 million credit facility for which the GoI and ADB signed an agreement will reach a substantive extent of what is required to address coastal and riverine protection in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Sustainable Climate-Resilient Coastal Protection and Management Project’s goal is delivering coastal defence and protection to local populations and ecosystems using engineering solutions like offshore reefs, rock armoring and other natural approaches which comprise beach nourishment as well. The project benefits from today’s technology such as remote sensing and climate modeling to monitor and protect the coastlines. It also ensures the communities especially the women and young ones are involved in any disaster management thus enhancing the sector that has been most affected by coastal erosion and flooding such as tourism and fishing.