Odisha government is planning to invest Rs 261.50 crore in a livelihood action plan for coast regeneration of and climate resilience for those who live on the coastal villages of the state.
As many as 91 villages along the coast in Odisha are extremely unsafe due to soil erosion, while 85 other are at risk. Sea erosion is a major threat to around 318 villages spread across six coastal districts in the state. Keeping this in mind, the state has encouraging climate adaptive livelihood activities and it has now sanctioned Rs 261.50 crore action plan for the regeneration of coasts and climate resilience among people living in coast.
In a steering committee meeting of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Society (ICZMS) under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra, held on 19 September 2022, the plan was finalized and it was decided to implement this community based action plan till Fiscal 2026-27. Under this plan, areas of Talsari in Balasore district, Bhitarkanika in Kendrapara district, Bahuda and Chilika in Ganjam district, and Devi Mouth, Chilika in Puri district in Odisha will be covered. Around 3,75,321 hectares of coastal area spread over 339-gram panchayats and five forest divisions would be included in the project.
For the smoother implementation of the project, community-based organizations, NGOs, eco-clubs, women self-help groups and local village communities would be involved in the planning, execution and carrying forward of the intervention.
