Coastal Communities In Odisha To Be Made More Climate Resilient

Bhubaneswar: In a fresh initiative to enhance climate resilience of communities living in coastal areas, the Odisha government has decided to implement a community-based action plan from the current year.

The plan was discussed in a meeting of the Steering Committee of Integrated Coastal Management Society (ICZMS) held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mahapatra on Monday.

Considering the different contours of the plan, the Chief Secretary directed the officials to focus on the regeneration of coastal eco-system, and promotion of climate resilient sustainable livelihood in the coastal communities.

The annual action plan should be prepared in consultation with the respective communities, he said, while directing the officials to prioritise the villages that generally face climate-induced calamities over the years.

It was decided at the meeting that steps will be taken to raise the density of mangrove forests and seagrass for enriching coastal ecosystem and reducing the impact of tidal surge and storm.

Mahapatra asked officials to explore all possible places for development of eco-tourism with boating and wildlife watching facilities.

It was decided to prepare the livelihood plan as per need of the people and potential the concerned areas.

Project Director ICZMS Sushanta Nanda informed that the interventions would be rolled out from the current year and completed by 2026-27.

An amount of Rs.261.50 crore would be invested. The main coastal landscapes to be treated under the project would include the areas like Talsari in Balasore district, Bhitarkanika in Kendrapada district, Bahuda and Chilika in Ganjam district, and Devi Mouth, Chilika in Puri district.

Around 3,75,321 hectares of coastal area spreading over 339 gram panchayats and five forest divisions would be included in it. The project would contribute to the ongoing efforts of the state government in addressing the impacts of climatic hazards and disasters on vulnerable coastal communities through popularisation of the climate adaptive livelihood activities.

Community-based organisations, NGOs, eco-clubs, women self-help groups (SHG) and local village communities would be involved in the planning, execution and carrying forward of the intervention, official sources added.