To mitigate the effects of climate vagaries on the coastal ecosystem, the Tamil Nadu government has announced the Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission in the State Budget for the financial year 2023-24. The mission, to be implemented with World Bank assistance at an estimated cost of ₹2,000 crore over the next five years, is aimed at preventing sea erosion, reducing marine pollution and conserving marine biodiversity.
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The Departments of Environment, Climate Change and Forests have been allocated ₹1, 248 crore in the State Budget presented by Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Monday. The Minister said the coastal ecosystem and the livelihood of the coastal population are likely to be severely affected in the near future due to the increasing vagaries of climate change and pressure caused by the burgeoning population, hence the need for this mission.
A new wildlife sanctuary called the ‘Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary’ spread across 80,567 hectares in the forest areas of Anthiyur and Gobichettipalayam in Erode district is to be notified. This will be the 18th wildlife sanctuary in the State and will link the Nilgiris Biosphere Reserve with the Cauvery South Wildlife Sanctuary.
The government has also announced the setting up of an international bird centre at Marakkanam to promote the conservation of birds, encourage research in the field of ornithology and create awareness about the role of birds in nature. “Tamil Nadu is located in the Central Asian Flyway and hosts a large number of migratory birds every year,” the Minister said.
The Minister also said the government had recognised the importance of women’s role in tackling climate change. Led by 500 women self-help groups (SHG) from across the State, the government will launch ‘Climate Warriors’, a climate literacy programme. The SHGs will be provided with electric autorickshaws at a cost of ₹20 crore towards the spreading of awareness on environment and climate change.