The Maharashtra Government will implement a coastal area management project funded by the United Nations Development Programme-Global Environment Facility (UNDP-GCF). This will be implemented through innovative co-management techniques and will include cross-sectoral planning.
The project will be implemented in 11 talukas of four coastal districts of the state – Sindhudurg (Devgad, Malvan, Vengurla), Ratnagiri (Dapoli, Guhagar, Rajapur and Ratnagiri), Raigad (Shrivardhan and Alibag) and Palghar (Palghar, Dahanu).
It will include mangrove restoration and maintenance of restored mangroves for three years (3,100 hectares; ha), coral restoration and their maintenance for three years (35 ha) and degraded watershed restoration and its maintenance, also for three years (600 ha). The duration of the project will be till December 31, 2025.
Livelihood activities included in the project are crab farming in mangroves, mussel farming, oyster farming, crab hatchery, ornamental fish farming / hatchery, seaweed farming, SRI (System of Rice Intensification) for paddy cultivation, fish value-added products, fish food production unit, fish drying / smoking unit and apiculture.
According to the government resolution issued on Thursday by forest department principal secretary, BC Gopal Reddy, the total approved plan for the project is $130.26 million, of which GCF’s share will be $43.41 million. The state government will receive a total grant of $11.43 million from GCF, out of which $2.11 million will be the project management cost and $9.32 million will be for ecosystem restoration and livelihood initiatives.
The co-finance commitment of the state government was expected to be $26.85 million. However, it has limited it to $19 million (Rs 140.90 crore), as it will not be receiving grants from GCF as per the original outline of the project. In case of change in US dollar-rupee conversion rate during the period of the externally assisted project, the forest department shall be bound for taking approval of the finance department, if the amount of co-finance exceeds the sanctioned amount of Rs 140.90 crore.
